Mumbai commuters to get better seats in trains

The Mumbai Rail Vikas Corporation (MRVC) has announced plans to improve second-class compartments in Mumbai’s local trains by providing cushioned seats and better furnishing. The design of the seats will be made more ergonomic by providing more leg room and better back support by changing the backrest. Stainless steel, instead of current Corten steel, will be used in the construction of the new rakes which will be designed by the National Institute of Design, in collaboration with the Integral Coach Factory, Chennai. The corporation has also drawn up an agreement with Bombardier Transportation for installing modern electrical fittings in the compartments in 72 rakes. The agreement with Bombardier, for the design, development, manufacture, supply and commissioning of electrical fittings in the trains, is worth र1064 crore. The first prototypes of the new rakes would be ready for trial by early 2013, and the trials, if successful, would see four rakes being inducted per month into regular operations from December 2013 onwards.