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The Staid Blue Seats Will Give Way To Plush Diwans As Southern Railway Is Set To Revamp The Interiors Of Its First Class Coaches

V Ayyappan | TNN 

Oct 19, 2008

Chennai: Tired of travelling in the same old trains with dull blue seats? Southern Railway has some good news for you. Pa

ssengers can soon lounge in plush diwans in first class air-conditioned coaches as they travel to their destinations in trains out of Chennai Central railway station. 

    In a major shift in interior re-design, Southern Railway has decided to do away with blue or brown seats in the coupes of high-class coaches of Mail and Express trains. 

    The upgradation of passenger amenities includes providing world class onboard amenities in first class air-conditioned coaches and enhancing upholstery of air-conditioned as well as sleeper class coaches. These wor

ks are being carried out at the Basin Bridge train care centre. 

    First class air-conditi

oned coaches will soon have divans with plush cushions. The cabins will also sport a new look with rich upholstery in pleasing colours, so that passengers can relax in five-star ambience as they travel from one city to another. 

    Refurbishing and retro-fitting of the coaches have 

already begun. “The coaches are being redone one after the other because complete overhauling will take a lot of time. We have already completed works on two to three coaches so far. The remaining will be done as and when the coaches come in for maintenance,” the official said. 

    Thiruvananthapuram Mail, Mangalore Express, Grand Trunk Express, Tamil Nadu Express and Nilgiri Express will soon have the new look first class air-conditioned coaches. More coaches are expected to be upgraded in the coming years. 

    Authorities say that first class coaches will be given preference. “Refurbishing of first class air-conditioned coaches has been accorded highest priority. The sprucing up is being done when the coaches come in for primary maintenance,” said Southern Railway chief public relations officer Neenu Ittyerah. The idea is to give a quality experience to premium passengers, who have always been unhappy about the kind of amenities provided in air conditioned coaches. The existing facilities are adequate, but times are changing and today, passengers demand world class onboard amenities. 

    The improved interiors is expected to be a boon for the railways because air passengers are also shifting to trains, especially in short haul trips such as to Bangalore, Hyderabad and Kochi. 

A N A L L- N E W LO O K 

    Thiruvananthapuram Mail, Mangalore Express, Grand Trunk Express, Tamil Nadu Express and Nilgiri Express are some of the trains that will soon have the new- look first class airconditioned coaches 

    The sprucing up is being done when the coaches come in for primary maintenance. However, the railways will only be improving the onboard amenities and will not add any new fixtures