Mettupalayam: In the 130 years of history of Nilgiri mountain railways, it is the first time that a coach of the heritage train is upgraded with air conditioner.
The renovation works were carried out at the Tiruchirappalli Golden Rock workshop owned by railways. At the Golden Rock workshop, even though facilities are there for maintenance works of train coaches, only works of heritage trains were done till now. This is for the first time; reconstruction works are carried out.
Instead of the 57 seats in the coach, only 28 seats are there in the AC coach. Pushback seats, luggage racks, two split AC and LED lights are installed. The side windows have been enlarged and made openable. On the outer side of the coach, graphic designed forest, wild animals have been displayed. The roof is made of transparent acrylic glass.
Need of Ac coaches in Ootty?
Every tourist looks forward to a journey soaking in pure air, coldness enjoying the natural landscape. The trip starts from Mettupalayam station and after 8kms, from Kallar station, the trains enters the forest. The AC coach will not allow the traveller to enjoy the natural climate and environment.
Even though the scenery can be viewed, the chances of the coach to be damaged are higher in rains and rock slips. Eight years back, a Kollam native student was seriously injured on hand after a stone fell on the coach. Following this, then Selam DRM Sujatha Jayaraj had intervened to fix metal sheets above the coach.
