Commuters want a mix of AC and non-AC coaches in suburban trains

While commuters on the west section of Tiruvallur and Arakkonam are eagerly waiting for the second air-conditioned suburban train to be operated from the city, a section of commuters want the Southern Railway to explore the option of operating electrical multiple unit (EMU) trains with a combination of AC and non-AC coaches.

The suburban train network has been the backbone and the cheapest option for commuters residing in extended areas to reach the city, and the introduction of air-conditioned suburban train services on the Beach-Chengalpattu via Tambaram has received a mixed response from regular commuters, who find the fare costly.

Social activist Dayanand Krishnan said the Southern Railway should have at least fixed the fare of first class non air-conditioned being charged in suburban trains. He said the Southern Railway, by reducing the fare, would be able to rake in more revenue by increasing the occupancy in the air-conditioned suburban trains.

Also considering the socio-economic factor of people using suburban trains of west and north sections, and the base fare having remained unchanged for more than a decade, the commuters want a combination of air-conditioned and non-air-conditioned coaches in the EMUs.

Consumer activist T. Sadagopan said the mixed coaches can be introduced just as in long distance trains, which have a combination of air-conditioned, non-air-conditioned and unreserved coaches.

A senior official of Southern Railway said the option of having both air-conditioned and non-air-conditioned coaches in EMUs was already discussed, but was found to be unfeasible.