Trial run of redesigned railway coaches conducted along NMR line

A trial run of the newly redesigned railway coaches that are set to be introduced along the Nilgiri Mountain Railway (NMR) line was conducted between Mettupalayam and Coonoor on Wednesday (September 30, 2026).

Officials from the Salem division of Southern Railways said that 28 of the redesigned coaches had been built at the Integral Coach Factory (ICF) in Perambur, Chennai, and were scheduled to be introduced along the NMR line from 2021.

The coaches had been specially designed to meet the increasing tourist demand along the NMR route and featured panoramic windows, LED lights and other fixtures. However, during trial runs, the 15-tonne coaches were found to be putting a strain on the engines pulling the coaches uphill and it was decided to redesign the coaches.

Weight-saving measures have brought down the weight of each coach by more than 1.5 tonnes due to the redesign.
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SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT

Officials said that weight-saving measures have brought down the weight of each coach by more than 1.5 tonnes due to the redesign. To test their readiness to be deployed along the NMR line, four of the redesigned coaches were brought up to Coonoor from Mettupalayam to assess their performance.

Officials from the Research Design and Standards Organisation of the Indian railways had fitted cameras and sensors around the wheel assemblies to assess the interaction of the wheels with the track as well as its braking and cornering capabilities.

“The redesigned coaches were tested with particular attention to the reduced weight and the effects of the redesign on the train and locomotive,” an official said.

He added that trial runs of the remaining coaches are to be conducted throughout the week to obtain necessary safety certification for the operation of the coaches along the NMR line.