Delhi-Meerut Rapid Rail: RRTS to provide 'premium lounge' for business class passengers

Commuters in the business class of the RRTS train travelling between Delhi and Meerut would be allowed to enter into "premium lounges" established at all of the "high-speed" rail's stations, according to NCRTC officials. The officials also informed that, the premium lounge would be designated exclusively for Regional Rapid Transit System business class travellers (RRTS). Passengers will be able to enter the premium lounge through a separate entrance on each station's platform, from which they will be able to directly board the train's premium coach.

Between Delhi and Meerut, the National Capital Region Transport Corporation (NCRTC) is establishing India's first RRTS, which is a "rail-based, high-speed, high-frequency regional commuter transit system". The officials said these will be the fastest trains in India as it has a design speed of 180kmph and an operational speed of 160kmph. These RRTS trains will have an average speed of 100kmph.

"Every train will have one premium coach. Fare of the business or premium class will be higher than that of the normal ticket. Premium lounge will be similar to lounges at airports and will have all business class facilities," an NCRTC official told PTI.

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The official said the premium lounge would have a luxurious ambience, comfortable couches, magazines, books, and coffee and tea vending machines. He added that only those passengers travelling with a business class ticket would be allowed in the premium lounge.

"The idea is to provide best of facilities to passengers and also cater to those who want to spend more in turn of some luxury facilities. The facility of premium services at RRTS will attract more passengers," the official said.

The RRTS trains will have standard as well as premium class (one coach per train), along with one coach reserved for women commuters.

The premium class coach will be more spacious and have reclining seats. These premium coaches of RRTS trains will be accessible through a special lounge at the platform level. "Fare of both the class is yet to be decided," the official quoted above said.

According to the officials, the Delhi-Meerut RRTS corridor will have an automatic fare collection (AFC) system and QR code tickets for commuters. Commuters will use QR code tickets which can be generated digitally on an NCRTC mobile app or its website.

The modern RRTS trains will have ergonomically designed 2x2 transverse cushioned seating, wide standing space, luggage racks, CCTV cameras, laptop/mobile charging facility, dynamic route maps, and an auto control ambient lighting system. These trains also have optimised aisle width with grab handles and rails for a comfortable journey for standing passengers.

The 17-km priority section between Sahibabad and Duhai is targeted to be commissioned by 2023 and the full corridor by 2025. The first train set of this "high-speed rail" was handed over to the NCRTC by Alstom India at its manufacturing plant in Savli in Gujarat's Vadodara district earlier this month.

With inputs from PTI