Establishing the Russian-Indian train building is an ambitious challenge, impossible without the search for technical solutions and the understanding of passenger needs. According to the current schedule, the Vande Bharat trains from Kinet Railway Solutions, a joint venture between Russia and India, will be unveiled next spring. The concept of a non-compartment three-tier car has already been shown to the public.
Experts from Krasnoyarsk Machine-Building Components, KMK, who have extensive experience in designing transport interiors, evaluated the solutions in terms of comfort, ease of use and durability.
The three tiers are one of the key features. The chosen design makes efficient use of space and increases the capacity of a car. While the lower tier is intended for the elderly, children and people with disabilities, the middle and upper ones have curbs to prevent passengers from falling. Sockets, folding tables and shelves are provided for the convenience of passengers.
Rendering of a car from Kinet Railway Solutions for Indian Railways. Source: Kinet Railway Solutions
The KMK experts point out that more luggage space is needed, as passengers on long journeys tend to have a lot of luggage, and the design does not provide enough space under the lower tier. Additional niches or suspended luggage racks could help.
Access to the upper tier can also be improved. Now, some dexterity is required, especially for the elderly. The KMK team believes that steps and handrails will make the passenger experience more comfortable and will greatly improve comfort and safety when accessing the upper tier.
Trains in the Indian Railways fleet often carry passengers on long journeys, so ease of use and a comfortable environment are a must. Unlike standard transport solutions, the interiors of the Vande Bharat are designed in warm, woody colours with soft lighting.
The interior proved to be cosy, not a typical transport interior, but rather close to home. However, heavy traffic would require the use of wear- and dirt-resistant upholstery and other materials.
Rendering of a car from Kinet Railway Solutions for Indian Railways. Source: Kinet Railway Solutions
Another key feature of the chosen design is passenger privacy. When it comes to India, personal space is critical, especially for women, however the design does not include curtains or partitions that could be beneficial. The KMK experts believe that curtains around the sleeping berths would make passengers more comfortable while sleeping and improve the overall user experience.
As the climate in India is challenging for ventilation and AC systems, the opening windows shown in the rendering are not the best solution. If a passenger on the lower-tier berth opens the window, the air can cause discomfort to those above. The best solution may be to use double glazed blind windows and a central AC system to cool the car. Individual fans at each berth, similar to those found on airliners, could also be considered.
Rendering of a car from Kinet Railway Solutions for Indian Railways. Source: Kinet Railway Solutions
While the Russian rail industry has a wealth of experience in building EMUs of up to 12 seated cars and sleeping coaches, the development of sleeping non-compartment cars for the Indian project is a completely new task. The Vande Bharat will be an EMU made of head, motor and non-motor sleeping cars that are comfortable, have perfect aerodynamics, comply with weight limits and boast low energy consumption.
EMUs and locomotive-hauled trains differ in the design of their power supply, cooling and air distribution systems, and the Indian climate imposes additional requirements. The train equipment must be able to maintain the interior temperature at a comfortable level while cooling the equipment efficiently. Such trains will cost more to operate and maintain than conventional locomotive-hauled sleepers.
Marathwada Rail Coach Factory, MRCF, a production site chosen by Kinet Railway Solutions for EMU manufacture. Source: FPJ
To design the Vande Bharat sleeper EMU, Kinet Railway Solutions will have to solve a complex task of developing technical innovations based on an understanding of real passenger needs. The collaboration should show high level of solutions, with improvements like luggage racks, ventilation systems and privacy aspects creating a truly comfortable and efficient transport for long-distance journeys. As a result, the Vande Bharat could set a new standard of comfort and increase confidence in Russian technology in the international market.
Authors:
Aleksandr Nizhnevsky, Director of Krasnoyarsk Machine-Building Components
Andrey Kersh, Design Manager of Krasnoyarsk Machine-Building Components
