Poor condition of coaches of Kerala bound trains

Poor condition of coaches of Kerala bound trains

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS
RAJYA SABHA

QUESTION NO 310

ANSWERED ON 23.03.2018

Poor condition of coaches of Kerala bound trains

310 Shri Joy Abraham
Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state :-

(a) whether the Ministry has received complaints regarding the extremely poor condition of coaches of Kerala-bound trains, especially long distance trains, viz., Kerala Express, Himsagar Express, Vivek Express, etc.;

(b) if so, the action taken by the Ministry to address the issues; and

(c) the measures taken to ensure good condition of sleeper coaches for long distance trains, considering the fact that the passengers who have to spend several days in trains need better coaches than the coaches for short distance trains?

ANSWER

MINISTER OF RAILWAYS AND COAL (SHRI PIYUSH GOYAL)

(a) to (c): A Statement is laid on the Table of the House.

STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PARTS (a) TO (c) OF STARRED QUESTION NO. 310 BY SHRI JOY ABRAHAM ANSWERED IN RAJYA SABHA ON 23.03.2018 REGARDING POOR CONDITION OF COACHES OF KERALA-BOUND TRAINS

(a) & (b): Yes, Sir. Complaints have been received about Kerala bound trains. These complaints are related with both cleaning as well as maintenance of coaches.
The actions taken for improvement in the condition of Kerala bound trains are as under:-

1. The trains running through Trivandrum and Palaghat divisions are maintained at various Coaching Depots at Trivandrum, Nagercoil, Ernakulam, Alleppy, Kochuveli, Shoranur & Mangalore. In these depots, coaches maintained and are cleaned thoroughly during primary and secondary maintenance.

2. As effort to give focussed attention and bring about improvement in condition of coaches, drives have been launched as under:-
i. Provision of Bypass couplers in Second Class cum Luggage Brake
Van (SLRs) & Vestibule, Brake, Luggage cum Generator Car (WLRRM)
ii. Cleanliness & dis-infection of pantry cars
iii. Repair of non functioning of Mobile charging points
iv. Avoid detention to trains at enroute
v. Passenger awareness on Bio toilets
vi. Availability of dust bins inside toilets
vii. Performance of Bio toilets
viii. Water leaking in coaches due to roof leakage and defective shutters
ix. Exterior painting of coaches
x. Condition of First Class Air Conditioned Coach (FAC) & First Class cum Second Class Air Condition Coach (FSCWAC) coaches
xi. Ensure condition of under gear fittings
xii. Provision of destination board, coach indication board & panel boards
xiii. Working condition of Hand brake & Brake power of Second Class cum Luggage Brake Van (SLR) coaches
xiv. Availability of commode chutes in coaches.

3. All pitlines and platforms have been provided with high pressure jet system for effective cleaning of coaches and toilets.

4. Mechanized cleaning of coaches has been introduced at Ernakulam and Nagercoil Depots. It will be progressively introduced in all other Depots also. Clean Train Stations (CTS) contract, for enroute cleaning attention is in place at Shoranur and Mangalore Junction. At these two stations about 400 coaches per day are given enroute attention.

5. On Board Housekeeping Service (OBHS) in trains has been introduced for on board cleaning services. Out of the 79 trains identified in Kerala Region, OBHS has been started in 58 trains. Work is under way to provided OBHS facilities in additional 21 trains.

6. To provide good quality washed linen to passengers, one mechanized laundry of 3 tones capacity is available at Kochuveli Depot of Trivandrum division.

7. ‘Coach Mitra’ / ‘Clean My Coach’ Application, which can be used by passengers for communicating their cleaning requirements through SMS, has been provided in all Kerala bound trains with OBHS.

8. The roof and Air-Conditioned (AC) Ducts are thoroughly checked during maintenance especially during the Monsoon Season to identify leakages. Gaps in shutters are also checked and rectified, if required. Periodic drives are ordered to check this aspect in all trains plying in Kerala.

9. AC coaches are maintained intensively and special care is taken to ensure cleanliness, availability of Passenger Amenity items and Toiletries.

10. The new designed Linke Hofmann Busch (LHB) coaches have been introduced in 8 trains running in Kerala. Recently, a model rake turned out by Integral Coach Factory (ICF), Chennai has been induced in Vayanad Express. In future, as per availability from Production Units, more LHB rakes will be inducted into services in progressive manner.
(c): All sleeper coaches of long distance trains are within the prescribed codal life. All sleeper coaches are regularly maintained in the Depots and Workshops for prescribed schedule attention. Already LHB coaches have been inducted in 8 Kerala bound trains, these will be further proliferated in future. Recently, a model rake with good quality interior furnishing has been turned out by ICF and has been induced in Vayanad Express.