One of the new Diesel Electric Multiple Unit (DEMU) rakes with toilets and other features provided to the Tiruchi Railway Division recently was put into regular operation on Wednesday.
The swanky DEMU with aeronautically designed power cars was put into service in the Tiruchi-Karaikal broad gauge section.
Manufactured by Bharat Earth Movers Limited, Bangalore, the new rake was subjected to trials before being used for regular operations.
The DEMU with six trailing cars and two power cars is equipped with toilets in each trailing car – a facility that is absent in conventional DEMU coaches.
The Tiruchi-Karaikal section was chosen for operation of the new DEMU train as there was good patronage in the route, railway officials said.
The new rake was flagged off by Divisional Railway Manager A.K.Agarwal at Tiruchi Junction on Wednesday evening.
The DEMU rakes are spacious with extra provision for standing in each one of the trailing car. The vestibule coaches with sliding doors have fibre reinforced plastic in the interiors.
The second new DEMU rake would be put into operation in a few days with the divisional railway authorities planning to operate it in the Tiruchi-Cuddalore-Vriddhachalam section.
The officials said Tiruchi Division would soon be getting two more new DEMU rakes in the near future. The first DEMU rake with toilets was put into use in Tiruchi railway division in 2012.
