Inaugural run of Duronto tomorrow

KOCHI: The Ernakulam-New Delhi weekly Duronto Express train announced in the 2009-10 Railway budget would have its inaugural run from here on Sunday morning.The coaches covered with vinyl wrapper have yellow and green graphics over them. The brand-new coaches arrived here a few days ago. The train will return to Ernakulam on March 13. The regular service of the non-stop train from Ernakulam through Konkan will be from March 16.�The train has a First AC coach with 24 berths and a Second AC coach with 54 berths. The four Third AC coaches can together accommodate 288 passengers, while the eight second class sleeper coaches can house a total of 640 passengers. There would also be two sitting cum luggage vans and a pantry car,� said the Ernakulam Area Manager George John.It would be a new experience for passengers to travel in the non-stop train which has better-designed and lengthier coaches with wide windows. The stainless steel coaches built at the Kapurthala coach factory can accommodate 72 passengers in AC 3 tier, unlike regular coaches that hold 64 people. Similarly, the second-class sleeper coaches have 80 berths, as compared to 72 in regular coaches.Under the modified design, the toilet waste is discharged onto tracks only after the train attains a minimum speed (around 35 kms per hour), thus ensuring the cleanliness of tracks in railway stations