Railways develop anti-Covid coach to ensure safer journey
New Delhi, July 14
In a slew of measures taken to combat the novel Coronavirus, Indian Railways had added another feather to its cap by developing post-Covid coaches.
Sustaining the ruthless fight against COVID-19, Indian Railways’ production unit, Rail Coach Factory, Kapurthala, has developed a Post Covid Coach to fight Covid 19. The coach would be equipped with hand-free amenities, copper-coated handrails and latches, plasma air purification and titanium di-oxide coating for Covid free passenger journey.
The coaches have all the operations by foot that include water tap and soap dispenser, lavatory door (outside), flush valve and latches in lavatory door. The outside wash basin is also powered with a foot operated water tap and soap dispenser and forearm operated handle on the compartment door.
The post Covid Coach is also equipped with copper-coated handrails and latches as copper degrades the virus within a few hours. Copper has antimicrobial properties. When the virus lands on copper, Ion blasts
pathogens and destroys the DNA and RNA inside the virus.
The Coach has also provision of plasma air equipment in AC duct. This plasma air equipment will sterilize the air and surfaces inside the AC coach using ionised air to make the coach Covid-19 and particulate
matter resistant. This provision will also improve the ion concentration from 100 ions/cm3 to more than 6000 ions/cm.
The Titanium Di-oxide coating in the coach functions as photoactive material. This is eco-friendly water-based coating that kills viruses, bacteria, mould, and fungal growth and most importantly enhances indoor air quality. It is non-toxic and approved by the food testing laboratory of the United States Food & Drug Administration (FDA), CE certified. TiO2 is considered to be a safe substance and is harmless to humans. This Titanium Di-oxide coating applied on washbasins, lavatory, seats and berths, snack table, glass window, floor, virtually every surface that comes in contact. Effective life of this coating is 12 months.
