Star attraction: Soon, ICF to roll out coaches with transparent roof

The ICF has made a giant leap from conventional steel coaches to delivering customised Vestidome coaches fitted with glass ceiling and large windows that allow a panoramic view of the surroundings from inside the train. The roof glasses have electric opalescence control, which allows travellers to change the texture of the glass with the touch of a button. If it is a bright sunny day, all that they have to do is touch a button to shield themselves from the bright rays of the sun. With another touch, the same ceiling could be made transparent, allowing them to gaze at the sky during night. 

Apart from the ceiling, the coaches also have 2.2mx1.25m window, which enables travelers to get a panoramic view of the surroundings. Chairs which can rotate 360 degrees are another value addition in the coach. 

ICF has so far delivered three such Vestidome coaches, which run in Arakku Valley, Mumbai-Goa sector and Jammu & Kashmir. However, there is a catch. The customised coaches would be produced only on order basis. The three coaches, ICF officials claimed, were funded for tourist promotion. “We have only produced three coaches. If we receive orders, we will produce more,” said S Srinivas, chief design engineer of ICF. Asked about the possibility of supplying vestidome coaches to SR, Sudhanshu Mani, General Manager, ICF, said they are only the manufacturers and it is for the railway board to decide.