Did you read the news about Indian Railways going completely green by 2030 Following close on the heels of that announcement, the Railways unveiled two post-COVID coaches aimed at safer travel.

Their production unit at Kapurthala has focused on making train journeys touchless, with hands-free amenities like foot-operated water taps, soap dispensers, and even lavatory doors, and forearm-operated handles on compartment doors.

The coach also boasts copper-coated handrails and latches as it is believed that copper reduces the infection. The railway coach will also have a protective coating of titanium dioxide to improve the indoor air quality, and weaken the virus.

The Railways has also introduced plasma air equipment in AC ducts for sterilising the air and surfaces inside AC coaches.

Often labelled 'the backbone of India', the Indian Railways has carried over 23 million passengers daily before the pandemic. For the fourth largest railway network in the world, measures such as these directed towards boosting passenger confidence was much neeed at a time when people are doubtful about travelling in crowded public transport. However, it's not quite clear how many trains (and coaches) will have get these facilties.