Saint-Gobain’s glass adorns the roof of Indian Railways’ Vistadome coach

The Indian Railways recently introduced a see-through Vistadome air-conditioned coach for a quaint commute from Vishakhapatnam to ArakuValley. Railway Minister Suresh Prabu flagged-off the coach through a video-link from Bhubaneswar on April 16.

A press release issued by Saint-Gobain said the company specifically designed and supplied glass panels for the roof that comprises two different kinds of glass variants.

The rooftop panel is made of SGG Priva-Lite, a glass that becomes transparent/ translucent at a click of a switch. This glass is paired with SGG Planitherm Ultra a thermal insulation glass that helps maintain optimum day-lighting without glare and helps maintain the indoor air-conditioning at a desired temperature irrespective of the climate outside. The composite unit that measures to 33mm thickness also provides acoustic insulation.

These specially designed panels provide for stellar views to commuters, while giving them the comfort of solar and thermal control on exceptionally sunny days. The coach features a dome design with large windows and an observation lounge for panoramic views enroute Araku Valley.

Commenting on the launch, Santhanam, President & MD – Flat Glass (South Asia, Malaysia & Egypt), Saint-Gobain, said, “We are thrilled to partner with Indian Railways to create a spectacle of such large proportions. Innovation is at the heart of Saint-Gobain’s business and opportunities like these stand testimony to the future-ready solutions we create.”

This specially-designed Vistadome coach was manufactured at the Integral Coach Factory (ICF) at Perambur in Chennai.