That’s another fascinating milestone in the history of Indian Railways!

Introduced by: Bombay, Baroda and Central India (BB&CI) Railway Company

Year: 1862

Location: Bombay (now Mumbai), Maharashtra

These were among the earliest double-decker railway coaches in the world.

Lower Deck Seating Capacity: 120 to 150 passengers

Upper Deck Seating Capacity: 70 passengers

These coaches were designed to accommodate more people on busy suburban routes, especially in and around Bombay, which already had high commuter demand even in the 19th century.

The double-decker coaches were mostly open or semi-open on the upper deck in the early days, resembling horse-drawn omnibuses stacked vertically.

The coaches were pulled by steam locomotives, running on narrow to broad gauge lines.

Despite the rudimentary design by today’s standards, they were a clever solution for increasing capacity without needing more trains.

The tradition of double-decker trains continued and was revived multiple times:

In 1978, the Howrah–Dhanbad Double Decker Express was introduced.

In 2011, the modern AC Double-Decker Express was launched with LHB coaches, starting with the Howrah–Dhanbad route again.

Fully air-conditioned LHB coaches

Wi-Fi, LED screens, automatic doors

Serving high-density routes like Mumbai–Surat, Bangalore–Chennai, and others

The 1862 double-decker coaches were not just a transportation solution but a pioneering effort in railway engineering, predating even many Western implementations of such designs.

It showcased Indian Railways’ ability to adapt and innovate early on, keeping pace with the needs of a growing urban population.