ICF to manufacture 975 LHB coaches in three years

CHENNAI: The Integral Coach Factory (ICF) in Chennai is planning to step up production of LHB (Linke Hofmann Busch) coaches, which are safer and faster.
The factory, which manufactures coaches for Indian Railways, will make 75 LHB coaches this year, 300 next year and 600 coaches the year after. LHB coaches are made of stainless steel.
“We are planning to switch to stainless steel coaches completely in five years.These coaches are better suited as there is a corrosion problem in coastal areas. LHB coaches have a life of 35 years and are equipped for speeds up to 160kmph and can be upgraded to run at 200kmph and are ideal for high speed trains,” said ICF general manager Ashok K Agarwal at a press conference here on Tuesday.
The move comes after the railway board decided to phase out the ICF-designed integral coaches and switch to LHB coaches. LHB coaches are safe as they won't pile up over other coaches during an accident. Travel comfort is also high when compared to the conventional coaches.
“The cost of production of LHB coaches is more in comparison with the conventional coaches. A conventional coach costs Rs 80 lakh to Rs 1.5 crore and LHB coach costs Rs 1.6 crore to Rs 2 crore.”
He said of the 1,622 coaches that were made last year, 386 were given to Southern Railway by Railway Board. “This year 152 coaches were given to the zone till September,” he added.
ICF is performing well in the 2014-15 production year. The half yearly production from April to September was the highest ever for each month in comparison with that in previous year. The cumulative outturn of 824 coaches during the first half of this year is the highest ever for the period and is 24.5% more than the production in the corresponding period last year.
The factory, founded in 1955, is celebrating the diamond jubilee year this year. The ICF had produced 48,708 coaches till September 2014 and will cross the 50,000th mark in the diamond jubilee year.
“A series of programmes are planned for the diamond jubilee year celebrations. These include an ICF Diamond Jubilee Exhibition Express, which will travel to all zonal headquarters and production units, a special postal stamp and cover, a mass tree plantation drive, sports and cultural competitions, medical camps for employees, a diamond jubilee scholarship fund and improvement of facilities for residential units,” he added.