The LHB coaches are equipped with modern technology to prevent capsizing of coaches during derailment unlike the old Integral Coach Factory designed coaches
A day after eight conventional coaches of Mahakaushal Express derailed in Uttar Pradesh, the railways on Friday said it is committed to provide safe journey to passengers and is making all efforts to proliferate modern Linke Hofmann Busch (LHB) coaches in trains. The LHB coaches are equipped with modern technology to prevent capsizing of coaches during derailment unlike the old Integral Coach Factory (ICF) designed coaches.
Apart from increasing the number of new modern coaches, railways said that it also plans to undertake Mid-Life rehabilitation (MLR) of at least 1,000 coaches this year. During 2016-17, 766 such coaches underwent MLR but in 2017-2018, the railways has decided to rehabilitate 1,000 coaches, railways said on Friday.
Capsizing of conventional coaches in three consecutive major train derailments since November last year had pushed the Railways to go for complete elimination of old-designed compartments at ICF near Chennai and opt for modern LHB ones. Railways plans to full stop manufacturing of ICF conventional coaches from 2018-19 and therefore, railways has increased manufacturing of modern coaches, sources in railways said.
"A policy decision has been taken to proliferate Linke Hofmann Busch (LHB) coaches. LHB type coaches are based on new technology and are of superior design as compared to conventional Integral Coach Factory (ICF) type coaches," Minister of State for Railways Rajen Gohain said. The minister gave the statement while giving a written reply in Rajya Sabha to a question on modernisation of coaches.
Meanwhile, the Minister also informed the upper house of parliament that it has recently introduced modern Humsafar trains which have additional amenities to provide a more comfortable experience to passengers who travel in AC-III tier. Humsafar coaches have improved aesthetics, passenger announcement system, Closed-Circuit Television (CCTV) based surveillance system, etc, the minister said. He said that the government plans to introduce 200 Humsafar coaches in every financial year till 2020.
The minister said that the railways had also introduced Antyodaya and Deen Dayalu coaches for providing additional amenities for unreserved travel. These coaches have features such as cushioned luggage racks, drinking water dispenser, pleasing interior and exterior with anti-graffiti measures, enhanced number of mobile charging points, etc.
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
 "Mahakaushal Express")
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
)
)
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}