OREANDA-NEWS. September 8, 2011.   Indian Railways plan to progressively increase the manufacture of new LHB (Linke Hofmann Bush) design coaches, the technology for which was acquired through a Transfer of Technology (TOT) agreement with M/s ALSTOM, Germany.  A complete switchover to new manufacture of only LHB design coaches is envisaged by the end of the five year plan 2012-17.  The existing conventional Integral Coach Factory (ICF) design coaches shall however still remain in service.  These coaches have the following superior features as compared to the conventional ICF design coach:-

•        Longer Service life
•        Enhanced safety standards, particularly crash worthiness
•        High carrying capacity of about 10-12 per cent.
•        High speed potential.
•        Superior riding comfort.
•        Aesthetic Interiors.
•        Lower maintenance-no corrosion owing to stainless steel body etc.

The average differential in the cost of manufacture of LHB design coach and the corresponding Integral Coach Factory (ICF) design coach is presently approximately Rs. 75 lakh to 1 crore, but this is expected to reduce significantly with volume production of LHB coaches.

Rail Coach Factory, Kapurthala is already a Coach Production Unit to International standards.  Projects have also been sanctioned to further upgrade the facilities at Rail Coach Factory, Kapurthala and Integral Coach Factory, Chennai to increase production of LHB design coaches.

This information was given by the Minister of State for Railways Shri K. H. Muniyappa in written reply to a question in Lok Sabha today.