Chandigarh, October 21, 2024 — The Railway Board has commenced preparations to equip all trains departing from Chandigarh with Link Hoffman Busch (LHB) coaches. Officials from the Ambala Division have been tasked with providing a report on the current composition of trains operating from Chandigarh, specifically regarding the presence of Integral Coach Factory (ICF) coaches versus LHB coaches.
The introduction of LHB coaches promises numerous advantages, including increased passenger capacity—these coaches will feature 80 sleeper seats, while third AC coaches will accommodate 72 seats.
The Railway Board claims that LHB coaches not only reduce maintenance costs but also enhance passenger safety, as they are designed to prevent coaches from piling on top of one another in the event of an accident.
Currently, only four trains from Chandigarh utilize LHB coaches.
The Railway Board is working to upgrade the following routes with new coaches: the Chandigarh-Lucknow Sadbhavana Express, the Chandigarh-Prayagraj Uchahor Express, the Chandigarh-Firozpur Express, and the Chandigarh-Ramnagar Express.
Historically, LHB coaches were exclusively used in superfast trains, such as Gatiman Express, Shatabdi Express, and Rajdhani Express. Now, the Railway Board aims to extend their use to all trains.
LHB coaches, which are characterized by their red color, boast a lifespan of 30 years. In contrast, the blue ICF coaches, made from iron, have a service life of approximately 25 years before being retired from passenger service.
