In the upcoming six years, the railways will solely run LHB and Vande Bharat carriages

20 Jul 2023 , 09:55 AM

The number of different passenger carriage types on the Indian Railways’ network will drop from 28 to only two. According to news reports, ‘In the next five to six years, there will only be Linke Hofmann Busch (LHB) and Vande Bharat type coaches on the Indian Railways,’ with the aim of reducing the national transporter’s maintenance costs.

‘If maintenance expenses are controlled, a profitable transportation enterprise is achievable. Successful airlines who choose a similar type of aircraft use this strategy to cut maintenance costs, the report continued.

In the Budget 2023–24, the Indian Railways has set aside Rs 9792.88 crore under the Materials for Repairs and Maintenance heading. The official said that the move toward standardization might reduce maintenance costs by 40%.

The Railways will introduce additional trains for lower-income passengers, especially aimed at migrants, in addition to controlling expenses. These non-air-conditioned coach trains, according to officials, who talked to ET, will concentrate on routes where there is a considerable demand for less expensive train tickets.

The report stated, ‘These new trains will run from Assam, Punjab, Eastern UP, Bihar, Jharkhand, Odisha, and West Bengal to Gujarat, Maharashtra, and Delhi,’ adding that these routes have been determined following a survey by the Indian Railways.

These will be permanent trains designed to relieve strain on the other trains operating the routes, unlike seasonal special train services that are introduced in accordance with high-demand peak seasons.

The official added that modifications to the LHB coaches’ design are being considered in order to make them safer for passengers. ‘Coaches will soon no longer have open doors while traveling. To lessen the danger to passengers in accidents, the train coaches will also be retrofitted, he continued.

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