Daijiworld Media Network - New Delhi
New Delhi, Dec 14: Indian Railways has reported strong growth in the manufacturing of advanced Linke Hofmann Busch (LHB) coaches, marking steady progress in its push toward safer, more comfortable and modern passenger travel.
According to a statement issued by the Railways Ministry on Sunday, more than 4,224 LHB coaches were produced during the current financial year 2025–26 up to November 2025. This reflects an 18 per cent increase compared to the 3,590 coaches manufactured during the same period last year, indicating improved production planning and enhanced capacity across railway coach manufacturing units.
Among the production units, the Integral Coach Factory (ICF) in Chennai led the output with 1,659 coaches, followed by the Rail Coach Factory (RCF) in Kapurthala with 1,331 coaches and the Modern Coach Factory (MCF) in Raebareli with 1,234 coaches. Together, these factories have driven the overall rise in LHB coach production.
A longer-term comparison underscores the scale of transformation in coach manufacturing. Between 2014 and 2025, Indian Railways produced over 42,600 LHB coaches — nearly 18 times more than the approximately 2,300 coaches manufactured between 2004 and 2014. This sharp increase reflects a sustained focus on replacing older ICF coaches with modern LHB designs across the network.
Developed from German technology by Alstom, LHB coaches feature stainless steel bodies, advanced disc braking systems, higher operational speeds of up to 160 kmph, and enhanced safety mechanisms such as anti-climbing devices. They are now widely used in premium and long-distance services, including Rajdhani and Shatabdi Express trains, offering lower maintenance costs and improved passenger comfort.
The ministry said the growth in domestic coach production aligns with India’s ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat’ and ‘Make in India’ initiatives by strengthening indigenous manufacturing and reducing reliance on imports. Indian Railways aims to further scale up production capacity to meet rising travel demand while ensuring safer, smoother and more comfortable journeys for passengers nationwide.