(a) whether the Government has decided to replace all conventional coaches with the light-weight Linke Hofmann Busch (LHB) coaches and if so, the details thereof;
(b) the manner in which allocation of LHB coaches to various divisions of Railways are done;
(c) the number of LHB coaches so far allotted to various divisions of Railways; and
(d) the number of LHB coaches put into service, so far, in the southern railway, which has the largest number of 6,500 conventional coaches in the country?
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS
(SHRI RAJEN GOHAIN)
(a): No, Madam. However, it has been decided that the manufacture of conventional Integral Coach Factory (ICF) type coaches shall be stopped from 2018-19 onwards.
(b): Allocation of Linke Hofmann Busch (LHB) coaches to various Zones of Indian Railways (IR) is being done to replace conventional coaches of important Mail/Express trains by LHB coaches in a phased manner and for introduction of new trains also. It is an ongoing process over IR subject to availability of coaches, maintenance facility, Commissioner of Railway Safety (CRS) sanction, operational requirement etc.
(c) & (d): As per available coaching stock position as on 31.03.2017, more than 4600 LHB coaches were available with IR including 300 LHB coaches of Southern Railway.
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