Voice 9, New Delhi Bureau: All express trains will be equipped with LHB coaches in order to mitigate the occurrence of accidents. LHB, an acronym for Link Hoffman Bush, represents a more advanced type of coach compared to ICF.
The travel experience in these coaches is
notably comfortable, as they possess the ability to halt swiftly due to the
implementation of disc brakes. The most prominent feature of these coaches is
their anti-roll, anti-collapse, and anti-telescopic design. Constructed from
mild steel, LHB coaches are lighter in weight than ICF coaches. Consequently,
LHB coaches are now predominantly utilized in first-class trains, including the
renowned Rajdhani.
Express trains equipped with LHB coaches are capable of achieving higher speeds than those with ICF coaches. The jolting experienced while seated in an ICF coach during train travel is significantly reduced in LHB coaches. Furthermore, the noise level within these coaches is also diminished during train operation.
As a result, LHB coaches are now extensively used
on first-class trains, including the esteemed Rajdhani. LHB coaches exhibit
less damage in the event of accidents. Previous train accidents have
demonstrated that ICF coaches tend to experience compartment compression,
resulting in greater damage and an increased risk of loss of life.
However, this issue is not observed among the
specialized LHB coaches. Although these coaches may still derail in accidents,
the risk of fatalities is somewhat reduced. Additionally, rescue operations are
facilitated in the case of accidents involving LHB coaches. The railway
authorities intend to replace trains still equipped with ICF coaches with LHB
coaches. Notably, several coaches of the North East Frontier Railway have already
been converted to LHB coaches
