Maligaon, January 4 (MExN): The Railway Minister Piyush Goyal at a meeting held on December 29 at Maligaon has instructed the Northeast Frontier Railways that all trains having primary maintenance and having pantry car in their composition should immediately be converted into LHB model coaches by replacing existing ICF model as these are very long distance trains. He emphasized that the conversion should be done in the next 3-4 months. He also instructed that allotment of coaches to N.F. Railway should be made on priority.
At the moment the N.F. Railway has 22 long distance trains running with 43 non-LHB rakes, which have pantry car facility. The total requirement of LHB coaches for all these trains works out to 1087. Out of these, Board has already sanctioned conversion of 12505 / 06 (Northeast Express) to LHB comprising of 4 rakes. One more train has been identified for conversions to LHB i.e. train no. 15707/08 (Katihar - Amritsar Amrapali Express). This train is running with 5 rakes and will require additional 120 coaches for conversion to LHB.
The LHB coaches have more safety features incorporated in them apart from being more passengers friendly with better amenities. The LHB coaches are fitted with superior suspension systems that give a much better ride quality. LHB coaches also have a maximum permissible speed upto 160 kmph as compared to the maximum speed of 110 kmph of a conventional ICF design coach.
