Avantika Express to have LHB coaches

In order to make rail journey safe, Western Railway (WR) is going to replace all conventional coaches in Avantika Express running between Indore – Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus (CST – Mumbai) by Linke Holfman Bush (LHB) coaches.

In order to make rail journey safe, Western Railway (WR) is going to replace all conventional coaches in Avantika Express running between Indore – Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus (CST – Mumbai) by Linke Holfman Bush (LHB) coaches.

High-speed trains such as Rajdhani, Shatabdi have LHB coaches and run on the same tracks but have never met with accidents. (HT File)

WR public relations officer Jitendra Kumar Jayant informed HT that the Mumbai-bound train, which starts from Indore, will get new LHB coaches by December.

With this, five long-distance trains originating from Indore will have this rake, namely Indore – Yeshwantpur weekly Express, Indore – Mumbai Duranto bi-weekly train, Indore Kochuveli weekly express, Indore – Delhi Rohilla Sarai intercity express and Indore Mumbai Avantika Express.

Jayant said the new coaches, which will be available for Avantika Express, will have 22 coaches, including two generators and a luggage van.

Earlier, many technical experts in the city claimed that number of casualties in Indore – Patna Express derailment could have been less if LHB coaches were installed instead of conventional coaches.

Prof ML Jain, mechanical department head at Shri Govindram Seksaria Institute of Technology and Science (SGSITS) said, “High-speed trains like Rajdhani and Shatabdi with LHB rakes run on the same route and not a single case of the trains facing any minor accident has been reported since long”.

Sources say LHB coaches are anti-telescopic, meaning they won’t overturn in case of derailment. They are also equipped with fire-retardant foams and advanced couplers to join coaches.