New rakes for Patna-New Delhi Sampoorna Kranti Exp soon

 In a major policy decision, the railways has decided to introduce Linke Holfmann Bush (LHB) coaches in all mail and express trains phase-wise in the country. The LHB coaches are based on the German technology ensuring foolproof safety and riding comforts to the passengers. At present, LHB coaches are being used in Rajdhani Express, Shatabdi Express and Duronto trains.According to a Railway Board official, the railways has already decided to replace old coaches of Patna-New Delhi Sampoorna Kranti Express by LHB coaches. These new coaches have reached Patna and they are ready for the run in the Sampoorna Kranti Express, he said and added the railways plans to manufacture 3,500 coaches of which 500 will be LHB coaches in the current fiscal.While it costs about Rs 1.5 crore to manufacture a conventional coach, the cost of each LHB coach is about Rs 2.5 crore. The LHB coaches are anti-telescopic and are equipped with fire retardant and advanced couplers to join coaches, he said."As LHB coaches are anti-telescopic, they cannot turn turtle in the event of any derailment or collision. Besides, in case of fire, there is no toxic fume and black smoke inside the coaches as these coaches are fire retardant," the official said and added there were instances when passengers were found safe in the wake of fire and derailment of Rajdhani Express at different places in the country.The railways has decided to opt for LHB coaches in future for all mail and express trains due to the fact that the derailed LHB coaches get stuck to the ground after derailment instead of capsizing or rolling over on tracks as happens in the case of conventional coaches, sources said.In the case of Sampoorna Kranti Express, the railways has taken a decision to replace old coaches by LHB coaches keeping in mind the fact that this train has no commercial halt between Patna and New Delhi except operational halts at a few stations for the change of crew members.Thus, LHB coaches would not only prove to be a boon for passengers travelling by this train, but would provide riding comfort as well.Besides, the LHB pantry car service is much superior compared to general pantry car services attached to mail and express trains, sources said.Since the railways is keen to introduce high-speed mail and express trains gradually across the country, it would be essential to replace all old coaches with the LHB coaches in future to ensure foolproof safety on tracks and passengers during journey, the official said.