Indian Railways To Roll Out First Rake Of 20 LHB Coaches For Bangladesh On August 12

Indian Railways is scheduled to unveil its first batch of 20 Linke Hofmann Busch (LHB) broad-gauge passenger coaches, specifically designed for Bangladesh Railway, on August 12. This marks a significant step in the bilateral railway partnership between the two nations. The coaches were produced at the Rail Coach Factory (RCF) in Kapurthala, demonstrating the RCF's capability to manufacture coaches according to international customers' specifications.

The first train carriage will consist of three Air-Conditioned Sleeper Cars, three Air-Conditioned Chair Cars, twelve Non-Air-Conditioned Chair Cars, and two Power Cars. These coaches exhibit several unique design elements and modifications, showcasing RCF's design, engineering, and manufacturing prowess in adapting its products to international requirements.

The RCF's collaboration with Bangladesh Railway began in 2015-16, when the Kapurthala factory delivered 120 LHB passenger coaches to Bangladesh. Following this, Bangladesh Railway placed an additional order in 2024 for 200 broad-gauge passenger coaches in seven distinct variants, through RITES. This ongoing collaboration highlights the trust and confidence placed in RCF's manufacturing capabilities by Bangladesh Railway.

For Indian Railways, securing international orders is a testament to its manufacturing prowess and a potential avenue for expanding its footprint in the global railway market. The rollout of the first LHB coach rake is anticipated to be a key milestone in strengthening India-Bangladesh railway relations and could pave the way for Indian railways to play a more significant role in international railway infrastructure and passenger mobility projects.