Indian Railways has announced a change in the coach composition of the Dhanbad-Bhubaneswar Express (Train 18403/18404). This update will take effect from July 10, 2024, for trains leaving from Bhubaneswar and from July 11, 2024, for those departing from Dhanbad. The East Coast Railway (ECoR) zone, which maintains the rake, issued the notification on Thursday.
What are the changes in the coach combination?
The railway has decided to reduce the number of Sleeper Class coaches to make more room for General and AC passengers. The total number of coaches in the train will remain 17. The changes are as follows:
| Coach Type | Old Number | New Number |
|---|---|---|
| Sleeper (SL) | 8 | 6 |
| Third AC (3A) | 3 | 4 |
| General (GS) | 3 | 4 |
| Second AC (2A) | 1 | 1 |
Recent upgrades to the train
Apart from the coach change, the train has recently undergone a major upgrade. The old ICF coaches were replaced with modern LHB (Linke Hofmann Busch) coaches. This full conversion was completed by April 28, 2026, with the introduction of the second LHB rake to improve passenger safety and comfort.
Regularization of the route
Union Railways Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw previously discussed the regularization of the Bhubaneswar-Dhanbad Special (02832/02831) as the regular Express (18403/18404). This move, effective from April 1st and 2nd, 2026, was intended to strengthen regional connectivity and make travel easier for passengers.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
When will the new coach composition start?
It starts from July 10, 2024, for trains from Bhubaneswar and July 11, 2024, for trains from Dhanbad.
How many Sleeper coaches are now in the train?
The number of Sleeper coaches has been reduced from eight to six.