Northeastern Railway has announced a major upgrade for its fleet. By December 2026, all express trains under this zone will run with modern Link Hoffman Busch (LHB) coaches. This move aims to make train journeys safer and more comfortable for passengers.
What happens to the old ICF coaches
The railway will phase out the old Integral Coach Factory (ICF) coaches. These old coaches will be replaced by MEMU (Mainline Electric Multiple Unit) trains for shorter distances. Any remaining old coaches that cannot be used for MEMU trains will be converted into goods wagons for freight transport.
Current progress of LHB coach production
Indian Railways is replacing ICF coaches across the country in a planned manner. In the financial year 2025-26, up to November, a total of 4,224 LHB coaches were manufactured. This is an 18% increase compared to the same period last year. These coaches are built at the Rail Coach Factory in Kapurthala, Integral Coach Factory in Chennai, and Modern Coach Factory in Raebareli.
Recent LHB updates across other zones
| Train Name | LHB Implementation Date | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Amravati-Surat Express | May 28-29, 2026 | Central Railway update |
| Jabalpur-Nizamuddin Shridham Express | May 30-31, 2026 | More seats and better safety |
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
LHB कोच और ICF कोच में क्या अंतर है?
LHB कोच आधुनिक होते हैं जो अधिक सुरक्षित हैं और इनमें यात्रा आरामदायक होती है, जबकि ICF कोच पुराने पारंपरिक मॉडल हैं जिन्हें अब बदला जा रहा है।
पुराने ICF कोचों का क्या उपयोग होगा?
पुराने ICF कोचों की जगह MEMU ट्रेनें चलाई जाएंगी और बाकी बचे हुए कोचों को मालगाड़ी के वैगन में बदल दिया जाएगा।