Lok Sabha Question No. 4552 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2017-03-29
Subject: Centre Buffer Couplers
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: BIDYUT BARAN MAHATO, ASHOK SHANKARRAO CHAVAN, VIJAY KUMAR S.R., SUDHEER GUPTA, T. RADHAKRISHNAN, KUNWAR HARIBANSH SINGH, GAJANAN CHANDRAKANT KIRTIKAR

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 4552 TO BE ANSWERED ON 29.03.2017

## CENTRE BUFFER COUPLERS

## 4552. SHRI BIDYUT BARAN MAHATO:

SHRI ASHOK SHANKARRAO CHAVAN:

SHRI S.R. VIJAYAKUMAR:

SHRI SUDHEER GUPTA:

SHRI T. RADHAKRISHNAN:

KUNWAR HARIBANSH SINGH:

SHRI GAJANAN KIRTIKAR:

## Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

- (a) whether  the  Government  has  decided  to  replace  the  existing Centre Buffer Couplers (CBCs) of Rajdhani Express to make the train ride jerk free and improve safety;
- (b) if so, the details thereof along with the unique characteristics of new design of CBCs;
- (c) the number of coaches wherein CBCs are to be replaced and the total  expenditure  likely  to  be  incurred  to  replace  the  existing CBCs;
- (d) whether  the  Government  has  experimented  the  new  design  of CBCs and if so, the details and the outcome thereof along with the time by which it is likely to be replaced; and
- (e) the steps taken/being taken by the Government to replace CBCs of other trains?

## MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## ANSWER (SHRI RAJEN GOHAIN)

(a): Yes, Madam.  It has been decided to replace the Centre Buffer Couplers (CBCs) of LHB (Linke Hofmann Busch) type coaches fitted with Single pack draft gear or Floating plate draft gear with CBCs with Balanced draft gear to mitigate the jerks in the train ride. This includes  Rajdhani  train  LHB  coaches  as  well  as  LHB  coaches  of other trains..

(b): The new design CBCs have Balanced draft gear which has been optimized for passenger comfort. With the introduction of CBCs with Balanced draft gear, the jerks have reduced significantly.

(c):  Sanction  for  the  retrofitment  of  improved  design  CBCs  with Balanced draft gear in 1350 LHB coaches is already available under Rolling  Stock  Programme  (RSP)  and  provision  of  the  same  in  500 more LHB coaches has been sought under RSP 17-18 at a cost of ₹ 5

lac  per  coach.  The  approximate  cost  for  this  work  in  1850  LHB coaches at a cost of ₹ 5 lac per coach would be ₹ 92.5 crore. (d):  Yes,  Madam. A detailed study was carried by Research Design and  Standards  Organisation  (RDSO)/Lucknow  on  new  CBCs  for evaluation of the jerks and the specification of CBCs with balanced draft  gear  was  developed  by  RDSO.  The  jerk  levels  on  the  new design were found significantly lower than earlier design. The  progress  of  the  work  of  replacement  of  CBCs  of  LHB  type coaches  fitted  with  Single  pack  draft  gear  or  Floating  plate  draft gear with CBCs with Balanced draft gear depends upon the capacity and availability of funds and therefore no timelines can be ascertained.

(e): It has been decided to replace CBCs of LHB type coaches fitted with Single pack draft gear or Floating plate draft gear with CBCs with Balanced draft gear. This includes Rajdhani train LHB coaches as well as LHB coaches of other trains.

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