Lok Sabha Question No. 2518 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-12-26
Subject: LHB Coaches
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: MAHEISH GIRRI

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2518 TO BE ANSWERED ON 26.12.2018

## LHB COACHES

## 2518. SHRI MAHEISH GIRRI:

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

- (a) whether  the  Government  has  decided  to  switch  over  to  Linke Hofmann Busch (LHB) coaches over ICF coaches in view of their higher speed and safety;
- (b) if so, the details thereof;
- (c) whether  the  Government  has  introduced  and  proliferated  any Global Positioning System (GPS); and
- (d) if  so,  the  details  thereof  and  the  aims  and  objectives  for installing the said GPS systems?

## ANSWER MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## (SHRI RAJEN GOHAIN)

(a) &  (b):  The  passenger  coaches  plying  over  Indian  Railways  (IR) have been designed with the necessary safety features considering the  operating  conditions  over  IR.    However,  Linke  Hofmann  Busch (LHB) design coaches have higher speed potential and better safety features  than  conventional  Integral  Coach  Factory  (ICF)  design coaches.

It has therefore been decided to run more trains with LHB coaches. getting replaced by LHB coaches in a phased manner.  308 pairs of trains

It has also been decided that only manufactured by Production Units of IR from April 2018 onwards.

Trains operating with conventional ICF coaches are are being operated with LHB coaches as in November 2018. LHB  coaches  would  be

(c)  &  (d):  Yes,  Madam.  Ministry  of  Railways  is  implementing  the Real-Time Train Information System (RTIS) which involves tracking of train by placing GPS based devices on locomotives. The real-time information on passenger  train  movement  covered  under  this project will be shared through the existing enquiry system, including  the  website.  Under  phase-1  of  RTIS,  2,700  locomotives will  be  covered.  Priority  will  be  given  to  installation  in  coaching locomotives.

In addition to this, two GPS based devices have been introduced for the loco diesel locomotives on IR:

- (i) Remote Monitoring and Management of Locomotives and Trains (REMMLOT) and
- (ii) Fog PASS Device

The details, aims and objectives for introducing these two devices are as under:

-  REMMLOT:    It  is  a  GPS  based  system.  It  enables  remote monitoring of health and operational characteristics of diesel locomotives.  REMMLOT  is  useful  for  accident  investigation, monitoring of crew performance and loco-location. The above system  is already running on about 3,633 (3,520 diesel locomotives and 113 Diesel Electric Multiple Units (DEMUs).
-  Fog  PASS  Device:  Fog  PASS  Device  is  a  Global  Positioning System (GPS) based hand held portable device, which is not installed on a locomotive as such but is given to Loco Pilots in fog affected sections.  It serves as an aid for the crew during foggy  weather  through  audio  visual  alarm,  whenever  any landmark  comes  within  the  Geo-fence  range.  Location  of stations,  warning  boards,  signals,  level  crossing  gates  and Whistle for Level crossing (W/L) boards in the section is fed in the  equipment.    It  displays  speed  of  the  locomotive  and distance and time to reach landmarks.

Fog  PASS  Devices  are  being  used  only  in  those  zones  of  IR where the trains pass through fog affected region.  6,940 Fog Pass  Devices  have  been  procured  and  provided  to  Zonal Railways so far.  6,000 nos. more Fog PASS Devices have been sanctioned and included in Pink Book 2018-19.

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