Lok Sabha Question No. 162 (STARRED), answered on 2019-07-03
Subject: LHB Coaches
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: Nihal Chand Chauhan

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 162

## TO BE ANSWERED ON 03.07.2019

## LHB COACHES

†*162.  SHRI NIHAL CHAND:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

- (a) the  number  of  trains  in  the  country  equipped  so  far  with  Linke Hofmann Busch (LHB) coaches;
- (b) whether the Government proposes to equip all the trains with LHB coaches and if so, the details thereof;
- (c) whether  the  Government  is  working  on  any  other  project  to modernise trains after the introduction of Train-18 and Train-19 and if so, the details thereof;
- (d) the  steps  being  taken  by  the  Government  to  ensure  passenger safety and security and to check accidents; and
- (e) whether any scheme is being implemented in this regard and if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF RAILWAYS AND COMMERCE & INDUSTRY

(SHRI PIYUSH GOYAL)

- (a) to (e):  A Statement is laid on the Table of the House.

*****

STATEMENT  REFERRED  TO  IN  REPLY  TO  PARTS  (a)  TO  (e)  OF STARRED  QUESTION  NO.  162 BY SHRI NIHAL  CHAND  TO  BE ANSWERED IN LOK SABHA ON 03.07.2019 REGARDING LHB COACHES. (a)    &  (b)  At  present,    411  pairs  of  trains  on  Indian  Railways  are operating  with  Linke  Hofmann  Busch  (LHB)  coaches.  From  the  year 2018-19 onwards, the Production Units of Indian Railways are producing  only  LHB  coaches.  Replacement  of  trains  operating  with conventional  coaches  into  LHB  coaches  is  being  done  in  a  phased manner based on the availability of coaching stock. (c) Modernization of trains is a continuous process on Indian Railways (IR).  Introduction  of  Vande  Bharat  train  sets  on  IR  is  in  itself  a  path breaking achievement and continuous effort will be needed to proliferate  the  new  technology.  Action  has  also  been  initiated  for acquiring  technology  for  manufacture  of  Aluminium  Body  coaches  in railway factories. (d) & (e) Safety is accorded the highest priority by Indian Railways and all  possible  steps  are  undertaken  on  a  continuous  basis  to  prevent accidents and to enhance safety.  These include timely replacement of over-aged assets, adoption of suitable technologies for up-gradation and  maintenance  of  track,  rolling  stock,  signalling  and  interlocking systems, safety drives, greater emphasis on  training of officials and safety inspections at regular intervals to monitor and educate staff for observance of safe practices.   Safety devices/systems being used to prevent  accidents  include  Electronic  Interlocking,  track  circuiting, provision  of  Block  Proving  Axle  Counters,  Colour  Light  LED  Signals, Train  Protection  and  Warning  System,  Vigilance  Control  Device,  Fog Pass Device, pre-stressed Concrete Sleepers, use of Ultrasonic Flaw

Detection  of  rails  and  welds  at  predefined  periodicity  to  detect internal flaws in rails/welds.

As a result, number of consequential train accidents which were 118 in 2013-14 has come down to 59 in 2018-19. Respective figure for deaths  has  come  down  from  152  to  37.  Thus,  2018-19  has  been  the safest year in the history of Indian Railways.

Strengthening and up-gradation of security has been identified as one of the priority areas. Measures initiated for strengthening of security over  Railways  in  recent  past  include  provision of Close  Circuit Television (CCTV) cameras at important railway stations, operationalisation  and  up-gradation  of  Security  helpline  number  182, installation  of  security  equipment  like  baggage  scanners  etc.,  in addition,  escorting  of  important  trains  by  Railway  Protection  Force (RPF)  and  Government Railway  Police  (GRP).  Special  measures  have been  initiated  for  women  security  like  formation  of  special  ladies squads, prosecution of offenders under the provisions of the Railways Act.  Prevention  and  detection  of  crime  and  maintenance  of  law  and order in Railway station premises as well as in running trains are the statutory  responsibility  of  State  Governments,  which  they  discharge through the GRP. Railways, through the RPF, are supplementing efforts of respective States to strengthen security across Indian Railways. For regular  monitoring  and  review  of  security  arrangements  for  the Railways,  State  Level  Security  Committee  for  Railway  (SLSCR)  have been  constituted  for  all  States/Union  Territories  (UTs)  under  the Chairmanship of respective Director General of Police/Commissioner of State/UTs.

*****