Lok Sabha Question No. 3901 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2024-12-18
Subject: Contemplating Vande Bharat Trains throughout the Country
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: Shri Kalyan Banerjee, Shri  Chhotelal

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED  QUESTION NO.  3901 TO BE ANSWERED ON 18.12.2024

## CONTEMPLATING VANDE BHARAT TRAINS THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY

†3901. SHRI CHHOTELAL: SHRI KALYAN BANERJEE:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

- (a)    whether    the    Government    is    contemplating    to    run    Vande    Bharat    Trains throughout the country in future, if so, the details thereof;
- (b)   whether   the   Government   proposes   to   replace   Rajdhani/Shatabdi/Duronto trains with Vande Bharat;
- (c)    if so,    the    details    thereof    and    if    not,    the    detail    of    earnings    thereof, train-wise and zone-wise;
- (d)    the    number    of    ICF    coaches    redesigned    and    upgraded    to    LHB    coaches since 2019 year-wise;
- (e)    whether    the    coaches    are    technically    compatible    with   the   original   LHB coaches, if so, the details thereof; and
- (f)   the   number   of   coaches   identified   as   unfit   during   the   last   four   years   in   this regard?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF RAILWAYS, INFORMATION & BROADCASTING AND ELECTRONICS & INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY

(SHRI ASHWINI VAISHNAW)

- (a) to    (c)    As   on    12 th December,   2024,    136 Vande   Bharat   train   services, having    Chair    Cars,    are    operational    on    the    Broad    Gauge    (B.G.)    electrified network of Indian Railways, which have been introduced without replacement    of existing    services. Besides,    introduction    of    new    train services,   including   Vande   Bharat   services,   is   an   ongoing   process   on   Indian Railways    subject    to    traffic    justification,    operational    feasibility,    resource availability, etc.

On   IR,   Train-wise   earning   is   not   maintained.   However,   during   2024-25   (upto October,   24)   the   overall   occupancy   of   Vande   Bharat   Express   trains   is   more than 100%.

(d)    to    (f) Indian    Railways    (IR)    has    proliferated    LHB    coaches    which    are technologically    superior    with    features    like    Anti    climbing    arrangement,    Air suspension    (Secondary)    with    failure    indication    system    and    less    corrosive shell.   These   coaches   have   better   riding   and   aesthetics   as   compared   to   the conventional    ICF    coaches    and    have    design/operating    speed    of    180/160 kmph.

The    Production    units    of    Indian    Railways    are    producing    only    LHB    coaches from   April    2018    onwards.    The    production    of    LHB    coaches    has    continually increased   during    the    years.    Number    of    LHB    coaches    manufactured   during 2014-24 vis a vis 2004-14 is as under:

| Period   | LHB coaches manufactured         |
|----------|----------------------------------|
| 2004-14  | 2,337 nos.                       |
| 2014-24  | 36,933 nos. (more than 16 times) |

Besides,    replacement/repair    of    coaches    is    a    continuous    process    and    is carried   out   based   on   condition/completion   of   codal   life   etc. The   number   of coaches (BG) condemned during last 05 years are as under:

| Year      |   No. of BG Coaches condemned |
|-----------|-------------------------------|
| 2019-2020 |                          1841 |
| 2020-2021 |                          2110 |
| 2021-2022 |                          1494 |
| 2022-2023 |                          2675 |
| 2023-2024 |                          2776 |
| Total     |                         10896 |

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