Lok Sabha Question No. 1765 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2016-05-04
Subject: Re-Designing of Railway Coaches
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: ELUMALAI VELLAIGOUNDER, ASHWINI KUMAR CHOUBEY

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1765 TO BE ANSWERED ON 04.05.2016

## RE-DESIGNING OF RAILWAY COACHES

1765.    SHRI V. ELUMALAI: SHRI ASHWINI KUMAR CHOUBEY:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

- (a) whether any research has been done regarding re-designing of railway coaches and if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor;
- (b) the funds that have been allocated for the same during the last three years;
- (c) whether the Railways have rolled out the new coaches designed by the National Institute of Design and if so, the details thereof;
- (d) the number of rail coaches which have been replaced with the new design, zone-wise; and
- (e) whether  the  Railways  was  pushing  for  the  rollout  of  new  and modern coaches which would change the way a typical journey by Indian Railways is often perceived and if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

(SHRI MANOJ SINHA)

(a):  Re-designing  of  coach  sub-assemblies  and  components  is continually undertaken by RDSO (Research Designs and Standards

Organisation)  and  Design  centers  of  coach  Production  Units  of Indian  Railways.  In  the  recent  past,  following  major  projects  for redesigning of coaches were undertaken:

-  Linke Hofmann Busch (LHB) Air-Conditioned (AC) coach to LHB non-AC  variant  coaches  viz.  LHB  non-AC  Sleeper,  and  LHB second class sitting coaches.
-  LHB AC single deck Chair Car coach to LHB AC Double Decker Chair Car coach with higher carrying capacity.
-  LHB Power Car to LHB luggage cum Guard Van with underslung Diesel alternator set.
-  Non-AC Electric Multiple Unit (EMU) rakes to AC EMU rakes for Mumbai suburban area.
-  Mainline  Electric  Multiple  Unit/Diesel  Electric  Multiple  Unit (MEMU/DEMU)  Trailer Coaches  (TC) without toilet to  TC coaches with toilets.
-  Diesel fuel based Power Car for DEMU to Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) fuel based Power Car.
-  General  DEMU  coaches  to  Jammu  and  Kashmir  (J&K)  DEMU coaches with modified seating layout and heating arrangement.
-  Redesigning of interiors of conventional Integral Coach Factory (ICF) design coaches to develop model rake coaches inducted in Mahamana Express.

(b): While no specific allocation is made for research on re-design of coaches, under Plan Head Railway Research, around ₹ 2.81 crores were allotted by RDSO in the last 3 years, i.e., 2013-14 to 2015-16 for development of various design related projects.

(c)  &  (d):  No,  Madam.  National  Institute  of  Design  has  not  yet designed any coach for Indian Railways.

(e): Indian Railways had rolled out LHB type coaches under Transfer of Technology agreement with M/s Alstom, Germany. These coaches with  superior  interiors,  are  much  safer  and  have  higher  speed potential of upto 160 kmph. Around 3150 coaches have already been inducted into service.

Indian  Railways  have  planned  for  introduction  of  modern,  State-ofArt distributed powered 15 EMU train sets having sleeper coaches or chair  cars.  These  train  sets  will  reduce  journey  time  with  better riding experience.

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