VINOD BHAT
Delhi, DEC 15:
Indian Railways has registered steady progress in the production of Linke Hofmann Busch (LHB) coaches, which are designed to provide improved safety, enhanced riding comfort and better operational performance for passengers.
During the current financial year 2025-26 (up to November 2025), a total of more than 4,224 LHB coaches have been manufactured. This represents an 18% increase over the 3,590 coaches produced during the same period of the previous year. The rise in output reflects the continuous strengthening of manufacturing capacity and improved production planning across Railway Units.
In terms of factory-wise performance during this period, Integral Coach Factory (ICF), Chennai has produced 1,659 LHB coaches, followed by Modern Coach Factory (MCF), Raebareli with 1,234 coaches and Rail Coach Factory(RCF), Kapurthala with 1,331 coaches, collectively contributing to the overall growth in LHB coach production.
A long-term comparison highlights the remarkable progress achieved in recent years. Between 2014 and 2025, Indian Railways produced more than 42,600 LHB coaches, an 18 fold increase over the 2,300 coaches manufactured between 2004 and 2014. This expansion underscores the sustained focus on modernising passenger rolling stock through wider adoption of LHB coaches, known for their superior safety standards and lower maintenance requirements.
Indian Railways continues to contribute significantly to the goals of ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat’ and ‘Make in India’ initiative by enhancing domestic manufacturing capabilities and reducing dependence on imports. The organisation is focused on further augmenting its production strength to meet the growing mobility requirements of the country while providing safer, smoother and more comfortable travel experiences for passengers.
