Indian Railways -- ICF Coaches vs LHB Coaches

ICF Coaches

ICF - Integral Coach Factory

Conventional passenger coaches

Used in: All local passengers, MEMU, DEMU, mail/express and some of the less important super-fast express trains

• Design developer - Integral Coach Factory, Perambur (near Chennai), India
• Design collaborator - Swiss Car & Elevator Manufacturing Co., Schlieren, Switzerland

The design is also called the Schlieren design based on the location of the Swiss company.

• Technology transferred - 1950
• Factory established - 1952
• Production started - 1955

LHB Coaches

LHB - Linke-Hoffman-Busch

Modern passenger coaches

Used in: All the premium trains (Rajdhani, Shatabdi, Duronto, Gatimaan, Humsafar, Yuva, Suvidha), Jan-shatabdi, important super-fast express and Double-decker AC express trains

Designed by:

• Coach shell -- Linke-Hofmann-Busch GmbH - owned by Alstom, Germany
• Bogie (chassis & wheel) -- Fabbrica Italiana Automobili Torino (FIAT), Switzerland - owned by Alstom, Germany

Produced by:

• Rail Coach Factory, Kapurthala, Punjab
• Modern Coach Factory, Rae-bareli, UP

Introduced (after being imported) - 2000

Production started (in India after Technology Transfer Agreement) - 2002


Comparison: ICF vs LHB

LHB coaches are advantageous over ICF coaches as follows:

• Sleeker finish
• Better suspension
• Sound reduction
• Lighter body weight (6-7 tonnes lighter per coach) (10% lighter per metre length)
• Faster speed limit
• Lesser maintenance requirement
• Smooth ride quality
• Larger windows without heavy tinting
• Longer coaches (more seat capacity) (1.7 m longer)
• Anti-telliscopic (or anti-climbing) in nature - Safer in the event of an accident or collision
• Lesser chances of flipping over or rolling over side-ways in cases of accidents - Lower casualties

Feature-wise Comparison:

Total length:

ICF - 22.3 m
LHB - 24.0 m

Speed limit:

ICF - 110-120 km/h
LHB - 160 km/h

Enhanced speed:

ICF - 130-140 km/h
LHB - 200 km/h

Seating capacity:

ICF - 64-72 (3-tier), 48 (2-tier), 90 (chair car)
LHB - 72-80 (3-tier), 54 (2-tier), 105 (chair car)

Maintenance requirement period:

ICF - after 3-4 lakh km of running
LHB - after 10 lakh km of running

Average weight of coach:

ICF - 47 tonnes
LHB - 40.2 tonnes

Riding index:
(0 for most smooth ride, 5 for most horrible ride)

ICF - 3.25 to 3.50
LHB - 2.50 to 2.75

Codal life of coach

ICF - 25 years
LHB - 40 years

Maximum sound production while running

ICF - 100 decibel
LHB - 60 decibel

Material used

ICF - Corten (mild) steel
LHB - Stainless steel (outer) & aluminium (inner)

Average number of deaths in case of single train accidents (excluding falling in to a river)

ICF - 50-60
LHB - 4-6