ICF vs LHB Train Coaches in India: Key Differences, Features, and Safety Explained

Even after 170 years since the introduction of train services in India, it remains the first choice for most people. Many consider train travel superior to luxury cars for long-distance journeys. For a comfortable and fatigue-free long journey, nothing beats train travel. The special classes on trains provide a luxurious and relaxing experience.

At railway stations, we often see some trains with blue coaches and others with red coaches. Most people assume these colors are chosen for aesthetics or appearance. However, there are several reasons behind these colors. Each color has its own significance and history in the making of train coaches. Similarly, train coaches are manufactured in two types.

Red Coaches (ICF)

The red and blue-colored train coaches are based on their manufacturing facilities. Blue coaches are manufactured at the Integral Coach Factory (ICF) in Chennai, Tamil Nadu.

This factory was established in 1952 after India gained independence, and it has been producing train coaches since then. The blue coaches manufactured here are made of iron and equipped with air brakes. These coaches have a maximum permitted average speed of 110 km/h.

Blue coaches are designed with 72 berths in sleeper class and 64 berths in AC 3-tier class. The components in these coaches need to be refurbished every 18 months. Due to this, the maintenance cost of these coaches is relatively high. Since these coaches are connected using a dual-buffer system, there is a risk of one coach climbing over another in case of accidents, leading to higher casualties during mishaps.

Red Coaches (Linke Hofmann Busch - LHB)

The technology for red train coaches was imported to India from Germany. A manufacturing facility for these red coaches is located in Kapurthala, Punjab. These coaches are made of stainless steel and are equipped with disc brakes.

Red coaches need to be refurbished every 24 months, which makes their maintenance cost lower compared to blue coaches. These coaches have a maximum permissible speed of 200 km/h. Red coaches are designed with 80 berths in sleeper class and 72 berths in AC 3-tier class. They also have lower maintenance costs and higher safety.