Rail Coach Factory, Kapurthala has added another feather to its cap by achieving a major breakthrough in coach manufacturing technology and rolled out first rake of High Speed ALCTOM-LHB German Design Coaches. RCF has further designed LHB design AC Sleeper coaches for Rajdhani rake. The design for these variant coaches, including layout, manufacturing drawings and specifications etc. were entirely prepared at RCF. Rajdhani rake is expected to be turned out by March ‘2003. Similarly LHB design coaches for Jan Shatabadi rake are planned for manufacture in the production programmer of 2003-04.

In order to make quantum jump in passenger coach technology and to bring it to contemporary world standards, Indian Railways entered into a contract with ALSTOM-LHB GmbH, Germany. Rail Coach Factory, Kapurthala has been entrusted with the task of developing and manufacture of modern, high speed state-of-the-art coaches under under Transfer of Contract. RCF took the challenge, achieved the target and rolled-out first rake of ALSTOM-LHB Chair Car Coaches on 26-12-2002. for Shatabadi Express.

The key improvements of this new generation passenger coach and their influence on the performance covers important aspects of passenger comfort, safety and operation and life cycle costs. Essentially the coach being inducted is longer, but lighter, maintenance friendly and aesthetic in appearance.

BENEFITS OF NEW DESIGN:
Passenger Related Areas.

• Improved ride comfort-ride index reduced to 2.5 at 160 Kmph.
• Comfortable seats with infinitely adjustable back rest
• Good appearance of the side wall panelling where no screws are visible
• Improved air duct design for better air flow and cooling
• Windows of big size allowing good visibility with functional roller blinds
• Luggage rakes of modern design with integrated lamps for all seats
• Anti drumming feature and sound insulation giving a good noice reduction
• Functional toilets for oriental and western style which allow easy and good cleaning
• Optimised design of pantry with functional trolley

Safety of Travel

• Modern design of vestibule for inter car connection
• Anti-climbing feature to prevent climbing off during collision
• Improved brake system with wheel slide protection
• Use of fire code for materials following state of art practices
• Four Emergency windows are provided per coach.
• Coach length increased by about 2m to provide extra carrying capacity (AC chair car carries 78 passengers against 67 in existing design)
• Coach weight reduced through design innovations for lower hauling costs (AC chair car weight brought down by around 5 Tonne)
• Ease of manufacture by suitable material selection and design
• Anti-corrosive materials to give better corrosion protection
• Toilets designed for discharge at predetermined speeds to help station cleanliness
• Improved availability through longer intervals between maintenance schedules
• Enhanced maintenance friendliness through easy accessibility and exchangeability of wearing parts
• Entrance doors flush with side wall allowing automatic car washing
• Functional switch board cabinet centrally located and easily accessible electrical equipment
• Closed roof mounted air conditioning units eliminating incidence of water dripping into the coach
• Glued PVC floor which allows no floor damage through water seepage
• The coaches have been provided with Tight Lock Center Buffer couplers and shall be culpable with AAR type coupler fitted on locomotives.

Salient Features of Fiat Bogie

• The FIAT Bogie is an adoption of EUROFIMA design.
• Bogie frames is a Y frame fabricated and machined structure.
• Four nested springs for primary suspension and two-nested flexicoil springs for secondary suspension.
• Axle mounted disc brake system.
• Hydraulic shock absorbers used conforming to UIC stipulation.
• Each FIAT Bogie uses four primary vertical, two secondary verticals, one secondary lateral and two yaw dampers.