The Rail Coach Factory (RCF) in Kapurthala achieved a significant milestone on Wednesday with the rollout of its first rake of 19 Linke Hofmann Busch (LHB) broad gauge passenger coaches built for Bangladesh Railway. According to the Ministry of Railways, this marks a major development in the ongoing partnership between the two organizations. The association between RCF and Bangladesh Railway dates back to 2015-16, when RCF successfully supplied 120 LHB broad gauge passenger coaches to the Bangladeshi railway system. This latest rollout comes at a critical time when Bangladesh Railway faces severe systemic challenges, including aging infrastructure, acute shortages of locomotives and passenger coaches leading to financial losses and chronic scheduling delays.
Following the initial 2015-16 project, Bangladesh Railway, through RITES, placed another order with RCF in 2024 for the manufacture and supply of 200 broad gauge passenger coaches across seven different variants. As reported by the Ministry of Railways, this latest order further strengthens the partnership between the two organizations and demonstrates the continued trust in Indian Railways' manufacturing capabilities for international railway projects. The delivery of the 200 coaches are likely to be completed by December 2027 under a ₹915 crore deal, with the project financed by the European Investment Bank. The coaches will be added to the ageing Bangladesh Railway fleet between June 2026 and December 2027.
The rake comprises three AC Sleeper Cars, three AC Chair Cars, eleven Non-AC Chair Cars and two Power Cars, specifically tailored to meet the operational needs of Bangladesh Railway while improving passenger comfort. According to the Indian Railways release, the coaches feature several first-of-their-kind modifications and design enhancements developed specifically for LHB coaches. The seating arrangement incorporates specially designed reclining chairs with stainless steel armrests and stainless-steel footrests, offering multiple reclining positions for enhanced passenger comfort. The coaches have been painted in the regular green and white colours and are equipped with specially customised features to meet Bangladesh Railway's specifications.
The coaches include a range of passenger-focused amenities such as fans in air-conditioned coaches, an integrated CCTV surveillance system, a passenger alarm system, partially openable windows, a Baby Care Room and a Prayer Room. To suit Bangladesh Railway's operating conditions, the coach roofs have been strengthened to withstand additional loading arising from passengers travelling on the roof during peak traffic periods. One of the key technological advancements is the adoption of a crashworthy design that complies with European Standard EN 15227, requiring a comprehensive redesign of the car body shell to improve crash performance and enhance passenger safety. This technological feature is particularly significant as Bangladesh Railway is infamous for passengers travelling on rooftops of trains as the railways in the country has not been electrified.
The coaches have been equipped with a customised electrical system designed to operate on 415 V, instead of the conventional 750 V system used in coaches operated by Indian Railways. This technical adaptation demonstrates the flexibility of Indian Railways' manufacturing capabilities to meet specific international railway requirements and operational conditions of the destination country. The redesign is aimed at enhancing collision performance and passenger safety, with some of the features being incorporated in LHB-type coaches for the first time. The coaches are specifically built for the specifications of Bangladesh Railways and incorporate several unique design features and modifications that have been developed for the first time in LHB-type coaches.
