Since last year Integral Coach Factory (ICF), Chennai has done production of 2702 overall coaches as per the target given by Railway Board that includes 12 coaches of new version of Vande Bharat trains and 2261 LHB coaches.
More Details:
- ICF is planning to manufacture 3241 coaches in coming years in about 30 variants including new types of trains in Vande Bharat express.
- 25 more advanced safety and technical improvement features under progress.
- ICF will be turning out another version of Vande Bharat trains called Vande Metro in the current year. This train will cater to intercity short distance commuter travel and will have double leaf doors for easy boarding and deboarding of passengers.
- To meet the public aspirations of long distance travel by Vande Bharat train, ICF is in the process of developing a sleeper version of Vande Bharat with improved interiors and will be turning out in the current year.
- ICF has taken up the development of Gati Shakti Train for faster freight transport in Vande Bharat platform. This train will serve E-commerce, fast moving consumer goods and refrigerated commodities.
- ICF is also developing Vande Bharat trains for Jammu & Kashmir region with heating facility inside the compartments as well as for the water lines to avoid freezing. This train will be rolled out next year.
- The modified features of new version of Vande Bharat trains under production are as follows:
- Increase in seat declining angle.
- Better seat cushions.
- Better accessibility to mobile charging points than before.
- Extended foot rest in Executive chair car class coaches.
- Wash basins with more depth to avoid water splashing.
- Better toilet lighting.
- Provision of fixing points for wheelchairs used by divyangjan passengers in the driving trailer coaches.
- Change of Reading lamp touching from resistive touch to capacitive touch for easy use.
- Better roller blind fabric & anti climbing device in Vande Bharat coaches for improved safety.
Source: Central Railway- Press Release | Images Credit (representational): MoR
