Accelerated production of LHB coaches means better safety features on more trains and shall be a big gift to a large section of paxs. But there is one more feature of LHB coaches which is not being harnessed by IR i.e. higher speed potential. Non ac LHB coaches can be hauled at 130 kmph against 110kmph for ICF coaches, and ac LHB coaches can be hauled at 160 kmph against 130 kmph of ICF coaches.
-
But LHB coaches have some disadvantages also:
(1)...
more... much costlier to construct,
(2) Necessitate use of 2 generator cars which are very costly to construct
(3) generator cars increase dead load of the train resulting in loco higher power consumption/ haulage cost
(4) generator cars need costly maintenance and consumes a lot of costly diesel during the operation
(5) generator cars create noise and fumes which is not desirable.
(6) generator cars reduce the carrying capacity of train and reduce the revenue generated by the train
Due to above if all the coaches produced are of LHB design, IR shall bleed financially and losses due to passenger services which is already at a high of Rs 30000-35000 Crores per annum shall further increase.