INDIA: Indian Railways plans to switch its entire coach production to the LHB design by the end of the 2012-17 five year plan, according to Minister of State for Railways KH Muniyappa.

Approval has been given for upgrading the Kapurthala Rail Coach Factory and the Integral Coach Factory in Chennai to increase the production of LHB coaches.

The LHB design was acquired from Germany under a technology transfer agreement, and offers a longer service life with higher comfort, capacity and safety than indigenous designs. LHB coaches currently cost up to Rs10m more than ICF designs, but this is expected to reduce with volume production.