Advanced LHB Coaches Enable Automatic Coupling: Railway Minister

04 Dec 2024 CW Team

Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw informed the Rajya Sabha that advanced LHB (Linke Hofmann Busch) coaches, introduced by Indian Railways in 1999-2000, feature center buffer couplers that enable automatic coupling without manual intervention. The statement was made in response to questions from MPs Priyanka Chaturvedi and Derek O'Brien regarding safety measures after a railway employee's fatal accident during a manual decoupling operation.

The Minister explained that older ICF (Integral Coach Factory) coaches, designed in the 1960s, rely on screw couplers and side buffers, requiring manual intervention. In contrast, LHB coaches eliminate this risk. Indian Railways has been replacing ICF coaches with LHB models in a phased manner. From 2014 to 2024, 36,933 LHB coaches were manufactured, compared to just 2,337 in the previous decade.

Vaishnaw also highlighted the development of advanced semi-automatic couplers for Amrit Bharat and Vande Bharat trains, enabling automated coupling without manual involvement.

To further enhance safety, the railways conduct induction and refresher training for field staff and enforce strict hand signalling protocols during coupling, uncoupling, and shunting operations to minimise accidents. The measures aim to address safety concerns while modernising India's railway infrastructure.

(ET)

Equipment

11 Dec 2025

Caterpillar Debuts Three New Cat Excavators at EXCON 2025

Caterpillar Inc., a global leader in construction and mining machinery, strengthened its commitment to India’s infrastructure growth with the debut of three new Cat® hydraulic excavators at EXCON 2025, held from December 9–13 at the Bangalore International Exhibition Centre. The new models—Cat 321, Cat 322 and Cat 324—mark a significant step forward in delivering efficient, digital-ready equipment tailored for India’s evolving construction needs.Designed to support sustainability and productivity on modern jobsites, the machines feature advanced powertrains and intelligent electrohy..

JK Tyre Expands OTR Lineup with Four New Launches at EXCON 2025

JK Tyre & Industries, one of India’s leading tyre manufacturers, introduced four new Off-the-Road (OTR) tyres at the 13th edition of CII EXCON 2025, South Asia’s largest construction equipment exhibition, underway at the Bangalore International Exhibition Centre. The latest additions strengthen the company’s OTR portfolio and reaffirm its focus on delivering advanced mobility solutions for construction, mining and industrial operations.The new tyres were unveiled by R Mukhopadhyay, Director (R&D), JK Tyre. Among the highlights was the debut of the SKY GRIP, a specialised tyre des..

ACE, Sanghvi Movers Ink MOU to Boost India-Made Heavy Crane Adoption

Action Construction Equipment (ACE), the world’s largest pick-and-carry crane manufacturer and a leading Indian construction equipment maker, has entered into a strategic Memorandum of Understanding with Sanghvi Movers, Asia’s largest and the world’s fifth-largest crane rental company. The partnership aims to accelerate the deployment of indigenously manufactured heavy slew cranes, particularly truck cranes and crawler cranes, across large-scale infrastructure and industrial projects in India.The alliance aligns strongly with the Government of India’s “Aatmanirbhar Bharat” and “M..