Railways orders LHB coaches for Amritha and Nilambur Rajyarani Express trains

On 31 October 2026, Indian Railways ordered the allocation of Linke-Hofmann-Busch (LHB) coaches to the Amritha Express and Nilambur Rajyarani Express, which operate in Kerala. The Amritha Express is to receive 22 coaches, while the Nilambur Rajyarani Express is to receive 15 new coaches.

Rajeev Chandrasekhar thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw for the decision. On the previous day, Railways had also accepted a long-standing passenger demand to extend the Kollam–Kottayam MEMU service to Ernakulam.

Important Facts for Exams

• Design lineage: Indian Railways’ LHB coaches are based on a design developed by Linke-Hofmann-Busch.
• Manufacturer’s origins: Linke-Hofmann-Busch was a German manufacturer whose original products included locomotives and rolling stock.
• Coupling system: Indian Railways’ LHB coaches use centre-buffer couplers rather than conventional screw couplings, helping limit coach override and telescoping during collisions.
• Braking equipment: LHB coaches employ pneumatic disc brakes, whereas older ICF-design coaches commonly used tread brakes; this supports effective braking at higher operating speeds.