Coaches of the ill-fated Diwa-Sawantwadi passenger train, derailed between Nagothane and Roha railway stations, about 120 kms from Mumbai today, killing 17 passengers, were conventional coaches, which are prone to capsize in case of derailment.
The LHB coaches, equipped with advanced couplers and anti-climbing features, prevent capsizing of coaches in case of accident. This helps to minimise damage and reduce the loss of lives because the LHB bogies do not get toppled due to its modern design.
However, the official said railways is planning to switch over from indigenous coaches to German technology-based Linke Holfmann Bush (LHB) ones in all trains in phases only.
Currently, railways manufacture about 600 LHB coaches in Rail Coach factory in Kapurthala and Rae Bareli per year while about 3,000 conventional coaches are being produce at Integrated Coach Factory in Chennai.
More From This Section
LHB coaches, made of stainless steel, have more in-built safety features and can absorb shock and impact of derailment more effectively.
Battery-operated cutting tools can be made available to driver and guard for cutting windows of capsized coaches for evacuating trapped passengers before the arrival of accident relief train (ART).
"One has to wait for the accident relief train to reach the site before starting the evacuation process. The battery operated cutting tools can be used in emergency to cut windows of the capsized coaches to extricate passengers in emergency instead of waiting for the ART," the official said.