Northeast Frontier Railway Shifts Entire Long-Distance Fleet to LHB Coaches

Guwahati: Northeast Frontier Railway finished swapping its aging ICF coaches for modern LHB models. The conversion covers every long-distance train under the zone. This fleet now runs 103 distinct services. These include 55 routes owned by NFR and 48 managed by other railway zones. The upgrade marks a major step in the modernization of Indian Railways.

New coaches bring significant safety gear. They use Fire and Smoke Detection Systems, Fire Detection and Suppression Systems, and aerosol-based technology. NFR installed FSDS units in 1,226 air-conditioned cars. Another 155 power cars and 79 pantry cars now carry FDSS equipment. Staff added aerosol-based systems to 3,436 AC coaches to monitor for smoke. Early warnings save lives. NFR Chief Public Relations Officer Kapinjal Kishore Sharma said the conversion was carried out as part of Indian Railways’ broader modernisation drive aimed at providing safer and more efficient train services.

Maintenance remains a constant focus. Headquartered in Maligaon, Guwahati, the zone oversees tracks across the northeast, seven districts in West Bengal, and five in north Bihar. Officials conduct regular audits to spot risks in operations. They continue to phase in additional fire protection for all power and pantry cars.