A New Era Begins
Palakkad Railway Division has officially marked a significant milestone in its operational history with the inauguration of its very first train service
featuring advanced LHB (Linke Hofmann Busch) coaches. This transformative change commenced on February 1st, heralding an era of improved passenger travel. The inaugural service to embrace these modern coaches was the Mangaluru–Chennai West Coast Superfast Express, which began its operations with the new rake on the aforementioned date. Following closely, the Chennai–Mangaluru Mail, a train with a legacy spanning 158 years, also received its upgrade to an LHB rake upon its arrival in Kerala in the early hours of February 3rd. The return journey of the Mangaluru–Chennai Mail from February 3rd also benefited from these state-of-the-art coaches, underscoring the division's commitment to swift modernization.
Expanding LHB Fleet
The wave of modernization continues as the Chennai–Mangaluru West Coast Superfast Express is set to transition to LHB coaches from February 4th. This broad enhancement means that virtually all trains originating from Malabar and heading towards Chennai, with the singular exception of the Egmore Express, will now be equipped with these superior LHB rakes. Beyond the Palakkad Division, the Railways has also extended this upgrade to two critical Chennai-bound trains under the Thiruvananthapuram Division. These include the Alappuzha–Chennai and Thiruvananthapuram–Chennai Superfast Express trains, which were earmarked for this improvement. While initially slated for a January commencement, the introduction of LHB coaches for these services has been rescheduled to March 1st and March 3rd, respectively. Further additions to the LHB roster within the Palakkad Division are planned for trains such as the Malabar Express, Maveli Express, Eranad Express, Parasuram Express, various Intercity services, and the popular Kozhikode Jan Shatabdi.
The LHB Advantage
At the heart of this significant upgrade are the LHB coaches, which are a testament to advanced German engineering and are outfitted with a suite of contemporary amenities designed to elevate the passenger experience. Foremost among their advantages is their enhanced safety profile compared to the conventional coaches currently in widespread use. These LHB coaches are also designed to be longer than their traditional counterparts, which translates directly into an increased passenger capacity, allowing more people to travel comfortably. Furthermore, a key benefit for travelers is the substantial reduction in vibrations experienced during the journey, ensuring a significantly smoother and more pleasant ride, a welcome change for long-distance travel.
