ICF to deepen focus on Vande Bharat sleepers and high-speed trains

With the VB chair car almost done, the focus now shifts to producing VB sleepers?

We produced 23 VB rakes (chair cars), and all of them of 20-car configuration. We have a balance of 11 of VB rakes that has to be produced this year. With this we will close the VB (chair car) order. The focus will then shift to manufacturing VB sleeper trains. One has already been produced with 16-car configuration. We have given the order to BEML to produce 10 rakes. The other nine are expected this year. The shells of the nine rakes are almost ready. However, due to small adjustments pointed out in the first rake, they are being taken care of. In the next six months, all the trains will come out.  Apart from that, we have got orders for 50 rakes of 24-car configuration. We expect the first rake (full AC) to be rolled out in October next year.

The trials on sleeper trains are still on?

The trials have been completed at 180 Kmph. The Commission of Railway Safety pointed to a few things and we are replying to his queries on issues like safety and brakes. This formality will be finished in the next ten days.

What’s the update on VB freight trains?

The freight train is almost ready. We expect that between June and August, we will turn out the first rake. And maybe a couple of months after that, the second rake. This year by August or September, we should roll it out.

What is the role of ICF in high speed trains?

It’s an order given by us to BEML for two trains with each having eight cars. We have finalised the propulsion suppliers and are finalising sub-assemblies, the flooring, material for car body and wheels. By middle of 2027, we hope that the trains will be ready on the wheels.

ICF produced 3,007 coaches last year. When can we expect ICF to hit the all time high of 4,000 coaches recorded in 1920?

Production of 4,000 is certainly a tall order for us to do. We have actually floated a tender for 600 general coaches to be procured from outside. This means, ICF will manufacture 4,200 coaches this year and even if there is a let up here and there, we will touch 4000 this year.

How about replacing the old coaches across the Railways?

Railways has realised that LHB coaches are much safer when compared with the old version of coaches. We were replacing as and when the old-version coaches were getting old. This replacement is being done at a faster pace now. That’s the reason now all the three production units – ICF, MCF and RCF – have been given very large targets of producing coaches this year and next year. The idea is that in the next 2 to 3 years, we replace all the old coaches. 

What is the break up for this year and next year for all the three units put together?

Totally, it will be around 10,000 coaches for this year, and another 10,000 coaches for next year. ICF has been asked to produce 4,000 coaches, and the rest will be done by them.