U Subba Rao, General Manager, ICF | Photo credit: Bijoy Ghosh
Integral Coach Factory (ICF) in Chennai, the main passenger coaches production unit of the Indian railways, has been occupied for the last two years producing cars coaches of the Bharat chair (VB). This year, it will complete the full order of the VB chair cars, and it is configuring it is views in VB Sleop Sleper Trains and new projects such as the VB Freight Train and the high -speed trains, he told Subba Rao, general manager of ICF. Business line In an exclusive talk. “In two years, we hope that the prototype of high -speed trains is on the wheels,” he said.
Extracts:
With the VB chair car almost ready, does the approach now change to produce VB sleeps?
We produced 23 VB rasters (chair cars), and all or configuration of 20 cars. We have a balance or 11 or traces of VB that must be produced this year. With this we will close the request VB (CAR DE SADMA). The approach will then change to the manufacture of VB sleeping trains. One already has a leg produced with configuration of 16 cars. We have given the Beml order to produce 10 rakes. The other nine are expected this year. The shells of the nine rakes are almost ready. However, due to the small settings indicated in the first rake, they are the tasks. In the next six months, all trains will come out. Apart from that, we have orders for 50 rakes or configuration of 24 cars. We hope that the first rake (complete AC) unfolds in October next year.
Are the tests in sleeping trains still on?
The tests have been completed to 180 kmph. The Railway Security Commission pointed out some things and we are responding to its consultations on issues such as safety and brakes. This formality will end in the next ten days.
What is the VB Freight Trains update?
The cargo train is almost ready. We hope that between June and August, the first rake will result. And maybe a couple of months after that, the second blow. This year in August or September, we must implement it.
What is ICF’s role in high -speed trains?
It is an order that gives us Beml for two train with each with eight cars. We have finished the propulsion suppliers and we are subsemblies of completion, the floor, the material for the body of the car and the wheels. In mid -2027, we hope the trains are ready in the wheels.
ICF produced 3,007 coaches last year. When can we go ICF to reach the maximum of 4,000 coaches registered in 1920?
The production of 4,000 is certainly a difficult task for us. We have made a real tender for 600 general coaches to be acquired from outside. This means that ICF will manufacture 4,200 coaches this year and even if there is a height here and there, it will be 4000 this year.
How about replacing the old trainers on the railroads?
Railways has realized that LHB coaches are much safer compared to the previous version of the coaches. We were replacing when the old version coaches age. This replacement is being made at a faster rate now. That is why now the three units of production, ICF, MCF and RCF, have been given very great objectives to produce 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 for this year and next year for the three units together?
Totally, there 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.
Posted on May 14, 2025