RCF achieves a record production of over 1400 coaches

Kapurthala, Apr 7 (UNI) The Rail Coach Factory (RCF) has achieved a record production of 1480 coaches during 2007-08, which is the highest ever production by it in any year.

During the last financial year, the RCF had produced 34 types of coaches, which included 96 stainless steel coaches for Rajdhani express trains, 133 coaches for 8 newly introduced Garib Rath trains, 16 coaches for Science Express.

An export order of 24 MG coaches for Senegal Railway was also executed during the year.

According to a press release here today, the RCF has so far manufactured 19,438 coaches since its inception in 1987, which is almost 50 per cent of the coaching fleet of Indian Railways. In view of the growing demand, it has set higher target to manufacture 1550 coaches during this year.

In order to improve the safety of passengers, crash-worthy features have been introduced in the coaches, which are capable of absorbing high impact energy in the event of an accident. The RCF produced 108 such coaches during 2007-08.

The stainless steel coaches being produced by the RCF are based on German technology and have design features like superior aesthetics, better ride quality and low maintenance cost.

It has also developed an innovative low cost variant of the stainless steel coach, cutting the cost by about 40 per cent of the German design stainless steel coach. The trials of this prototype have been completed successfully and now it has been planned to manufacture 100 such coaches.

This low cost variant shall have exteriors similar to Rajdhani train and the bogies of these coaches shall be provided with air spring suspension for better ride quality. These coaches shall have additional ten percent enhanced sitting capacity.

The RCF is also enhancing its coach manufacturing capacity to meet the ever growing demand.

In order to augment the design capabilities, the RCF is also setting up a 'Centre for Excellence in Design' with an investment of rupees 10 crore. These projects are likely to be completed in the current financial year.

UNI XC-HS SK RAI1830