SER to Upgrade Tatanagar and Rourkela Trains with High-Speed LHB Coaches

Jamshedpur: South Eastern Railway (SER) has announced a major upgrade to passenger safety and comfort by converting key trains from Tatanagar and Rourkela to modern Linke Hofmann Busch (LHB) coaches. A formal memorandum from the Garden Reach headquarters finalized the decision today.

Railway officials confirmed that these upgraded LHB rakes allow trains to reach speeds of up to 130 km/h, which significantly improves journey times and ride quality. LHB coaches feature superior safety technology, including anti-climbing mechanisms and enhanced suspension systems that reduce derailment impacts. Furthermore, the use of Head-On Generation (HOG) locomotives will provide energy-efficient power across the entire train, making operations more environmentally friendly.

The transition from conventional ICF coaches to LHB rakes will begin in phases starting late March 2026. The conversion schedule includes:

• Rourkela–Gunupur Express (18117/18118): Starting March 25

• Tatanagar–JayNagar Express (18119/18120): Starting March 27

• Tatanagar–Thawe Express (18181/18182): Starting March 27

• Tatanagar–Katihar Express (28181/28182): Starting March 29

• Tatanagar–Godda Express (18185/18186): Starting March 30

The upgraded trains will offer a passenger-friendly composition, featuring 2-tier, 3-tier, and 3-tier economy AC classes, alongside sleeper and general coaches. Modern guard and power cars will further improve operational efficiency.

SER advises passengers to check their tickets carefully, as the new LHB layouts may change seat and berth allocations.

“We have directed all departments to prepare and deploy the new rakes on time to avoid service disruptions,” said Srinivas Samant, Dy. Chief Operations Manager (Chg.), SER. “This initiative aligns with Indian Railways’ modernization goals to offer safer, faster, and more comfortable travel across the region.”