Latest news with #LinkeHofmannBusch
Time of India
13-05-2025
- General
- Time of India
Middle berth fall puts passenger safety at risk
T'puram: The accident in which a woman was injured after a middle berth fell on her in the MGR Chennai Central-Palakkad express train on Monday shows the poor maintenance of fixtures in accident occurred after the train passed Jolarpet railway station. The middle berth fell on the passenger who was in the lower berth, and she suffered injuries to her head. Reports say that the accident happened when the passenger in the middle berth got down to go to the toilet. The chain fastening the berth was loose, and it fell on the girl in the lower berth. She was made to disembark at Salem and was admitted to a govt J from Friends on Rails, an association of railway passengers, said the chain does not fit well often. "In many cases, the passenger has to be careful when installing the middle berth. The Railways should also check all the chains of the berths before a train is prepared for a trip."Meanwhile, the southern railway blamed the passengers for the accident, saying that it happened due to improper handling of the chain-link hook by the passenger. The statement issued by the railway authorities also says that primary maintenance involving thorough scrutiny of the coaches was carried out and a fitness certificate was issued for the train. However, passengers often find many fixtures in the coaches on most trains non-functional, despite the coaches undergoing pre-departure maintenance checks. The charging port, toilet doors, latches of toilets, and the waste bin below the washbasins are often not in good condition in most of the trains, including those that have Linke Hofmann Busch coaches."Rather than blaming passengers, Railways should ensure that fixtures are in good condition. I often found the chain loose when the berth is folded up, but it becomes secure when a passenger gets on it," said Kavya Menon, a regular Railways tried out different designs to ensure that the chain that holds the middle berth remains stable. But constant use often makes them loose. These chains are not replaced till the coaches are sent for periodic overhaul, as it's not easy to get the same type of said that pre-departure checks are supposed to ensure all fixtures are in order but these checks may not be thorough due to a reduction in staff allocated per rake for this work. In an accident last June, a passenger had died after a middle berth fell on him in an Ernakulam-Nizamuddin railway has requested passengers to securely fasten the middle berth using the chain link hook after use. Improper handling or failure to lock the berth correctly may pose safety risks to fellow passengers, a statement said.
The Hindu
04-05-2025
- The Hindu
Ernakulam-Pune services to get LHB coaches
Rakes of a bi-weekly superfast express and a weekly express services between Ernakulam-Pune-Ernakulam running via Mangaluru Junction will be replaced by Linke Hofmann Busch (LHB) coaches in the month of July. A release from Southern Railway, quoting a Central Railway notification, said the rake replacement would enhance passenger comfort and safety. Train No. 22150 Pune – Ernakulam bi-weekly Superfast Express (Sundays and Wednesdays) will run with LHB coaches with effect from July 6 while its pairing service, Train No. Ernakulam – Pune bi-weekly Superfast Express (Tuesdays and Fridays) will run with LHB coaches with effect from July 8. Train No. 11097 Pune – Ernakulam weekly Poorna Express (Saturdays) will run with LHB coaches with effect from July 5 while Train No. 11098 Ernakulam – Pune Poorna weekly Express (Mondays) will run with LHB coaches with effect from July 7. Consequent to the conversion of LHB Rakes, the coach composition of both the services will be revised to have two 2-tier AC, four 3-tier AC, seven second class sleeper, four general second class, one pantry car, one second class (Divyangjan friendly) and one luggage-cum-brake van coaches.
