Conversion of Vacuum Brake Rail Coaches to Air Brake
Indian Railways will convert the remaining 5340 vacuum brake coaches to air brake coaches by March, 2006 at a cost of Rs. 80 crores. Of these, 2700 vacuum brake coaches will be converted to air brake coaches in 2004-2005 and 2640 such coaches in 2005-2006.
Air brake system enhances safety of train services.
Under a policy decision in the early 1990s , all the vacuum brake coaches were sought to be replaced by air brake ones during the periodic overhaul under a time bound programme to increase safety of rail services to the nation.
Thereafter, all the coaches rolled out in the Railway Production Units and the Bharat Earth Movers Ltd., which also supplies a few coaches to the Indian Railways, are having air brake coaches.
(Release ID :1573)