DIFFERENCE BETWEEN ICF AND LHB BOGIES

LHB Coaches or Linke hoffman Busch Coaches are designed by Alstom Germany and
manufactured at Kapurthala Coach Factory and is used in high speed trains such as
Rajdhani and Shatabdi.
ICF Coaches or integral coach factory coaches are designed and manufactured by Indian
Railways and are the more conventional ones, seen in most express trains.

To quickly come to its merit over ICF coaches :

1. LHB coaches have an average speed of 160 kmph and a top speed of 200 kmph as
compared to an average speed of 70 kmph and a top speed of 140 kmph in ICF coaches.

2. LHB coaches are more safer as compared to ICF coaches due to a number of reasons -
 * LHB coaches are anti-telescopic and does not turn turtle in case of a  derailment. 
 * LHB coaches are made of stainless steel as compared to mild steel (which is a less
ductile material and also heavier then stainless steel) in ICF coaches, this increases its
shock bearing capacity in case of a mishap.
 * LHB coaches have Disc brakes whereas ICF coaches have thread brake system hence
shorter stopping distance.
 * The coupling system in LHB coaches reduces the relative motion between two coaches
and also prevents one coaches rising on the other in case of an mishap.

This image says it all - None of the coaches turned turtle despite a high speed derailment
and there was no loss of life, and all this was attributed to LHB coaches in the Dibrugarh
Rajdhani express

3. LHB coaches have a shorter wheel base thus improved ability to negotiate curves at
higher speeds.
4. LHB coaches requires less maintenance (intermediate hauling every 5 Lac kms, and
periodic hauling every 10 Lac kms) whereas an ICF coach has a shorter maintenance
schedule (intermediate hauling every 2 Lac kms and periodic hauling every 4 Lac kms),
so by the time an ICF coach is hauled 2 times, an LHB coach can still travel 1 Lac km
extra. Thus reduced maintenance cost.

5. LHB coaches have extra seating capacity as compared to ICF coaches (LHB 3-AC - 72
& ICF 3-AC - 64) thus increased revenue every run.

6. LHB coaches have axle mounted suspension system whereas ICF coaches have
dashpot type suspension system.

ICF coaches have coil springs with dashpot level for primary suspension and springs on
lower spring beam through hangers for secondary suspension.

Primary suspension system in LHB coach has coil spring with hydraulic damper and
control arm and secondary suspension system springs directly mounted on the sides of
frames. 
This increase comfort in LHB coaches and reduces vibration, and also increases the
safety because it has lower rolling effects.
Also ICF coaches suspension have a problem of oil spillage from the dashpot.
 

 Bolster arrangement in ICF coach.

 Bolster arrangement in LHB coach.

7. LHB coaches have a lower sound level of 60 Db as compared to 100 Db in ICF coaches.

8. LHB coaches have microprocessor controlled Air Conditioning system which

automatically maintains the ambient coach temperature both during summers and
winters.

9. LHB coaches have higher distance between the inner wheels which implies larger
coach width and therefore the width of the side berth are wider then ICF coaches

All this equate to lower maintenance cost of LHB coaches, higher carrying capacity and
manyfolds increased safety.

 which were capable of doing 130 kmph.

4. The coaches do not climb over each and crash because of a special type of CBC (centre
buffer coupler). It is the same thing that is also responsible for the jerk you experience as
the train accelerates/decelerates. ICF coaches have screw couplers.

Indian Railways is slowly phasing out ICF coaches. I say this in reply to someone who
asked why do we have ICF coaches at the first place. Come on, such things take time!