India's first LHB rake for Bangladesh: prayer room, baby care, roof-travel design
Synopsis
India has rolled out a first-of-its-kind LHB rake for Bangladesh with a structurally reinforced roof to accommodate passengers travelling on top — an engineering first for LHB-type coaches. Combined with a prayer room and baby care space, the 19-coach set reflects a rare instance of a major rail export being fully customised to the social and operational realities of the receiving country, arriving at a moment when bilateral ties are cautiously warming.
Key Takeaways
Rail Coach Factory (RCF), Kapurthala rolled out a 19-coach LHB rake for Bangladesh Railway on 12 August .
The rake is the first LHB rake ever operated by Bangladesh Railway.
Unique features include a prayer room , baby care room , and a roof reinforced for passengers travelling on top during peak seasons.
The coaches comply with European Standard EN 15227 for crashworthy design — a first for LHB-type coaches.
The rake is part of a 2024 RITES contract for 200 LHB coaches in seven variants; India had earlier supplied 120 LHB coaches in 2015–16 .
The delivery signals stabilising ties after two years of diplomatic strain following the exile of former PM Sheikh Hasina in India.
Rail Coach Factory (RCF), Kapurthala, rolled out a specially customised 19-coach LHB rake for Bangladesh Railway on Wednesday, 12 August, marking the first time Bangladesh will operate an advanced Linke Hofmann Busch (LHB) train set. The rake features a dedicated prayer room, a baby care room, and a structurally reinforced roof designed to bear the weight of passengers travelling on top — a common practice on Bangladeshi railways during peak seasons.
Composition and Key Design Features
The 19-coach rake comprises three AC Sleeper Cars, three AC Chair Cars, 11 Non-AC Chair Cars, and two Power Cars. Seating includes specially designed reclining chairs with stainless steel armrests and footrests offering multiple reclining positions. Passenger-centric additions include fans in AC coaches, an integrated CCTV surveillance system, a passenger alarm system, and partially openable windows.
A significant safety upgrade is the incorporation of crashworthy design provisions complying with European Standard EN 15227, which required a comprehensive redesign of the car body shell to enhance collision performance. The electrical system has also been adapted for 415 V operation, as against the conventional 750 V system used in Indian Railways coaches.
Why the Roof Was Strengthened
Roof travel on trains is a well-documented reality in Bangladesh, particularly during festivals and peak traffic periods. To address this, the roof structure of these coaches has been engineered to withstand additional loading from passengers travelling on top. This is reportedly the first time such a design modification has been incorporated into LHB-type coaches, making it a novel engineering adaptation driven entirely by local operating conditions.
Background: India–Bangladesh Rail Cooperation
These lightweight, stainless steel, anti-telescope LHB coaches have been manufactured by rail coach factories across India for years under licence from LHB, Germany. India had earlier supplied 120 LHB broad gauge coaches to Bangladesh Railway in 2015–16. In 2024, Bangladesh signed a fresh contract through RITES for the supply of 200 more LHB coaches in seven variants. The current 19-coach rake from RCF Kapurthala is part of that contract.
Diplomatic Context
The delivery comes at a period of cautious diplomatic recalibration. India–Bangladesh relations have been strained over the past two years, following a political uprising in Bangladesh that led to the ouster of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, who has since been in exile in India. Ties are now reportedly stabilising after Tarique Rahman was elected Prime Minister of Bangladesh in general elections held in February this year. The rollout of this rake is being seen as a signal of normalising bilateral engagement.
Point of View
And that honesty in engineering is what makes this delivery notable. Indian rail exports have historically been criticised for offering standard configurations with minimal local adaptation; this rake breaks that pattern. The diplomatic timing matters too: delivering a flagship rail asset while Sheikh Hasina remains in exile in India, and a new Dhaka government is finding its footing, is a calibrated gesture. Whether it translates into broader infrastructure cooperation — or remains a one-off goodwill shipment — will depend on how quickly the two governments formalise the remaining coaches under the RITES contract.
NationPress
12 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the LHB rake being delivered to Bangladesh Railway?
It is a 19-coach Linke Hofmann Busch (LHB) rake manufactured by Rail Coach Factory, Kapurthala, and rolled out on 12 August. It is the first advanced LHB rake to be operated by Bangladesh Railway, featuring a prayer room, baby care room, and a roof reinforced for passengers travelling on top.
Why has the roof of the Bangladesh LHB coaches been strengthened?
The roof structure has been reinforced to withstand additional loading from passengers travelling on top of the train during peak traffic periods — a common practice in Bangladesh. This is reportedly the first time such a modification has been made to LHB-type coaches.
What is India's history of supplying coaches to Bangladesh?
India supplied 120 LHB broad gauge coaches to Bangladesh Railway in 2015–16. In 2024, Bangladesh signed a fresh contract through RITES for 200 more LHB coaches in seven variants, of which the current 19-coach rake is the first delivery.
How do these coaches differ from standard Indian Railways LHB coaches?
The Bangladesh-bound coaches operate on a 415 V electrical system, unlike the 750 V system used in Indian Railways. They also incorporate crashworthy design per European Standard EN 15227, a prayer room, a baby care room, fans in AC coaches, and a reinforced roof — none of which are standard features on Indian LHB coaches.
What is the current state of India–Bangladesh relations?
Relations have been strained for roughly two years following a political uprising that led to the ouster of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, who has since been in exile in India. Ties are now reportedly stabilising after Tarique Rahman was elected Prime Minister in Bangladesh's general elections held in February this year.
