Archive · 17 Sep 2026
Engineers Investigate Corrosion in LHB Coach Bogies
Some railway coaches are developing serious rust in the parts underneath them called bogies.
Bogies help support the coach and keep it moving safely.
Engineers found that water and waste can leak from bathrooms and reach metal parts.
This liquid can contain chemicals that make rust form quickly.
Salt in the air near the coast can also speed up rusting.
Strong cleaning chemicals and dirty or salty washing water may add to the problem.
Damage to the coach or gaps around advertising coverings can let more water enter.
Railway factories and regional railway teams are now checking the coaches and looking for ways to stop the corrosion.
Senior railway engineers warned that heavy corrosion in LHB coach bogies could become a passenger safety concern.
The Railway Board asked ICF, RCF and MCF to investigate the problem and recommend corrective measures.
Eastern Railway identified leakage or overflow from lavatories, damaged steel, cleaning practices and advertisement-wrapper gaps as possible causes.
Saline coastal air, aggressive cleaning chemicals and untreated or high-salinity washing water may accelerate corrosion.
Railway zones were instructed to inspect safety-critical components, improve drainage, and ensure proper rinsing, drying and corrosion protection.
- Who
- Senior railway engineers, the Railway Board, Eastern Railway, railway zones and three coach-manufacturing units are examining the issue.
- What
- Heavy corrosion has been found in the bogies and related underframe components of Linke Hofmann Busch passenger coaches.
- When
- The issue was discussed at a recent conference of principal chief mechanical engineers; Eastern Railway’s detailed corrosion report was prepared in March.
- Where
- The problem involves LHB coaches operated by railway zones, with particular risks identified in underframe and lavatory areas and on coastal routes.
- Why
- Lavatory leakage, water ingress, saline air, cleaning practices, damaged surfaces and blocked drainage may allow corrosive moisture to reach structural components.
- Affected coaches
- Air-conditioned and non-air-conditioned Linke Hofmann Busch coaches
- Concern
- Heavy corrosion in bogies and related structural components
- Units asked to investigate
- Integral Coach Factory in Chennai, Rail Coach Factory in Kapurthala and Modern Coach Factory in Rae Bareli
- Identified corrosion areas
- Underframes, trough floors, sole bars and headstocks, including areas near lavatories
- Possible chemical cause
- Leaked or overflowing effluent described as acidic and rich in chlorides
- Environmental risk
- Saline air in coastal regions can accelerate electrochemical corrosion
- Recommended maintenance
- Keep drains and passages clear, avoid aggressive chemicals and untreated water, and rinse and dry surfaces properly