The factory where India’s first hydrogen train was made, what was made here in 71 years?

India’s first hydrogen train is built at the Integral Coach Factory (ICF) in Chennai.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched the country’s first hydrogen train from Jind railway station in Haryana. This train will run between Jind and Sonipat. With this, India has become the fifth country in the world along with Germany, Japan, China and America, where trains are being operated on hydrogen. This train has been constructed in the country itself in order to make a self-reliant India. The name of the big rail factory where India’s first hydrogen train has been manufactured is Integral Coach Factory (ICF). This factory is in Chennai.

ICF is counted among the most important production units of Indian Railways. Railway coaches, train sets and modern coaches have been manufactured here for decades. After the hydrogen train, once again people’s attention has turned to this factory in Chennai. Know, how has this factory contributed to the development of Indian Railways in its journey of 71 years so far?

Manufacture of trains, metro coaches and electric train sets here

Integral Coach Factory is located in Chennai, the capital of Tamil Nadu. Its campus is in Perambur area of ​​Chennai. Perambur has been a major center of railway activities for a long time. ICF is a factory owned by Indian Railways. It is counted among the oldest and largest rail coach manufacturing units in the country. Production started here in the year 1955. Only ordinary railway coaches are not made in this factory. Modern trains, metro coaches and electric train sets are also produced. Coaches prepared in ICF are sent to different railway zones of the country. Many coaches have also been sent to foreign countries. Because of this, this factory in Chennai has become a big symbol of India’s rail manufacturing capacity.

Why was there a need for this after independence?

In the early years of independence, India had to depend heavily on other countries for railway coaches. The railway network was expanding. The number of passengers was also increasing rapidly. In such a situation, a large number of new coaches were required. The Indian government wanted rail coaches to be made in the country itself. In the Railway Budget of the year 1949-50, the matter of building a rail coach factory in India came up. Later, Perambur in Chennai was selected for this. Construction of the factory started and after a few years production also started.

The first coach came out in the year 1955

Integral Coach Factory started in the year 1955. The first rail coach came out from here on October 2, 1955. This factory was inaugurated by the country’s first Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru. In the year 2026, this factory is in its 71st year, that is, this unit has been working for Indian Railways for about 71 years. Initially its production capacity was limited, but gradually it joined the world’s largest rail coach factories. The furnishing division here was started in the year 1962. In this division the work is done inside the coach. Like seats, lights, fans, windows, wiring, paint and other passenger amenities.

First traditional ICF coach

The name of ICF itself became associated with a particular type of rail coach. These were called ICF coaches. These coaches remained the identity of Indian trains for a long time. Similar coaches were seen in many blue colored express and mail trains. Central joining parts and rounded designs were prominent in these coaches. For years, most of India’s passenger trains ran with these coaches. Due to this, a large number of coaches were available to the Railways. ICF coaches played an important role in the expansion of Indian Railways. General class, sleeper, AC and many other types of coaches were made in this system.

Again came the era of LHB coaches

With time, Railways moved towards safer and modern coach manufacturing. LHB stands for Linke-Hoffman-Busch design. This technology has been associated with Germany. LHB coaches are considered safer than the old ICF coaches. Their speed capability is better. There are less shocks in these. Their design is also considered better in case of an accident. ICF started manufacturing old coaches as well as LHB coaches. This accelerated the modernization of Indian Railways. Today LHB coaches have been installed in many major trains.

Made from local trains to metro

The work of ICF was not limited to long distance trains only. Trains were also made here for suburban and short distance services. These include train sets like EMU, DMU and MEMU. EMU means Electric Multiple Unit. These trains run on electricity. They are used around big cities like Mumbai, Chennai and Kolkata. These transport lakhs of passengers every day to work, school and market.

DMU means Diesel Multiple Unit. These are used on routes where electrification was not available or was limited. MEMU trains are also useful for short and medium distance travellers. ICF has also manufactured metro rail coaches. This shows that the factory has continuously changed its technology and production capacity over time.

Vande Bharat gave new identity to ICF

The modern identity of ICF is also associated with Vande Bharat train. India’s semi-high-speed Vande Bharat train was initially manufactured in this factory. Earlier it was named Train-18. Later it was named Vande Bharat Express. Vande Bharat is different from the traditional engine-coach train. It does not have a separate front engine.

The entire train set works as one unit. It has been provided with modern seats, automatic doors, better lighting, air conditioning and passenger amenities. The creation of Vande Bharat established ICF as a new technology train factory. This sent the message that India can now make not only ordinary railway coaches but also modern train sets.

Now construction of hydrogen train

India’s first hydrogen train has also been prepared at ICF, Chennai. The design of this train was prepared by the Research Designs and Standards Organization of the Railways. It was manufactured in ICF. Hydrogen train is being considered a big step in environmentally friendly transportation. In this, electricity is generated with the help of hydrogen and oxygen. Normally carbon smoke is not released in this process. Mainly water vapor and heat are generated. Fuel cells, batteries, hydrogen storage and many safety systems have been installed in this train. Sensors have also been installed to monitor hydrogen leakage, fire, smoke and temperature. This project takes Indian Railways forward in the direction of green transportation.

How is a coach made in a factory?

Work in ICF takes place in several phases. There are two major divisions here. The first is Shell Division. The second is the furnishing division. The outer structure of the coach is made in the shell division. The interior work is completed in the furnishing division. Seats are available. Doors are installed. Wiring is done. Lights, fans, AC, toilets and other facilities are added. Then the coach is checked. Brakes, power, doors and safety devices are tested. After all the necessary tests are completed, the coach is handed over to the Railways.

ICF’s identity reaches abroad

The coaches made in ICF are not running only in India. Rail coaches and bogies have been sent from here to many countries. Initial exports to Thailand were made in 1967. After this, ICF products reached many countries in Asia and Africa. Countries like Nepal, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Myanmar, Tanzania, Uganda and Zambia have been included in this list. This export is a proof of India’s manufacturing capacity. This also shows that this factory in Chennai can work as per the international requirements.

This factory located in Perambur, Chennai is the story of about 71 years of hard work, technology and self-reliance. First became a general coach here. Then local trains were made. Became a metro coach. Vande Bharat became. Now hydrogen train has also been built. This is the biggest achievement of ICF.

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