Heavy LHB bogie corrosion worries Railways; toilet leaks, saline air blamed

…railway coach manufacturing units, Integral Coach Factory (ICF) in Chennai, Rail Coach Factory (RCF) in Kapurthala and Modern Coach Factory (MCF) in Rae Bareli, to examine the problem and identify suitable solutions. “ Heavy corrosion in LHB bogies is a cause of worry ,” the minutes of the conference, prepared by the Railway Board, said according to PTI. Why are LHB coaches seeing corrosion? Officials have advised greater attention to the upkeep of both air-conditioned and…

…lavatory areas was among the major contributing factors. Water can seep through the flooring of toilets or escape from faulty pipe fittings and eventually reach the underframe, exposing these components to corrosion. “ Although bio-toilets are designed to treat waste, any accidental overflow or leakage of effluent – which is acidic and rich in chlorides – causes rapid corrosion of the trough floor, sole bars and headstock ,” the Eastern Railway report said according to PTI. The report identified several other factors that can contribute to severe corrosion. These include cleaning methods, dents or damage to the steel surface of coaches…

…water to penetrate through their edges, tears, joints or areas where they have not adhered properly to the surface. The experts also highlighted the particular exposure faced by coaches operating in coastal areas. “ Coaches running in coastal regions are exposed to saline air. The high salt (NaCl) content acts as a powerful electrolyte, accelerating the electrochemical process of corrosion ,” the experts said, recommending a combination of design-related, maintenance and operational precautions. Among the measures suggested are avoiding aggressive chemicals as well as untreated or high-salinity water…