India has sent the first batch of 18 passenger coaches to Bangladesh, which is part of an agreement to supply 200 broad-gauge coaches for the Bangladesh Railway. This initiative could pave the way for the launch of two new intercity train services on the Dhaka-Pabna and Dhaka-Khurkhna routes.
Details of the Shipment
The coaches were dispatched on October 12 from the coach manufacturing factory in Kapurthala, Punjab, and include 11 non-air-conditioned sleeper coaches, three air-conditioned sleeper coaches, two AC sleeping coaches, and two AC coaches with guard compartments and luggage space.
Agreement and Planning for New Services
This delivery is part of an agreement signed on May 20, 2024, between the Bangladesh Railway and the Indian government-owned Rail India Technical and Economic Services (RITES). The remaining coaches are expected to be supplied, tested, and commissioned by October 9, 2027.
According to railway sources, these coaches will enter Bangladesh through the Gede-Darsana rail link. After delivery, an Indian technical team may carry out the necessary preparations for commissioning and trial operations at the Saidpur railway workshop.
These coaches are designed to meet the operational needs of the Bangladesh Railway and include stainless steel bodies, adjustable seating, backrests, surveillance cameras, fire safety equipment, and biological toilets. These coaches are capable of operating at speeds of up to 160 kilometers per hour.
The Bangladesh Railway is preparing to launch two new intercity services connecting Dhaka to Pabna and Khurkhna, although the start of these services depends on the availability of the new coaches.
The Minister of Transport, Bridges, and Railways of Bangladesh, Sheikh Rezaul Alam, recently announced in Parliament that 200 broad-gauge passenger coaches are expected to be added to the Bangladesh Railway fleet. He also stated that decisions regarding new train routes will be made after the arrival of the coaches.
This project represents another step in railway cooperation between India and Bangladesh, and the new coaches are expected to enhance passenger transport capacity and support the expansion of intercity services.
