New Delhi: India has dispatched the first batch of 18 passenger coaches to Bangladesh under an agreement to supply 200 broad-gauge coaches to Bangladesh Railway, paving the way for the possible introduction of two new intercity train services on the Dhaka-Pabna and Dhaka-Khulna routes.
The coaches left the Rail Coach Factory in Kapurthala, Punjab, on October 12. The shipment comprises 11 non-air-conditioned Shovan chair cars, three air-conditioned chair cars, two AC sleeper cars and two AC power cars fitted with guard compartments and luggage space.
The delivery is part of an agreement signed on May 20, 2024, between Bangladesh Railway and India's state-owned Rail India Technical and Economic Services Limited (RITES). The remaining coaches are scheduled to be supplied, tested and commissioned by October 9, 2027.
According to railway sources, the coaches will enter Bangladesh through the Gede-Darshana cross-border rail link. Following their handover, an Indian technical team may undertake commissioning preparations and trial operations at the Saidpur Railway Workshop.
Designed to meet Bangladesh Railway's operational requirements, the coaches feature stainless-steel bodies, adjustable reclining seats, footrests, CCTV surveillance, fire-safety equipment and bio-toilets. They are capable of operating at speeds of up to 160 kilometres per hour.
Bangladesh Railway has begun preparations for two new intercity services connecting Dhaka with Pabna and Khulna via broad-gauge routes, although their introduction will depend on the availability of the new coaches.
Road Transport, Bridges and Railways Minister Sheikh Robiul Alam recently told Parliament that 200 broad-gauge passenger coaches were expected to be added to Bangladesh Railway's fleet under the project. He said decisions on new train routes would be taken after the coaches arrived.
The additional rolling stock is expected to ease the shortage of broad-gauge passenger coaches, which has restricted the expansion of train services on several routes in Bangladesh's western region.
The project marks another step in railway cooperation between India and Bangladesh, with the new coaches expected to strengthen passenger transport capacity and support the expansion of intercity services once deliveries and commissioning are completed.