Bangladesh Railway has received the first consignment of 18 broad-gauge passenger coaches from India under a deal to purchase 200 coaches, marking the beginning of deliveries aimed at modernising the country’s railway fleet and improving passenger services.
The coaches entered Bangladesh through the Darshana-Joynagar border crossing in Chuadanga at around 3pm on Friday (16 October). Officials from Bangladesh Railway’s Pakshi division received the shipment at Darshana Railway Station.
The consignment departed from Kapurthala in India’s Punjab state on 12 October and travelled to Ranaghat near Kolkata before crossing into Bangladesh through the Gede-Darshana rail route.
Following customs clearance, the coaches will be transferred to the railway workshop in Saidpur, where they will undergo technical inspections and testing before being commissioned for passenger operations.
The newly delivered coaches feature Bangladesh Railway’s red-and-green colour scheme.
The shipment includes air-conditioned chair and berth coaches, Shovan chair coaches and a luggage van. Bangladesh Railway officials expect the new additions to improve travel conditions, particularly on routes in the country’s western region, while strengthening the railway’s capacity to accommodate passengers.
Robiul Islam, divisional mechanical engineer of Bangladesh Railway’s Pakshi division, said the modern coaches would contribute to improved services and higher railway revenue.
“The coaches are modern and of good quality,” he told The Business Standard.
The arrival has also renewed public attention to the condition of the existing railway fleet.
Local residents welcomed the new coaches but urged the authorities to repair older ones, many of which have deteriorated over years of use.
Abdul Awal, a Darshana resident, praised the appearance of the newly arrived coaches and called on passengers to help maintain their cleanliness. He also highlighted the poor condition of several coaches currently operating in the region.
The procurement follows an agreement signed in May 2024 between the Bangladesh government and India’s RITES Limited for the supply of 200 broad-gauge passenger coaches.
With the arrival of the first 18 units, another 182 coaches remain to be delivered in phases.
The new coaches will enter passenger service after the required inspections and testing are completed.