Special Correspondent – Bangladesh Railway is poised to overcome its long-standing rolling stock shortage with the phased arrival of 200 broad-gauge passenger coaches from India beginning this August.
The influx of these new carriages will finally allow the state-run transport agency to utilize several newly constructed rail lines that have remained under-served for years due to a severe lack of coaches and engines.
Fakir Md. Mohiuddin, Additional Director General (Rolling Stock) of Bangladesh Railway, confirmed the timeline to the media, stating that the delivery process for the imported Indian carriages will officially commence next month.
Once integrated, Bangladesh Railway plans to systematically expand train frequencies and inaugurate highly anticipated intercity routes.
Key Developments and Route Allocations
Despite the completion of several major railway projects over the last five years—including the Jamuna Bridge-Pabna line (2018), the Dhaka-Padma Bridge-Jessore and Dhaka-Padma Bridge-Faridpur lines (2022), and the Khulna-Mongla route (2024)—passenger operations have been severely restricted. In fact, the Jamuna Bridge-Pabna and Khulna-Mongla tracks currently lack any dedicated intercity train services.
According to Farid Ahmed, General Manager of Bangladesh Railway (West), the deployment of the new fleet will follow a prioritized strategy:
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Dhaka-Pabna Route: A brand-new intercity train service will be launched to address urgent regional demand.
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Dhaka-Khulna Route: Additional intercity services will be introduced, with active discussions underway to potentially extend this line directly to the Mongla Port.
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Dhaka-Gopalganj Route: A new commuter train will be introduced on this route using existing coaches.
To optimize resources, Bangladesh Railway will also replace older coaches currently running on five routes in Rajshahi with the newly imported Indian carriages.
The released older coaches will then be refurbished to resume operations on previously suspended local, commuter, and mail train routes across the country.
Public Demands and Technical Hurdles
While the infrastructure expansion via the Padma Bridge has significantly shortened distances, commuters in the southwestern districts express dissatisfaction with current routing.
Local advocacy groups point out that apart from the ‘Rupsha Bangla Express’, no brand-new direct services have been introduced on the Dhaka-Khulna route.
Furthermore, major trains like the ‘Sundarban Express’ and ‘Benapole Express’ are operating via roundabout routes through Faridpur and Kushtia rather than running on the direct Jessore corridor.
Zillur Rahman Vitu, Member Secretary of the Greater Jessore Rail Connectivity Development Action Committee, voiced the growing frustration of regional commuters:
“Direct train operations from Jessore, Khulna, and Jhenaidah are highly profitable for both this region and the railway itself. There is an urgent need for a morning train from Jessore. The residents of Darshana, Jhenaidah, and Kotchandpur are also demanding direct connectivity to Dhaka via Jessore. If four direct trains on the Benapole-Dhaka, Khulna-Dhaka, and Darshana-Dhaka routes are not launched quickly, we will launch a strict movement from the second week of August.”
Responding to these demands, General Manager Farid Ahmed explained that transforming Darshana into a central commercial and cross-border transit hub requires crucial infrastructure upgrades.
He noted that the lack of a necessary washpit for train maintenance and emergency repairs at Darshana makes introducing direct new trains on that specific route unfeasible for now, though other routes will open progressively based on demand.
Future Outlook
The procurement is part of a broader government push to modernize the country’s transit network.
Railways Minister Sheikh Rabiul Alam recently informed Parliament that projects are currently being approved to procure an additional 260 broad-gauge passenger carriages, 46 broad-gauge locomotives, and 50 meter-gauge locomotives to enhance train speeds, elevate passenger comfort, and maximize national rail revenue.
The arrival of 200 Indian coaches this August marks a critical turning point for Bangladesh Railway.
By addressing its most acute logistical bottleneck, the railway department is finally positioned to bridge the gap between completed mega-infrastructure projects and active public service, promising a smoother, more expansive travel experience for commuters nationwide.