Bangladesh Railways Takes Steps to Acquire New Carriages and Locomotives
The Railway Ministry has announced comprehensive initiatives in Parliament to procure new carriages and locomotives to address passenger demand and seat shortages. Authorities are currently issuing up to 25 percent standing tickets for non-AC coaches on intercity trains.
During a parliamentary session held on 9 September at the Jatiya Sangsad in Dhaka, important updates regarding the country's railway sector were presented by the Railway Minister. The discussions focused heavily on ongoing initiatives to bolster the national fleet through the acquisition of new railway carriages and locomotives. Lawmakers including Shamsunnahar Begum, Sheikh Rabiul Alam, and Hafiz Uddin Ahmed were noted in connection with the parliamentary proceedings. The administration is actively working with international financial institutions such as the Asian Development Bank (ADB), the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB), and Korea's Economic Development Cooperation Fund (EDCF) to support these vital infrastructure developments.
Addressing the persistent issue of passenger congestion and seat shortages relative to overall travel demand, the government has implemented a specific operational measure. For non-AC coaches on intercity trains, authorities are now issuing standing tickets equivalent to 25 percent of the total available seats. This temporary relief measure aims to accommodate a larger number of travelers while long-term fleet expansion projects are being planned, developed, and systematically executed across the national railway network.
As part of the broader modernization and expansion strategy, the government has formally initiated steps to procure 200 broad-gauge carriages. According to the current timeline and procurement projections, the very first shipment consisting of 19 broad-gauge carriages is scheduled to arrive by September 2026. This initial delivery marks a significant milestone in fulfilling the broader railway development objectives outlined during the parliamentary session in the capital.
In addition to the broad-gauge carriages already in the pipeline, further expansion initiatives are actively moving through administrative channels. The development project proforma (DPP) is currently being formulated for the procurement of an additional 200 meter-gauge carriages. These supplementary acquisitions are intended to substantially increase passenger capacity across various routes currently experiencing high demand and operational strain.
The ministry's comprehensive fleet enhancement plan also extends significantly to motive power, with active operations underway to procure multiple locomotives. Specifically, activities are progressing for the acquisition of 60 meter-gauge and 46 broad-gauge locomotives. Within this broader locomotive procurement framework, the bid documents for 30 meter-gauge locomotives are presently being finalized, while the DPP for another 30 meter-gauge locomotives is currently awaiting formal approval. Furthermore, the preliminary development project proforma (PDPP) for acquiring the 46 broad-gauge locomotives remains actively in progress.
