18 railway coaches from India enter Bangladesh through Darshana
Photo: Agamir Somoy
The first shipment of 18 Linke Hofmann Busch (LHB) broad gauge railway coaches imported from India under an agreement for Bangladesh Railway has entered Bangladesh through Darshana International Railway Junction. Railway authorities expect the new coaches to increase seating capacity on long distance trains and improve passenger services once they are added to the fleet.
According to railway sources, the coaches have been specially manufactured to meet Bangladesh Railway’s requirements and align with its modern operating system. Under an agreement signed between Bangladesh Railway and India’s Rail India Technical and Economic Service Limited (RITES), a total of 200 LHB broad gauge railway coaches are to be supplied. The 18 coaches are the first shipment under the agreement.
On October 12, the first train carrying the coaches departed from the Rail Coach Factory in Kapurthala, Punjab, India, for Bangladesh. After traveling a long distance, the coaches passed through Ranaghat Railway Station in West Bengal and reached Darshana International Railway Junction through the Gede border crossing.
Sources at Darshana International Railway Station said the coaches arriving from Ranaghat entered Bangladesh through the Darshana border on Friday afternoon. After reaching Darshana station, customs clearance, preliminary inspections and other necessary official procedures were completed.
Following the completion of official and security formalities, the coaches were sent to the Syedpur Railway Workshop in Nilphamari. Relevant sources said the coaches would be added to the passenger train fleet after initial coupling, performance testing and other necessary technical procedures there.
The coaches have been specially designed to meet Bangladesh Railway’s requirements. The types include air-conditioned sleeping cars, standard AC coaches, air-conditioned chair cars, standard chair cars and generator and power cars. However, the information provided by sources contains discrepancies regarding the types and numbers of coaches supplied.
Railway officials said coaches built with LHB technology are more modern, comfortable and safe than conventional coaches. Manufactured using German technology, the coaches are relatively lightweight and can operate at higher speeds. They also have a comparatively lower risk of piling up on top of one another during an accident.
Relevant officials expect the new coaches to help ease the longstanding shortage of seats in the railway fleet. They believe the coaches will make long distance travel more comfortable and safer for passengers, particularly on western region routes.
Darshana International Railway Station Manager Mamunur Rashid and Assistant Station Manager Tarikul Islam received the coaches at the station.
