Coaches and wagons of Bangladesh

Green coaches on Parabat Express

Some "bogie covered" (BC) wagons in Lalmonirhat Railway Station

Coaches and wagons of Bangladesh are operated and maintained by Bangladesh Railway, the state owned rail transport agency of the country. At the end of the year 2004–2005, Bangladesh Railway had a total of 1406 coaches. Among them, 1344 were for conveyance of passengers and 62 were for luggage, mails, parcels and departmental uses. Bangladesh Railway also had 10236 wagons among which, 7310 are covered, 1115 are open and 1811 are special type wagons.^[1] In terms of gauge, there are meter-gauge (1000 mm) and 5 ft 6 in gauge (1676 mm broad-gauge) coaches and wagons in the country.

Accommodation classes[]

Ac class[]

It is the air conditioned class seen on most intercity trains with some other passenger trains too. Ac class berth is only used during night for sleeping. There are two types of cabin, single and double. 2 persons in single and 4 persons in double cabin can sleep. Ac class seat is similar to ac berth but only used during day for seating. 3 (mg) or 4 (bg) persons can sit in single cabin and 6 (mg) or 8 (bg) persons can sit in double cabin. Ac chair is air-conditioned chair car. It has 2×2 (mg) or 2×3 (bg) seating system.

First class[]

First class berth is similar to ac berth, but not air-conditioned. First class seat is similar to ac seat, but not air-conditioned.

Shovon chair[]

Similar to ac chair, but not air-conditioned.

Shovan/Shulov/Second class[]

There are two types of seating. First one is face-to-face 2×2 (mg) or 2×3 (bg) seating system. Second one is long bench-like seating parallel to the length of the coach, 2 seats on two sides, and sometimes an extra one at the middle.

Coaches[]

Bangladesh Railway imports passenger coaches from various countries over the time, along with some manufactured locally.

Iran[]

During the 1998, 67 meter-gauge coaches were added to the fleet of Bangladesh Railway. They were manufactured by Wagon Pars, an Iranian train and locomotive manufacturer. The underframe or bogie were of German technology. Initially they were used on some inter-city trains including Subarna Express, but at one point, they got ineligible to run anymore. The obsolete coaches were placed at the , and some of these coaches were repaired and used on some local trains.^[2][3]

In 2017, initiative to reconstruct (rehabilitate) some of these coaches at Saidpur railway workshop was made. At first, 18 coaches were reconstructed in July 2017 with an average cost of 70 or 80 lakh (7 or 8 million) BDT. The newer reconstructed coaches feature comfortable seats, stainless steel instead of mild steel in the floor, floor mat, modern lights, alarm chain pulling controller, modern commode, cellphone and laptop charging system, and air brake. They are capable of going at a speed of 80 km/h. Among the 18 coaches, 12 were decided to use on Lalmoni Express, replacing its older coaches; and the rest would be kept reserved.^[2][4][5]

China[]

In 2007, CRRC of China exported some white air braked meter-gauge coaches to Bangladesh. As of 2022, 4 trains have these coaches: Mohanagar Express,Upakul Express, and Kalni Express. In November 2020, contract was awarded to CRRC Sifang Company Ltd, a subsidiary of China South Locomotive and Rolling Stock Industry (Group) Corporation to supply 200 meter gauge coaches with a total cost of 9.2751 billion BDT. The purchase is scheduled to be completed by June 30, 2020.^[6][7][8]

Indonesia[]

In 2006, a contract was made with PT Inka for 50 broad-gauge coaches. They are white colored and have air brake. In March 2020, 5.62 billion BDT contract was awarded by Bangladesh Railway to PT INKA of Indonesia to supply 150 coaches. Among the 150 coaches, 100 are meter-gauge and 50 are broad-gauge.^[9] Later, it was planned to import 100 more meter-gauge coaches.^[8][10] They entered the railway service in Bangladesh for the first time on June 25, 2020, through the introduction of a new train, the Sonar Bangla Express.In February 2022,about 14 trains are running with PT INKA coach. The names of them are Subarna Express,Kishoreganj Express,,,Kurigram Express,Jamalpur Express,,Ekota Express,Drutojan Express,,Panchagarh Express,Sonar Bangla Express, and Banalata Express.

India[]

On 2016, a contract of Rs 367 crore were made between Bangladesh Railway and RITES Ltd of Indian Railways and was executed on January 21, 2015, to supply 120 broad-gauge LHB coaches. The first consignment of 40 set was dispatched in March 2016. The export order of 120 LHB coaches include 17 ac sleeper, 17 ac chair, 34 non-ac chair car with pantry, 33 non-ac chair car with prayer room and 19 power car coaches. These coaches are made by stainless steel, have fiat bogies and are capable of running at 160 km/h speed.^[11]

Wagons[]

China[]

A joint venture of China National Technical Import and Export Corp, Jiangsu Railteco Equipment Co and Jinxi Railway Vehicle Co has been awarded a 3.58 billion BDT contract to supply 50 broad gauge and 75 metre gauge vans to Bangladesh Railway. Deliveries are scheduled to begin within 20 months of the August 31, 2020 contract signing ceremony, with all of the vehicles to be commissioned within 27 months.^[12]

References[]