New Delhi: Bangladesh Railway is preparing to expand its rolling stock fleet by importing 200 Broad-Gauge (BG) passenger coaches from India. Railway Minister Shaikh Rabiul Alam informed the Bangladesh Parliament that the coaches will be procured under a financing arrangement supported by the European Investment Bank (EIB), with deliveries expected to begin this year.
He further stated that the induction of these 200 BG coaches into the Bangladesh Railway system is scheduled to take place over a period stretching from June 2026 to December 2027. The minister also noted that decisions on introducing new train services and expanding routes will be made after the arrival and deployment of these coaches, according to The Daily Star.
The remarks were made in response to queries raised by Jamaat-e-Islami Members of Parliament Ilyas Molla and Ruhul Amin during a parliamentary question-and-answer session.
As part of a broader modernisation drive, the minister highlighted that Bangladesh Railway is also planning additional procurements, including 260 BG passenger coaches, 46 BG locomotives, and 50 metre-gauge locomotives in the coming period. He said these upgrades are aimed at improving passenger facilities, enhancing operational capacity, and boosting revenue generation through expanded freight services.
He added that once the new coaches are introduced, the number of intercity train services connecting Dhaka with northern regions is expected to increase. At present, 15 intercity trains operate on this corridor.
