The first consignment of 18 broad-gauge passenger coaches imported from India reached the Saidpur Railway Workshop in Nilphamari early Saturday for technical inspection and trial runs.
The coaches arrived around 4:00 AM following their entry into Bangladesh through the Darshana border on Friday. The shipment forms part of a larger agreement with India’s RITES Ltd to procure 200 broad-gauge coaches to expand Bangladesh Railway’s fleet.
Manufactured at the Rail Coach Factory in Kapurthala, Punjab with this first delivery includes 11 non-AC 'Shovon' chair coaches, three AC chair coaches, two AC sleeper coaches and two AC power cars equipped with guard compartments and luggage space.
Workshop authorities stated that Indian experts will work alongside Bangladeshi officials and technicians to inspect, commission and conduct trial runs on the newly arrived coaches.
According to Shah Sufi Nur Mohammad the Divisional Superintendent of Saidpur Railway Workshop, the coaches will be unsealed shortly. Once mechanical testing and trial runs are successfully completed and the coaches will be handed over to the Traffic Department to join regular passenger operations.
