200 Indian broad gauge coaches to join Bangladesh railway fleet

Bangladesh is set to import 200 broad-gauge railway coaches from India, with deliveries expected to begin this year and be completed by December 2027, Railways Minister Shaikh Rabiul Alam told Parliament on Thursday. The project, financed by the European Investment Bank, is expected to see the coaches added to the Bangladesh Railway fleet between June 2026 and December 2027. The government is also planning further investments to modernise the railway system, including proposals to procure 260 additional broad-gauge passenger coaches, 46 broad-gauge locomotives and 50 metre-gauge locomotives. 
The minister said the new coaches would help expand rail services, with authorities planning to determine new train routes once the delivery process begins. The move is also expected to increase the number of intercity trains, particularly on routes connecting Dhaka with northern districts, where 15 intercity trains currently operate. Providing an overview of the rail network, the minister said Bangladesh currently has 3,428.09 kilometres of railway tracks, including metre gauge, broad gauge and dual gauge lines. He added that efforts are ongoing to expand the network through new projects based on demand and feasibility.He also said activities continue to expand the railway network through the installation of new broad-gauge and dual-gauge lines under various projects based on feasibility and demand.