Bangladesh Railway

Bangladesh Railway (Bengali: বাংলাদেশ রেলওয়ে) also known as Bangla Rail is the state-owned rail transport agency of Bangladesh. It operates and maintains all railways in the country, and is overseen by the Directorate General of Bangladesh Railway. The Bangladesh Railway is governed by the Ministry of Railways and the Bangladesh Railway Authority. Its reporting mark is "BR".[4]

Bangladesh Railway
Native name
বাংলাদেশ রেলওয়ে
Department of the Government of Bangladesh
IndustryRailway
FoundedAugust 14, 1947 (1947-08-14) as Pakistan Railways
Headquarters
Dhaka
,
Bangladesh
Area served
Bangladesh
Key people
Mohammad Amzad Hossain, Director General of Bangladesh Railway[1]
Revenue৳ 8,002 million[2] (2014)
৳ - 8,015 million[2] (2014)
AUMRail Transport
OwnerBritish Raj (Until 1947)
Dominion of Pakistan (1947-1956)
Government of Pakistan (1956-1962)
Government of East Pakistan (1962-1971)
Government of Bangladesh (1971-Present)
Number of employees
27,535[3] (2015)
ParentGovernment of Bangladesh
DivisionsEast Zone and West Zone
Websitewww.railway.gov.bd
Bangla Rail
Operation
National railwayMinistry of Railways
Major operatorsBangladesh Railway
Statistics
Ridership65 million (2014) [2]
Passenger km8,135 million[2]
Freight2.52 million tonnes[2]
System length
Total2,885 km[2]
Double track364 km[2]
Track gauge
Metre gauge1,838 km[2]
Broad gauge682 km[2]
Features
No. bridges3,650[2]
546 (Major)
3,104 (Minor)
Longest bridgeBangabandhu Bridge (dual gauge, 4.8 km)
Hardinge Bridge (broad gauge, 1.8 km)
No. stations498

The Bangladesh Railway system has a total length of 2,855 route km. In 2009, Bangladesh Railway had 34,168 employees.[5] In 2014, Bangladesh Railway carried 65 million passengers and 2.52 million tonnes of freight. The railway made 8,135 million passenger-kilometres and 677 million tonne-kilometres.[2]

History

Rail transport in Bangladesh began on 15 November 1862, when 53.11 km of 5 ft 6 in (1,676 mm) (broad gauge) line was opened between Darshana in Chuadanga District and Jogotee in Kushtia District. On 4 January 1885, a further 14.98 km 1,000 mm (3 ft 3 3⁄8 in) (metre gauge) line was opened. In 1891, the Bengal Assam Railway was constructed with the assistance of the government. It was later run by the Bengal Assam Railway Company.

On 1 July 1895, two sections of metre gauge railway were constructed by English railway companies. One connected Chittagong and Comilla (149.89 km). The other connected Laksam Upazila and Chandpur (50.89 km).[6]

In 1947, at the time of the Partition of India, the Bengal Assam Railway was divided into two parts. The 2,603.92 km of track located in East Pakistan, came under the control of the central Government of Pakistan. On 1 February 1961, the Eastern Bengal Railway was renamed the "Pakistan Eastern Railway". In 1962, control of the Pakistan Eastern Railway was transferred to the Government of East Pakistan. On 9 June 1962, by order of the president, the Pakistan Eastern Railway management was assumed by a Railway Board.[6]

In 2005, the total length of the Bangladesh Railway was 2,855 km.[7] There was 660 km of broad gauge track (mostly in the western region), 1,830 km of metre gauge track (mostly in the central and eastern regions) and 365 km of dual gauge track.[8] In 1998, the Jamuna Bridge was built to connect the previously divided east and west rail networks in dual gauge.[9]

In 2010, funding was received for a bridge over the Titas River.[10] In September 2010, the Government of Bangladesh approved ten rail development projects costing 19·9 billion Bangladeshi taka including plans for new tracks and rolling stock.[11]

In 2011, Sheikh Hasina Wazed, the Prime Minister of Bangladesh, officiated at the start of construction of a link which would cross several rivers to reach Cox's Bazar. The 100 km of gauge line started from the railhead at Dohazari, southeast of Chittagong. The plan was to reach Satkania, Dulahazra, Chakarin, Edgaon, Ramu and Cox's Bazar, with four major river bridges and a 28 km branch from Ramu to Gundum. In 2013, the Chittagong Circular Railway was completed.

In 2015, construction of a 15 km branch to Agartala, Tripura in Northeast India commenced.[12] In 2017, land acquisition took place to facilitate the construction.[13]

Structure

From the end of the Bangladesh Liberation War in 1971 until 1982, the railway was governed by a Railway Board. It then came under the Railway Division of the Ministry of Communications. The Director General of the railway was the Secretary of the Railway Division of the Ministry of Communications. In 1995, governance of the railway was assumed by the "Bangladesh Railway Authority" which was chaired by the Minister of Railways.[14] Inspections are made by an external government authority.

The features of Bangladesh Railway include the usage of several gauges and the division of the rail system by the Jamuna River, Brahmaputra into the Western Zone and the Eastern Zone of operations. Crossing the river is one bridge, the Jamuna Bridge which was completed in 2003.

The East Zone and the West Zone each have a General Manager who answers to the Director General of the Railway Authority. Each zone has its own raft of departments for operation, maintenance, and finances. Each zone is divided into two divisions with departments for personnel, transportation, commercial, finance mechanical, way and works signalling, telecommunication, electrical and medical services.

The East Zone has a workshop division in Pahartali. The West Zone's workshop division is in Saidpur. The railway has a central locomotive workshop for broad and metre gauge locomotives in Parbatipur. It also has a Railway Training Academy.[14] There is are diesel workshops in Pahartali, Dhaka and Parbatipur. Maintenance on coaches and wagons is carried out at the "C and W" shop in Saidpur, Nilphamari and at the "C and W" shop Pahartali.

There are 2 railway division under Bangladesh Government:

  • West Zone (1. Rangpur Division, 2. Rajshahi Division, 3. Khulna Division)
  • East Zone (1. Dhaka Division, 2. Chittagong Division, 3. Mymensingh Division, 4. Sylhet Division)

Rolling stock

Locomotives
Main article: Locomotives of Bangladesh
Bangladesh Railway Class 2900 locomotive

Bangladesh Railway's fleet of diesel locomotives includes both diesel-electric and diesel-hydraulic machines.[15] In 2007, there were 77 broad gauge diesel-electric locomotives. In 2012, Bangladesh Railway ordered 16 new broad gauge locomotives of 3100 hp from Diesel Locomotive Works, India.[16] There were also 208 metre gauge diesel-electric locomotives including those of classes 2000, 2600, 2700, and 2900. The total number was 285. A small number of steam locomotives are preserved in Bangladesh.[17]

In 2019, 40 EMD GT42ACLs were ordered from Progress Rail Services.[18]

Diesel-electric Multiple Unit
A DEMU train at Kamalapur Railway Station, Dhaka

Diesel-electric Multiple Unit (DEMU) trains first started their journey in Bangladesh on 24 April 2013.[19] Total 20 sets of meter-gauge DEMU were manufactured by Tangshan Railway Vehicle Co Ltd, China.[20] Each set comprises three units. Total 300 passengers can board a set, 149 by sitting and 151 by standing.[21] They are rated 460 hp and can run up to 20 km distance with a maximum speed of 80 km/h. They have a life-span of 30 years. Currently only 9 of 20 sets are active.[22]

Passenger coaches

In 2014, the railway owned 312 broad gauge coaches and 1,164 metre gauge coaches.[2]

Passenger services
Jamuna Express at Kamalapur Railway Station
Parabat Express at Sylhet Railway Station

Railway is a principal mode of transport in Bangladesh. In the 2005 financial year, 42 million passengers traveled on the Bangladesh Railway.[23]

Inter-city trains

Bangladesh Railway started inter-city train service in 1985. As of 2017, 90 inter-city trains (up & down) are currently active.[24] About 35.5% of total passengers travel by inter-city trains and about 73.3% of Bangladesh Railway revenue come from inter-city train service.[25]

Mail, Commuter, Local and Shuttle trains

In 2017, Bangladesh Railway operated 52 mail or express trains, 64 commuter trains (DEMU) and 135 shuttle or local trains.

International trains

In April 14, 2008, the Maitree Express between Dhaka and Kolkata came into operation.[26] This train connects Kolkata Railway Station of India with Dhaka Cantonment Railway Station of Bangladesh via Gede-Darsana route. On 9 November 2017, a new train, the Bandhan Express, came into operation. This train connects Kolkata Railway Station of India with Khulna Railway Station of Bangladesh via Petrapole-Benapole route (172 km).[27][28][29]

Fare and ticketing

Tickets for Bangladesh Railway services are available at almost all stations. Most stations are computerized and tickets which can be purchased within four days of departure, are printed. Full refunds (excluding clerical charges) are available up until two days before departure. The railway reserves ten percent of tickets for online sales. Of these tickets, fifteen percent are reserved for mobile phone sales.[30]

Accommodation classes

Bangladesh Railway has three main passenger classes, "Air conditioned" (Tapanukul | তাপানুকূল), "First" (প্রথম) and "Second" (দ্বিতীয়). Third class was also active but closed down on August 1, 1989.

AC Class is divided into three sub-classes: AC Berth, AC Seat and AC Chair. Like AC Class, First Class is divided into three sub-class: First Berth, First Seat and First Chair. Second Class is divided into three sub-class: Non AC Chair (Shovan Chair | শোভন চেয়ার), Shovan (শোভন) and Shulov (সুলভ).

Most trains do not provide the "Air conditioned" class. On inter-city and long-distance trains, a restaurant car and a power car are included at the center or at both ends of the train. Many inter-city trains are partially air-conditioned, feature padded leather seats and provide passengers with on-demand sheets, pillows, blankets, as well as meals in a dining car. Some diesel-electric multiple unit (demu) trains provide commuter services.[31]

Class Sub-class Description
AC Class (Tapanukul | তাপানুকূল) AC Berth This is the most expensive class. This air-conditioned coach is used only on popular Inter-City routes. The coaches are carpeted, have sleeping accommodation, ample leg room and have privacy features like personal coupes.
AC Seat AC Berth without sleeping accommodation.
AC Chair (তাপানুকূল চেয়ার) Air conditioned chair car.
First Class (প্রথম) First Berth This class is similar to AC Berth Class, but without air-condition.
First Seat This class is similar to AC Seat Class, but without air-condition.
First Chair (প্রথম চেয়ার) It is basically a Shovan Chair with wider leg-space, but seats can not be leaned down.
Second Class (দ্বিতীয়) Shovon Chair
(শোভন চেয়ার) 		This class is similar to AC Chair Class, but without air-condition.It is a chair car preferred by most middle-class passengers. Has a total of five seats in a row on broad gauge trains and four seats in a row on metre gauge trains.
Shovon (শোভন) The most common class in Bangladesh railway and one of the cheapest classes. Seats are not very comfortable.
Shulov
(সুলভ) 		The cheapest accommodation, with seats made of pressed wood or steel and are cushioned. Only found in sub-urban and short-distance routes. Although entry into the compartment is guaranteed, a seat is not guaranteed. These coaches are usually very crowded.

Accidents
  • On 11 July 2006, a train collided with a crowded bus at an unmanned railroad crossing at Akkelpur Upazila, Jaipurhat District. Thirty-three people died and thirty were injured.
  • On 13 October 2007, the rear carriages of the Probhati Express derailed near Dhaka. Four people died and fifty were injured.
  • On 16 April 2008, a Dinajpur – Dhaka Ekota express train collided with a local bus on a level crossing on the outskirts of Kalihati, Tangail District. Eighteen people died and thirty were injured.
  • On 14 May 2008, an Upaban express train crashed into the rear of a Noakhali express train at the Ashuganj Upazila station, Brahmanbaria District. Eight people died and one hundred were injured.
  • On 8 December 2010, a collision between two passenger trains killed at least ten people.[32]
  • On 23 June 2019, several bogies of Dhaka-bound Upaban Express train from Sylhet veered off the tracks at around 11:40 pm after a culvert over the Barochhara Canal broke down, 200 yards off Baramchal Railway Station. At least five people died and hundreds were injured. Locals who worked overnight with the first responders claimed at least 10-15 people have been killed.[33]
  • On 12 November 2019, At least 16 passengers died and score other injured as Dhaka-bound Turna Nishita Express rammed Chattogram-bound Udayan Express from Sylhet at Mandobagh Railway Station in Kasba.Train Driver's Fault' Takes Sixteen Lives
  • On 14 November 2019, Two days after a deadly train crash in Brahmanbaria, Rangpur Express, bound from Dhaka to Rangpur, braced an accident at Ullapara station in Sirajganj at around 2pm on Thursday. Seven compartments of Rangpur Express, including its engine and power car, derailed in the Ullapara Railway Station area and a fire broke out in three of its compartments.

Railway stations
See also: List of railway stations in Bangladesh
Kamalapur Railway Station
Kamalapur railway station at night
Rajshahi railway station
Sylhet Railway Station
Parbatipur Railway Junction Station at Dinajpur District.
Noapara Railway Station at Jessore District.
Tongi Railway Station, Dhaka
Airport Railway Station

Kamalapur Railway Station is the central railway station in Dhaka. In 2015, Bangladesh Railway serviced 489 railway stations. These include one block hut, thirteen train halts, and four goods booking points. The schedule of Bangladesh Railway has changed 26 Trains in the new year 2020. The East zone Train schedule will active on 10 January 2020.[34]

Freight and cargo services

As a national carrier, Bangladesh Railway is obliged to carry essential commodities such as grain and fertiliser to remote parts of Bangladesh at discounted rates. Bangladesh Railway transports containers from the Port of Chittagong to Dhaka Inland Container Depot, where there are customs facilities.[35] The rolling stock to carry containers was manufactured from existing stock. On 5 August 1991, a container-only train came into service. A goods train operates from Singhabad and Petrapole, India to Rohanpur and Benapole, Bangladesh.[36]

Accidents
  • On July 10, 2014, a major freight train accident occurred near Faujdarhat Railway Station at 6.30 am. A freight train from Patenga was carrying furnace oil to a power plant, but near Faujdarhat the train derailed and leaked around 21,255 imp gal (96,630 l; 25,526 US gal) of furnace oil. Six wagons of the train derailed and oil from three of the wagons flowed into a nearby canal.[37]
  • On September 14, 2016, a freight train derailed in the Faujdarhat area. The loco driver and the assistant driver were injured.[38]

International communication

Benapole and Darshana of Bangladesh (the then East Pakistan) had rail communication with India till the Indo-Pakistani War of 1965. After a long gap, on April 14, 2008, rail communication with India restored with the introduction of Maitree Express train.[39] On 9 November 2017, Bandhan Express train came into operation. Besides Maitree and Bandhan Express, various freight trains are in regular operation between Bangladesh and India. Bangladesh has no railway communication with Myanmar.

See also

References
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