Status of railway tracks and rolling stocks in Bangladesh

Abstract

The rail sector of Bangladesh is experienced by more than 150 years. As of 2007, the total length of rail route is 2,835 km, of that 659 km are broad gauge tracks (in the western zone), while 1,801 km are metre gauge tracks (in the east Zone has 1266 km and the west Zone has 535 Km). The gauge problem is being tackled by introducing dual gauge. The remaining 375 km are dual gauge track (mostly in the central and western regions of the country). Significant achievement after liberation is only the direct communication between Dhaka and Rajshahi over Bangabondhu Bridge. Bangladesh Railway is not connected with all the districts of the country. At the end of 2006-2007 only 44 out of 64 civil districts of the country could be connected by railway. Allowable maximum speed of these rail routes vary from 15 to 95 kilometers per hour. In the year 1991, Government advised by the Donor Group, closed 300 kilometer rail routes as stating them economically loss projects. Even, at present many of the existing lines do not have sufficient sleepers, ballasts etc. The condition of rail routes over 1500 kilometer is very poor, due to lack of renewal and timely maintenance. 600 kilometer rail tracks of ten different routes are running dangerously. The major parts of the profit of rail comes from the carrying of goods. But due to the lack of proper planning and investment, the movement of goods by rail is time-consuming and a difficult process. Rail way seemed to be insignificant from the very beginning of Bangladesh. Allocation for Bangladesh Railway is only below 20% of the allocation of transport sector. But realizing the significance of rail Government now-a-days have increase the allocation for railway, as the allocation for BR in 2004-2006 (three year) was 75573.10 million taka; and the allocation for BR in 2007-2010 (mid term) is 29685.50 million taka. For the improvement of rail the Present Government has taken various initiatives. These projects are going on and will be completed within 2012. Also Government has taken 9 projects at a cost of about three thousand crore taka for the improvement of rail in Bangladesh. Recently Five railway projects will be worked out within by the help of Indian 100 crore dollar debt help. Bangladesh is joining her rail tracks with India and Trans Asian Railway. Different sections of railway track in different location in the country consist of different materials and equipments according to their significance and allowable fund. Rails are made of high carbon steel to be able to withstand stresses, to provide a smooth pathway and have very little (1/5th of tyre) friction. For the construction of rail tracks, pre-stressed concrete sleeper, as well as, steel sleeper and wooden sleeper are used, but in any section only one type of sleeper is used. Suitable fittings and fastenings are used for relevant sleeper. Ballast used here are crushed rock. The lifetime of a rail locomotive is 20 years. But only 28% of total engines of Bangladesh are of age less than 20 years. Most of the rest are more than 40 years aged. Because of these old engines, and having no many extra engines delay occurs in rail movement. During the year 2006-2007, average distance travelled by a BG Locomotive was 163 kilometres per day & MG Locomotive was 172 kilometres per day. The increasing passengers demand more locomotives, wagons and coaches to be repaired and bought for smooth operation. In 2006-2007, BR had a total of 9473 (BG=1935, MG=7538) wagons comprising 6599 covered, 992 open and 1882 special type wagons. Inclusive growth and expansion of rail network to reach development to every corner of the country should be the core to developmental approach. Economically unviable projects need to be viewed with social perspective being economic necessity for backward and under privileged areas.