India has dispatched the first 18 of 200 broad-gauge passenger coaches ordered by Bangladesh Railway, marking the start of deliveries under a 915-crore-rupee deal financed by the European Investment Bank, NDTV reported.
Manufactured at India's Rail Coach Factory (RCF) in Kapurthala and supplied through Indian state-owned engineering consultancy RITES Ltd, the coaches are expected to be delivered in phases between October 2026 and December 2027.
The first shipment includes four of the seven coach variants covered by the contract: 11 non-air-conditioned Shovon chair cars, three air-conditioned chair cars, two air-conditioned sleeper coaches and two air-conditioned power cars. The power cars also feature separate rooms for guards and dedicated luggage space.
The new coaches are equipped with several passenger-friendly features, including reclining seats with stainless-steel armrests and footrests, CCTV surveillance, passenger alarm systems and partially openable windows. They also include dedicated baby care and prayer rooms.
The coaches have been specially designed to meet Bangladesh Railway's operating requirements. Their roof structures have been strengthened to withstand additional loads during peak periods when passengers sometimes travel on train rooftops, a longstanding safety concern on Bangladesh's railway network.
The electrical systems have also been adapted to local requirements. While coaches used by Indian Railways operate on a 750-volt power system, those supplied to Bangladesh are designed to work with the country's 415-volt system.
RITES announced the dispatch in a post on social media platform X, describing the shipment as another milestone in its export operations. The company serves as the export arm of Indian Railways for rolling stock, including locomotives, passenger coaches and trainsets.
The 200-coach order was placed with RCF through RITES in 2024. The project builds on an earlier partnership between RCF and Bangladesh Railway, under which 120 broad-gauge LHB passenger coaches were supplied during 2015-16.
The latest procurement is intended to strengthen Bangladesh Railway's ageing fleet and improve passenger services. Deliveries under the 915-crore-rupee contract are scheduled to continue through December 2027.