New Delhi: India has dispatched the first batch of 18 passenger railway coaches to Bangladesh under a ₹915 crore contract for the supply of 200 broad gauge coaches to Bangladesh Railway. The coaches have been manufactured at the Rail Coach Factory (RCF) in Kapurthala, marking a fresh step in railway cooperation between the two countries.
The initial shipment includes four of the seven coach variants covered by the contract. These comprise 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 feature separate rooms for guards and dedicated luggage space.
The project is being implemented through RITES Limited, a public sector enterprise under the Ministry of Railways that specialises in transport infrastructure and engineering consultancy. The overall delivery schedule runs from October 2026 to December 2027, with the project financed by the European Investment Bank.
The new coaches incorporate several passenger focused features, including specially designed reclining seats, stainless steel armrests and footrests, partially openable windows, CCTV surveillance and passenger alarm systems. Air conditioned coaches are also equipped with fans, while additional facilities include a baby care room and a prayer room.
The coaches have been designed to meet Bangladesh Railway’s specific operating requirements. Their electrical systems operate on 415 volts, compared with the 750 volt power system used in Indian Railways coaches. The roof structures have also been reinforced to withstand additional loading under local operating conditions, including instances of passengers travelling on train roofs during peak periods.
The latest order builds on an earlier partnership between RCF and Bangladesh Railway. During 2015 and 2016, India supplied 120 LHB broad gauge passenger coaches to Bangladesh. The successful delivery helped pave the way for the larger order placed in 2024.
With operations spanning more than five decades, RITES exports railway products and services to over 55 countries across Asia, Africa, Latin America and the Middle East. The latest shipment strengthens India’s role in supplying railway equipment internationally while supporting the modernisation of Bangladesh’s ageing passenger coach fleet.
