Assembled from refurbished, metro-style coaches, trains set for 26 March launch

Eastern Railway has assembled two commuter trainsets from outdated coaches renovated at its Pahartali Carriage and Wagon Repair Workshop, Chattogram, aiming at enhancing commuter train service.

The trainsets, having a total of 20 coaches, are scheduled for inauguration on Dhaka-Narayanganj and Dhaka-Bhairab routes, from 26 March bearing names Narayanganj commuter and Narsingdi commuter respectively, said officials 

Each of the trains will accommodate around 110-120 people.

Work on the decades-old coaches started last year, and these have undergone conversion aligning with the design of metro rail carriages, thereby increasing passenger capacity compared to traditional trains, added officials.

"Old coaches have been repaired and converted to a metro rail [coach] model. Also, outdated seats have been eliminated, and new seating has been installed in two rows," Divisional Superintendent of the Pahartali workshop, Mostafizur Rahman, told The Business Standard.

In addition, the floors of the coaches have been equipped with mats, and the required lights and fans have been set up. Stands and pillars have been installed for the convenience of standee passengers.

Renovation and repair of each coach costs between Tk20 lakh and Tk25 lakh, said the superviser.

"The coaches, developed in accordance with the directives from upper management, will be able to transport a larger volume of passengers."

Chief Operating Superintendent of Eastern Railway, Md Shahidul Islam told TBS that each coach can accommodate around 60 people sitting, and another 50-60 as standees.

However, subtabtial earnings from these coaches are unlikely, he mentioned.

People related to Railway said the coaches, originally imported from various countries, including Korea, Hungary, and Pakistan, had remained largely obsolete.

Last year, around nine such coaches renovated at Pahartali and Syedpur were added to various commuter trains of Eastern and Western Railways, including Tungipara Express, Dhalarchar Express and Joydevpur commuter train.