Dhaka-Sylhet route to get non-stop Tanguar Express train: Minister tells parliament
However, the formal launch of the new train will depend on overcoming the current shortage of locomotives and coaches through the procurement of new ones.
Highlights:
- Launch depends on new locomotives and passenger coaches
- Dhaka-Kurigram route also set for new intercity train
- Broad-gauge services possible after future line upgrade: Minister
The government is set to introduce a new pair of non-stop trains on the Dhaka-Sylhet-Dhaka route to cope with passenger pressure, with approval already given for the new service named Tanguar Express.
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"The prime minister has already approved the launch of a new pair of non-stop trains named Tanguar Express on the Dhaka-Sylhet-Dhaka route," Railways Minister Shaikh Rabiul Alam told parliament today (15 July) in response to a question from Sylhet-6 lawmaker Emran Ahmed Chowdhury.
However, the formal launch of the new train will depend on overcoming the current shortage of locomotives and coaches through the procurement of new ones.
The minister said work is underway to prepare a Development Project Proposal (DPP) for procuring 200 metre-gauge passenger coaches.
Alongside this, a separate DPP for procuring 30 metre-gauge diesel-electric locomotives under the "Railway Capacity Enhancement" project, with financing from the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB), is now in the approval process.
The new train will be launched once the required coaches and locomotives are available, he said.
Responding to a question from reserved-seat lawmaker Mahfuza Hannan about launching broad-gauge trains on the same route, the minister said the Dhaka-Sylhet railway route is currently operated on a metre-gauge line.
In future, if the railway line is upgraded to dual-gauge or broad-gauge and the necessary rolling stock is procured, the launch of broad-gauge passenger trains on the route will be considered, he added.
The minister also highlighted various government initiatives for the development and modernisation of railways in different parts of the country.
In response to a question from Kurigram-2 lawmaker Atiqur Rahman Mujahid, he said a new intercity train will be launched on the Dhaka-Kurigram-Dhaka route after the procurement of 200 metre-gauge coaches and 30 locomotives with AIIB financing.
Replying to a question from Khulna-2 lawmaker SK Zahangir Hossain Helal, the minister said work is underway to renovate the old railway line on the Khulna-Jashore route and modernise the signalling system.
In response to a question from Mymensingh-6 lawmaker Md Quamrul Hassan, he said the feasibility study for constructing a dual-gauge double line on the Joydebpur-Mymensingh-Jamalpur railway route has already been completed.
