Railway History

Rail connectivity is necessary for regional development and economic growth in the present world. Railway is an efficient mode of transport as a train carries more than a four lane road and needs 50-70% less energy to transport a given number of passengers or a given tonnage of freight than by road (Yasin, 2010). The history of Railway in Bangladesh is of 150 years (Banglapedia, 2016). Railway operation in today’s Bangladesh began on November 15 in 1862 when 53.11 kilometres of broad gauge line was opened for traffic between Darshona in Chuadanga and Jagotee in Kushtia (The New Nation, 2014).Bangladesh Railway (BR) has around 2877.10 kilometers of railway network which connects 44 Districts out of 65 districts.

In the year 2014, Bangladesh Railway transported 65 million passengers and 2.52 million tons of freight (BR Information Book, 2014).This sector shares around 20% passengers among all transport sectors in Bangladesh (Rahaman and Rahaman, 2009).

Intercity trains account for about 40% of Bangladesh Railway’s passenger travel and for more than 75% of passenger revenue (Sector Assessment, Railway Rolling Stock Project, 2016). Railway is expected to play a major role in the communication sector of Bangladesh. The objective of the study is to determine the status of railway tracks and services from the connectivity viewpoint and it also recommends some improvement options.

Rail Sector was sharply developed during the Pakistan Era (1947-1970). After independence new rail route extended rarely.

In the year 1953, the Eastern Bengal Railway added 40 engines (locomotives) of General Motors GM-B12 model from USA. After the breakdown of Pakistan, Bangladesh Rail services has been broken. The 66-year old expired engines are still running on railway because of engine shortage. In addition, passenger transport is going on with such a 50 years old engine. Being older, they often get bored. Their parts are not easily available. According to railway authorities, the economic life of an engine is 20 years. Not only the GM-B12 model engines, 195 of the engines of the total 273 engines in Bangladesh Railway are now expired.

Bangladesh Railway Historical Data (1950-2018)

Rail Data of Passenger, coaches, engines by Year

Year (FY)	Passenger #	Coach #	Engine (All)	New Engine	Coal Engine	Diesel Engine	Engine (1.67m) Broad	Engine(1m): Meter	Employees	Route (km)	Track (Km)	Train: Daily (Passenger)	Train: Daily (Freight)	Tones Carried (m)
1953				40		40
1970	72,885,000	1165	486		343	143			55825	2858.23	4448.02			4.88m
2008	53,816,000		286			286
2009			286			286
2010			286			286
2011			259			259
2012			295	36		295
2013	67,342,000	1474	258	(37)		258
2014	64,958,000	1476	293	35		282			25646	2877.1	3976.08	341	37	2.52
2015	67,342,000	1474							27620	2877.1	4093.15			2.55
2016	70,831,000	1218				278
2017	77,807,000	1381	273			273	94	179

Engines (locomotives) of Bangladesh Railway

Diesel Rail Engines for Metre gauge 1,000mm
Spec	Class	Model	Number	Grouping	Manufacturer	Introduced	Power	Speed
MEG11	2000	GM B12	40	2000–2039	Ontario GMD Plant, Canada	1953	1,125bph (839 kW)
MEG9	2200	GM GL8	42	2200–2241	GM Canada	1961	900bph(671 kW)
MEM14	2400	MLW DL535A	12	2401-2412	MLW Canada	1978	1,400bph (1,040 kW)
MEH14	2500	HFA13A	18	2501-2518	Hitachi, Japan	1982	1,400bph (1,040 kW)
MEG15	2600	GM-EMD GT18L-2	16	2601-2616	Ontario GMD Plant, Canada	1988	1,500bph (1,120 kW)	107 km/h (66 mph)
MEL15	2700	JT18U6	21	2701-2709; 2710-2721	ABB Henschel Adtranz	1994	1,500bph (1,120 kW)	107 km/h (66 mph)
						1996
MED14	2800	YDM 4	10	2801-2810	Diesel Locomotive Works, India	1996	1,400bhp (1,040 kW)
MEI15	2900	GM-EMD GT18LA-2	39	2901-2908; 2909-2939	Hyundai Rotem	1999, 2013	1,500bph (1,120 kW)	120 km/h (75 mph)
Diesel Rail Engines for Broad gauge (1,676mm)
BEA20	6000	MLW Rsd 34	18	6000-6017	ALCO	1965	2,000bph (1,490 kW)
BEM20	6100	MLW Rsd 34	16	6101-6116	Montreal Locomotive Works, Canada	1969	2,000bph (1,490 kW)
BEH24	6200	HFA24A	12	6201-6212	Hitachi, Japan	1980	2,400bph (1,790 kW)
BEB22	6300	Mx 624	12	6301-6312	Bombardier	?	2,200bph (1,640 kW)
BED26	6400	Wdm2	13	6401-6410	Diesel Locomotive Works, India	2001	2,600bph (1,940 kW)	120 km/h (75 mph)
BED30	6500	Wdm3a	26	6501-6526	Diesel Locomotive Works, India	2013	3,100bph (2,310 kW)

Districts wise Rail Route and Stations

Bangladesh railway has 2877.10 kilometers (until 2015) of railway network connecting 44 districts out of 65 districts.

Sl. No.	District	Station	Kilometers	Sl. no.	District	Station	Kilometers
1	Bagerhat	10	40.53	23	Rangpur	9	68.33
2	Khulna	6	23.24	24	Gaibandha	14	85.65
3	Jessore	10	55.92	25	Bogra	15	85.75
4	Jhenaidaha	5	47.4	26	Tangail	7	95.2
5	Chuadanga	10	46.71	27	Jamalpur	18	109.55
6	Faridpur	11	76.81	28	Netrokona	13	65
7	Gopalganj	3	24.13	29	Kishorganj	11	73.75
8	Rajbari	15	88.72	30	Mymensingh	23	128.33
9	Kushtia	10	57.85	31	Gazipur	1	89.8
10	Serajganj	8	42	32	Dhaka	7	30
11	Pabna	11	59	33	Narayanganj	2	9.5
12	ChapaiNawabganj	7	64.01	34	Narsingdhi	12	38.97
13	Rajshahi	11	63	35	Sunamganj	3	13.9
14	Natore	11	37	36	Brahmanbaria	11	74.64
15	Naogaon	5	27	37	Habiganj	21	72.92
16	Joypurhat	7	54	38	Moulvi Bazar	14	125.33
17	Thakurgaon	6	43.75	39	Sylhet	8	50.64
18	Panchagarh	3	21.18	40	Noakhali	8	29.4
19	Nilphamari	9	61.79	41	Chandpur	11	40.66
20	Kurigram	8	42.56	42	Comilla	16	106.4
21	Dinajpur	19	167.96	43	Feni	5	51.73
22	Lalmonirht	15	113.15	44	Chittagong	45	178.45

Closed Rail Lines:

From 1970-2003, 13 branch lines were closed. The closed branch lines are: Faridpur-Pukuria, Vharamara-Riota, Lalmonirhat-Moghalhat, Pachuria-Faridpur, Kalukhali-Bhatiapara ghat, Rupsa East-Bagerhat, Feni-Belonia, Habiganj-Shaistaganj, Shaistaganj-Balla, Kulaura-Shahbazpur, Serajganj Bogra-Serajganj Ghat, Kurigram-Old Kurigram, Modukhali-Kumarkhali (BR Information Book, 2014). Most of them were closed considering them as economically loss projects (Yasin, 2010).

In order to improve, the track condition, a feasibility study for improvement and rehabilitation of branch lines of Bangladesh Railway was undertaken in 2007. The study indicated that 1009 Km of tracks needed urgent rehabilitation and 1,647 Km of tracks were in good condition, which needed only proper routine maintenance (Rail Master Plan, 2013).

Category wise Rail Route

Year	Meter Gauge (MG)			Broad Gauge-MG			Dual Gauge-DG			Total Route
	East	West	Total	East	West	Total	East	West	Total	East	West	Total
2002	1276.71	553.03	1829.74		936.25	936.25				1276.71	1489.28	2765.99
2006	1,266.21	534.67	1800.88	--	659.33	659.33	--	374.83	374.83	1,266.21	1,568.83	2835.04
2007	1,266.21	534.67	1800.88	--	659.33	659.33	--	374.83	374.83	1,266.21	1,568.83	2835.04
2008	1,266.21	534.67	1800.88	--	659.33	659.33	--	374.83	374.83	1,266.21	1,568.83	2835.04
2009	1,266.21	534.67	1800.88	--	659.33	659.33	--	374.83	374.83	1,266.21	1,568.83	2835.04
2010	1,266.21	534.67	1800.88	--	--	659.33	--	374.83	374.83	1,266.21	1,568.83	2835.04
2011	1,222.21	534.67	1756.88	--	659.33	659.33	--	374.83	374.83	1,222.21	1,568.83	2791.04
2012	1,273.38	534.67	1808.05	--	659.33	659.33	34.89	374.83	409.72	1,308.27	1,568.83	2877.1
2013	1,273.38	534.67	1808.05	--	659.33	659.33	34.89	374.83	409.72	1,308.27	1,568.83	2877.1
2014	1,273.38	534.67	1,808.25	--	659.33	659.33	34.89	374.83	409.72	1,273.38	534.67	1,808.25
2015	1,113.57	534.67	1,648.24	--	659.33	659.33	194.7	374.83	569.53	1,308.27	1,568.83	2,877.10

• *MG= Meter Gauge(1m), *BG= Broad Gauge(1.67m), *DG= Dual Gauge (both broad and meter gauge mixed), *East/West=East/West Zone of BD

Year wise Rail Track (in Kilometer)

Year	Meter Gauge (MG)			Broad Gauge-MG			Dual Gauge-DG			Total Route
	East	West	Total	East	West	Total	East	West	Total	East	West	Total
1970			2,908.33			1,539.69						4,448.02
2007	1,879.25	677.57	2,556.82		932.62	932.62		484.05	484.05	1,879.25	2,094.24	3,973.49
2008	1,879.25	677.57	2,556.82		932.62	932.62		484.05	484.05	1,879.25	2,094.24	3,973.49
2009	1,879.25	677.57	2,556.82		932.62	932.62		484.05	484.05	1,879.25	2,094.24	3,973.49
2010	1,879.25	677.57	2,556.82		932.62	932.62		484.05	484.05	1,879.25	2,094.24	3,973.49
2011	1,879.25	677.57	2,556.82		932.62	932.62		484.05	484.05	1,879.25	2,094.24	3,973.49
2012	1,766.27	677.57	2,443.83		932.62	932.62	115.35	484.05	484.05	1,879.25	2,094.24	3,977.73
2013	1,766.27	677.57	2,443.83		932.62	932.62	115.35	484.05	484.05	1,879.25	2,094.24	3,975.86
2014	1,766.27	677.57	2,443.83		932.62	932.62	115.35	484.05	484.05	1,879.25	2,094.24	3,976.86
2015	1,173.45	701.78	1,875.23		974.64	974.64	778.99	464.29	1,243.28	1,952.44	2,140.71	4,093.15

• *MG= Meter Gauge(1m), *BG= Broad Gauge(1.67m), *DG= Dual Gauge (both broad and meter gauge mixed), *East/West=East/West Zone of BD

Historical Events in Railway

BANGLADESH RAILWAY, covering a length of 2877.10 route kilometers managed by 27,620 regular staff, Government -owned and Government managed transportation agency of the country (2014).

Date	Development Events
1862 November	Construction of 53.11 Km. of Broad Gauge line between Darsana and Jagati of Kushtia district by Eastern Bengal Railway.
1871 January	Extension of Darsana - Jagati Railway line upto Goalanda by Eastern Bengal Railway.
1874-1879	Construction of Metre Gauge railway line from Sara (near Paksey) to Chilahati, Parbatipur to Dinajpur and Parbatipur to Kaunia and construction of Broad Gauge Railway line from Damukdia (Opposite to Sara) to Poradaha.
1882-84	Bengal Central Railway Company constructed Benapole-Khulna Broad Gauge railway line.
1884 July	Government took over the management of Eastern Bengal Railway.
1885 January	Railway Metre Gauge connection between Dhaka and Narayangonj, a distance of 14.98 km. by Dhaka State Railway, which was later on merged with Eastern Bengal State Railway.
1885	Construction of Dhaka - Mymensingh Railway section by Dhaka State Railway.
1887 April	Eastern Bengal Railway was merged with Northern Bengal State Railway.
1891	Construction of the Assam - Bengal Railway taken up with British Government assistance but was later on taken over by Assam-Bengal Railway Company.
1895 July	Opening of 149.89 km. Metre Gauge lines between Chittagong and Comilla and 50.89 km. Metre Gauge lines between Laksam and Chandpur by Assam Bengal Railway.
1895 November	Chittagong to Chittagong port line was constructed.
1896	Construction of Metre Gauge Railway line from Comilla to Akhaura and Akhaura to Karimgonj.
1897	Single line section between Darsana and Poradaha converted into double line section.
1898-99	Mymensingh - Jagannathgonj Metre Gauge Railway constructred.
1899-1900	Metre Gauge Railway line constructed between SantaharJn. to Fulchhari by Brahmaputra-Sultanpur Railway Company.
1903	Laksam - Noakhali section constructed by Noakhali (Bengal) Railway Company.
1904 April	Bengal Central Railway Company and Brahmaputra-Sultanpur Railway Company taken over by Govt. managed Eastern Bengal Railway.
1905	Opening of Kaunia-Bonarpara Metre Gauge section. Govt. purchased the Noakhali (Bengal) Railway Company.
1906 January	Noakhali (Bengal) Railway Company merged with Assam Bengal Railway.
1909	Poradaha-Bhairamara single line converted into double line.
1910-1914	Akhaura -Tongi section opened. Conversion of Shakole to Santahar Metre Gauge section into Broad Gauge.
1912-1915	Kulaura - Sylhet section opened.
1 Jan.1915	Hardinge Railway Bridge was opened over the river Padma at Paksey.
1915-1916	Sara - Sirajganj line constructed by Sara - Sirajganj Railway Company.
1916	Bhairamara-Raita Broad Gauge section opened.
1912-1918	Gouripur - Mymensingh - Netrokona and Shamgonj-Jharia-janjail sections constructed by Mymensingh
1915-1932	Bhairamara - Ishurdi - Abdulpur single line section converted into double line.
1918 June	Rupsha - Bagerhat Narrow Gauge section constructed by a Branch line Company.
1924 July	Conversion of Santahar - Parbatipur Metre Gauge section into Broad Gauge.
1926 September	Conversion of Parbatipur - Chilahati Metre Gauge section into Broad Gauge.
1928	Opening of Shaistagonj-Habigonj section.
1928-29	Tista - Kurigram Narrow Gauge section converted into Broad Gauge.
1929	Shaistagonj-Balla and Chittagong-Hathazari sections opened.
1930	Hathajari - Nazirhat Metre Gauge and Abdulpur - Amnura Broad Gauge sections opened.
1931	Sholashahar-Dohazari section opened.
1937 December	Opening of king VI George Bridge connecting Bhairab Bazar and Ashugonj over the river Meghna.
1941	Jamalpur-Bahadurabad Metre Gauge section opened.
1942 January	Assam - Bengal Railway taken over by Government and amalgamated with the Eastern Bengal Railway under the name Bengal and Assam Railway .
1944 October	Government took over Sara-Sirajganj Railway Company.
1947	Bengal and Assam Railway was split up and the portion within the boundary of erstwhile East Pakistan was named as Eastern Bengal Railway , the control remaining with Central Government of Pakistan.
1948-1949	Government takes over Mymensingh-Bhairab Bazar Railway ompany and Rupsa-Bagerhat Branch Line Company.
1951 April	Jessore-Darsana Railway line opened to traffic.
1954 October	Sylhet to Chatak Bazar Railway line opened to traffic.
1961 February	Eastern Bengal Railway renamed as Pakistan Eastern Railway .
1962	A Railway Board was formed & management of Railway was placed under the Provincial Government.
1972	Pakistan Eastern Railway was renamed as Bangladesh Railway after emergence of Bangladesh as sovereign state and continued to function under a Railway Board.
1982 June	The Railway Board was abolished and its function as placed under the control of Railway Division of Ministry of Communications with the Secretary of the Division being Director General. For administrative convenience and operational reasons, BR was bifurcated into two zones, East and West zone, headed by two General Managers.
1995 August	Bangladesh Railway Authority (BRA) was formed comprising 9 members with Hon'ble Minister for Ministry of Communications as Chairman, for giving policy guidance of Bangladesh Railway.
1998 June	East-West Railway connectivity over the mighty river Jumana was established from the day one, the day of formal opening of Jamuna Multipurpose Bridge, after completion of construction of Broad Gauge track from Jamtoil to Ibrahimabad.
2003 August	Direct BG Train Communication between Dhaka (Joydebpur) and Rajshahi over Jamuna Multipurpose Bridge was established by introducing first Intercity passenger Train after completion of construction of new Dual Guage track from Ibrahimabad to Joydebpur.
2004 March	Direct MG train communication between Dhaka and Lalmonirhat was established.
2007 November	Bangladesh has signed the intergovernmental agreement on the Trans Asian Railways(TAR) network
2008 April	Direct Communication between Dhaka & Kolkata was established by introducing "Maitree Express" Train.
2010 April	Introduction of ticket selling through mobile phone.
2011 December	Ministry of Railways formed by the Honorable Prime Minister vide SRO-361-Rules of Business 1996 Rule- 3.

Author

• Author: Amir Md Abu Obida, Data Analyst.