RITES dispatches 18-coach rake to Bangladesh; first after Hasina's removal

Railways Public sector undertaking RITES Limited dispatched the first rake of 18 broad-gauge passenger coaches to Bangladesh Railway, as part of a contract for supplying 200 passenger coaches. A company statement said the coaches - comprising seven variants - are being manufactured by Rail Coach Factory (RCF), Kapurthala, Punjab. This is the first such shipment since the removal of former Bangladesh prime minister Sheikh Hasina, officials said.

India has previously supplied Bangladesh Railways with 120 broad-gauge passenger coaches, 36 broad-gauge locomotives and 10 metre-gauge locomotives.

RITES, the export arm of Indian Railways, is supply passenger coaches to Bangladesh Railway under a European Investment Bank funded project. The Rs 915 crore tender was awarded to RITES in May 2024 through a global competitive bidding process.

The first rake, (dispatched on October 12) comprises 11 Non-AC Shovan chair Cars, three AC Chair Cars, two AC Sleeper Cars, and two AC Power Cars equipped with a Guard Room and luggage space.

“RITES has been offering integrated export services to various countries in Asia and Africa,” the company said, adding it has supplied over 280 locomotives and more than 1085 coaches & diesel multiple unit (DMU) trainsets around the world.