Bangladesh Railway looks set to enter electric age

Bangladesh railway has decided to end the operation of all diesel locomotives in phases and introduce electric train services to rail routes across the country.

The rationale behind electrification is to provide a premier commuter service for the riders alongside minimising cost and making the transportation environmentally friendly.

“To this end, we are going to undertake a massive plan to set up overhead electric tractions in all rail routes in phases including the Padma Rail Link Project,” said Railway Minister Nurul Islam Sujan.

“Metro Rail will be run by electric power. The major rail routes will get priorities for electrification as well.”

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has already given directives to introduce electric locomotives to Narayanganj-Gazipur section in the first phase.

Recently, the ministry has sent a fresh proposal to the Planning Commission for carrying out feasibility study to convert two rail routes -- Narayanganj-Dhaka-Chattogram and Tongi-Joydebpur -- to electric traction primarily.

The proposal of keeping provision for electrification of the Padma Bridge Rail Link Project is underway, said a Bangladesh Railway official.

According to the recent report of a pre-feasibility study conducted by China Railway Group Limited, riders will enjoy faster, smoother, quieter and more direct service with the opening of full electric train services between Dhaka and the south-west part of the country,.

As per the proposal, the railway ministry will conduct the feasibility study which is expected to be completed by August next year at a cost of Tk 15.55 crore.

“A recently held project evaluation committee meeting cleared the project which will be placed before the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council soon for the final nod,” a senior official of the Planning Commission said, asking not to be named.

A railway electric traction system supplies electric power to locomotives, thereby reducing the need for fuel to a large extent.

The Bangladesh Railway operates diesel-powered broad-gauge and metre-gauge trains across its 3,019km railway network.

An introduction of electric trains in Bangladesh would reduce its operation and maintenance costs. The railway now spends a huge amount of money on diesel-run locomotives.

According to a Bangladesh Railway engineer, a diesel engine has around 40,000 parts that incur a lot of maintenance cost unlike that of an electric locomotive.

“Once the electric traction system is introduced, 35 per cent operational cost and 30 to 50 per cent maintenance cost will be reduced. Besides, it would reduce carbon emission by 20 to 30 per cent,” the engineer said, preferring to remain unnamed.

Meanwhile, as part of the 30-year revised master plan (2016-2045) of Bangladesh Railway, Cox’s Bazar, Mongla Port, Tungipara, Barishal, Chattogram Hill Tracts and other parts of the country will be brought under the rail network.

Under this plan, 230 projects will be implemented in six phases at a cost of Tk 5,53,662 crore.

The modernisation projects involve Padma Bridge Rail Link, Trans-Asian Railway and regional rail network and also connect nearest suburbs with important cities like Dhaka, Chattogram, Rangpur, Dinajpur and Sylhet.

Under the 8th Five Year Plan, construction of 798.09km new rail lines and 897km dual gauge (double railway lines parallel to existing railway lines) and rehabilitation of 886.51km of railway lines are underway.