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Key features of BR are the coexistence of several gauges, Broad gauge, Metre gauge and dual gauge, and the separation of the system by the Jamuna River (Brahmaputra) into a Western and Eastern Zone of operations with only one bridge, the 2003 Jamuna Bridge, connecting the two zones. Bangladesh Railway covers a length of 2,855 route kilometers and employs 34,168 people. BR operates international, inter-city and suburban rail systems on its multi-gauge network. It also owns coach production facilities.
History
Railway operation in today's Bangladesh began on November 15, 1862 when 53.11 kilometers of 5 ft 6 in (1,676 mm) (broad gauge) line were opened for traffic between Darsana and Jagiti. The next 14.98 kilometers 1,000 mm (3 ft 3 3⁄8 in) (meter gauge) line was opened for traffic on 4 January 1885. In 1891, the construction of then Bengal Assam Railway was taken up by the British Government assistance but that was later on taken over by the Bengal Assam Railway Company. On 1 July 1895, two sections of meter gauge lines were opened between Chittagong and Comilla, a length of 149.89 kilometers and between Laksam and Cahndpur, a length of 50.89 kilometers. Railway Companies formed in England took up the construction and operation of these sections in middle and late 19th century.
At time of the partition of India in 1947, Bengal-Assam Railway was split up and the portion of the system, about 2,603.92 kilometers fell within the boundary of then East Pakistan and control remained with the central Government of Pakistan. Later with the effect from 1 February 1961, Eastern Bengal Railway was renamed as Pakistan Eastern Railway. Then in 1962, the control of Pakistan Eastern Railway was transferred from the Central Government to the Government of East Pakistan and placed under the management of a Railway Board with the effect from the financial year 1962-63 by the presidential Order of 9 June 1962.
As of 2005, the total length of railroad is 2,855 kilometres. Of that, 660 km are broad gauge tracks (mostly in the western region), 1,830 km are metre gauge tracks (mostly in the central and eastern regions) and 365 km are dual gauge tracks. The gauge problem is being tackled by adding third rails to the most important broad and metre gauge routes, so that they become dual gauge. A major road-rail bridge at Jamuna opened in 1998 to connect the previously detached east and west rail networks. On March 2008, the broad gauge reached Dhaka, the national capital. Funding is being sought to upgrade the network and transform Bangladesh Railway into a profitable business. BR exceeded its target revenue earnings in the fiscal year 2007-2008.
Organisational structure
Map of Railway system in Bangladesh; Jamuna bridge not shown.
After independence, the railway was first supervised by a Railway Board which was abolished in 1982. Thereafter, the BR came under the jurisdiction of the Railway Division of the Ministry of Communications with the Secretary of the Division working as the Director General of BR. In 1995, instead of being the part of the Ministry, BR came under control of a professional Director General supervised by the Bangladesh Railway Authority that is chaired by the Minister of Communications.
BR is divided into two zones, East & West, each under control of a general manager who is accountable to the Director General of Bangladesh Railway. The two zones have their separate departments for operation, maintenance, and finances. Each zone is divided into two divisions that contain departments for Personnel,Transportation, Commercial,Finance Mechanical, Way and Works Signaling & Telecommunication, Electrical, Medical, etc. Each zone also has its Workshop Divisions, located at Pahartali and Saidpur, respectively. A locomotive workshop is located at Parbatipur for broad and metre gauge locomotives.
BR manages its own Railway Training Academy. A separate Directorate under the Ministry of Communications is charged to inspect different works of BR in relation to safety.
Services
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| A crowded train in Bangladesh on Dual Gauge track. |
Bangladesh Railway provides various types of services ranging from shuttle service for university students to freight and cargo service. But still BR could not make profit as it is providing services to the nation at a subsidised rate in order to help the country's economy and for the ease of people.
Passenger Service
Bangladesh Railway is one of the principal modes of transportation in the country. During 2004-2005, about 42 million passengers were transported by Bangladesh Railway. Bangladesh Railway introduced Intercity Train services in 1985. At present there are 54 Intercity Trains running. Around 38.5% of the total passengers of Bangladesh Railway are being carried by the Intercity trains which contribute approximately 73.3% of the total earning of passenger traffic.
Maitree Express
The Maitree Express is an international train in operation since 2008 and links Dhaka and Kolkata, India; the travel time is 13 hours.
A Dhaka (Airport)–Chittagong InterCity train ticket for 3 adults and a minor
Accommodation classes
Bangladesh Railway features mainly three classes of Travel. Air Conditioned Class, First Class and Second Class. Third Class was withdrawn with effect from August 1, 1989. Most of the trains have the First Class and Second Class only. Second Class is divided into Shovon Chair, Shovon, and Shulov sub-classes. In some trains a separate mail compartment is present. In Inter-City and long-distance trains, a pantry car and a power car is included in the center. All Inter-City trains are partially airconditioned, feature padded leather seats and berths and provide passengers with on-demand sheets, pillows, blankets, as well as meals and refreshments.
Class Description
Tapanukul (তাপানুকূল)
First class AC This is the most expensive class. This air conditioned coach is present only on popular Inter-City routes. The coaches are carpeted, have sleeping accommodation, ample leg room and have privacy features like personal coupes.
First class (প্রথম শ্রেণী ) This class is basically non air-conditioned. Have sleeping berths, ample leg room.
First class Chair
(প্রথম শ্রেণী চেয়ার ) Seater coach with a total of five seats in a row on broad gauge trains and four seats in a row on Metre gauge trains. used for day travel between cities.
2nd Class-Shovon Chair
(২য় শ্রেণী-শোভন চেয়ার) The 2nd Class Shovon Chair is basically a seater coach preferred by most of the middle-class passengers. Has a total of five seats in a row on broad gauge trains and four seats in a row on Metre gauge trains
2nd Class-Shovon
(২য় শ্রেণী-শোভন) One of the cheapest class. seats are not much comfortable.
2nd Class-Shulov
(২য় শ্রেণী- সুলভ) The cheapest accommodation, with seats made of pressed wood or steel and are cushioned. Only found in sub-urban and short-distance routes. Although entry into the compartment is guaranteed, a sitting seat is not guaranteed. These coaches are usually very crowded.
Fares and ticketing
BR Fares are relatively cheaper than the bus fares. Ticketing services are available at all railway stations across Bangladesh. All railway stations are computerised and connected to a central network. Printed tickets are provided to the passengers. Tickets can be bought two weeks before the journey. 100% refund is available if the ticket is returned 48hrs prior to departure.
For more information, please visit Largest bangladeshi transport website
Freight and cargo service
The railway has been facing tough competition with other modes of transport for the high rated traffic, which pay more revenue. As a national carrier, BR is obliged to carry essential commodities like food grains, fertilizer, jute, cement, coal, iron and steel, stone & boulders, petroleum products, salt, sugar etc. to the remote corners of the country at a cheaper rate. The freight traffic during 2004-2005 was 3,206 thousand Metric Tons.
Bangladesh Railway transports containers from Chittagong to Dhaka. Special type Flat Wagons required for container movement were initially arranged by converting some existing wagons. Subsequently 80 bogie container flats were procured from China and another 100 bogie container flats were procured from India. An Inland Container Depot has been opened at Dhaka with custom and port facilities for clearance of container traffic. Exclusive container train was introduced on 5 August 1991. Since then, volume of container traffic gained momentum.
Railway ferry service
There were 25 marine vessels under Mechanical Department at the end of 2004-2005. The fleet of the marine vessels consists of 2 Passenger vessels, 4 Tugs, 4 Wagon Ferry Barges, 5 Pontoon ramps, 5 Flats and 5 Berthing flats.
Workshops
Bangladesh Railway has sheds, depots and workshops for maintenance. Rolling Stock, Locomotives are maintanied in 3 places viz shed shop & CLW. Carriage & Wagons are maintained in two places i.e. in C&W Depot & workshop.
Locomotives are maintained in following workshops :
Central Locomotive Workshop at Parbatipur, Dinajpur.
Diesel Workshop at Pahartali, Chittagong.
Diesel Workshop, Dhaka.
Diesel Workshop at Parbatipur, Dinajpur.
Carriages & wagons are maintained in following workshops
C & W Shop at Saidpur, Nilphamari
C&W shop at Pahartali, Chittagong.
Existing railway stations
Kamalapur Railway Station, the central railway station in Dhaka
Bangladesh Railway had a total of 454 stations at the end of the year 2004-2005. These include one block hut, thirteen train halts and four goods booking points.
Sylhet Railway Station
Jessore, Bangladesh - junction - BG
Shantahar - Dual gauge junction in Bogra district
Abdulpur - Dual gauge junction
Gede - W - broad gauge
Poradoho - broad gauge junction
Bogra - proposed broad gauge junction
Darshana Junction - broad gauge
Ishwardi - W - broad gauge junction for Sirajganj and Jamuna.
Ishwardi bypass - W - dual gauge
Kanchon - W - metre gauge
Sirajganj - W - terminus of branch from Ishwardi - river port - bypassed by Jamuna Bridge in 2003
Pabna - W - BG - branch terminus (used to be through route)
Bagerhat - W - BG - branch terminus in southwest.
Joydepur - E - DG - dual gauge junction
Syedpur- metre gauge
Sylhet - metre gauge
Bhairab Bazar - metre gauge
Darsana - broad gauge
Khulna - broad gauge
Parbatipur
Parbotipur - Junction with break of gauge
Jamtoil
Faridpur - SW
Khulna - SW
Basabari - SW - branch terminus
Jarla - E - MG - terminus branch
Tongi - E - Dual gauge junction just north of Dacca
Dhaka - E - Dual gauge since 2007
Kamalapur Rail Station - E - the main rail station in Dhaka
Tejgaon Rail Station - E
Banani Rail Station- E
Dhaka Cantonment Rail Station - E
Zia International Airport Rail Station - E
Chittagong - E - metre gauge
Abrahimabad - E - dual gauge
Tangail - E - dual gauge - near Jamuna Bridge.
Gouripur, Bangladesh - E - MG - junction
Laksham - E - MG - junction
Proposed duplication
Chinki Astana - E
Nazir Hat - E - MG - terminus of branch from Chittagong
Chandipur, Bangladesh - E - MG - terminus of branch line from Laksham - river port.
Train ferry
A train ferry goes from:
Balashi Ghat to Bahadurabad Ghat .
Accidents
July 11, 2006 – A train collide with crowded bus at an unmanned railroad crossing at Akkelpur, Jaipurhat, Bangladesh, killing at least 33, another 30 are injured.
October 13, 2007 – 4 die and over 50 are injured when the rear carriages of the Probhati Express derails near Dhaka.
April 16, 2008 – According to ATN Bangla television report, a Dinajpur–Dhaka Ekoto Express train collides with a local bus on a level crossing on the outskirts of Kalihati, Tangail, Bangladesh, killing 18 and injuring 30.
May 14, 2008 – According to ATN Bangla television report, an Upaban Express train rams into the rear of Noakhali Express train at Ashuganj station, Brahmanbaria, Bangladesh, killing 8 and injuring 100.
December 8, 2010 - A collision between passenger trains killed at least 10 people.
Timeline
2006: $430m plan to upgrade railways in Bangladesh
2007: Sonadia, an island 7 km west of Cox's Bazaar seems likely to be chosen as a deep water port.
2009: Canarail to advise on duplication Laksam to Chinki Astana of Dhaka to Chittagong line
2010 Funding awarded for a bridge over Titas River . Also, in September 2010, the government of Bangladesh approved 10 rail development projects worth a total of 19·9bn taka; these include plans for new tracks and new rolling stock.
Railway links with adjacent countries
India - Yes. Bi-weekly passenger train service. The Maitri Express between Dhaka and Kolkata started in April 2008 using the Gede-Darsana route In addition there is freight train service from Singhabad, Petrapole, Radhikapur, Mahisasan in India to Rohanpur, Benapole, Birol, Shabazpur in Bangladesh, respectively.
Myanmar -Not yet - 1,000 mm (3 ft 3 3⁄8 in)/1,676 mm (5 ft 6 in) gauge in Bangladesh and 1,000 mm (3 ft 3 3⁄8 in) in Myanmar.
Map
Rail route map Official map from Bangladesh Railway, with Jamuna Bridge. Many station names hard to read. Map legend names hard to read.
See also
(source:wikipedia)
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