POBNEWS24 Desk Report, Dhaka Mar 6, 2021 :Eight broad gauge locos (engines) of the United States Progress Railway have arrived at Chittagong port. Bangladesh Railway is buying 40 broad gauge diesel electric (DE) locomotives (engines) to alleviate the engine crisis. In the first phase, eight of them have reached Chittagong port today.
When a ship arrived at Chittagong port with the engines on Saturday, the unloading work started.
According to railway sources, it will take a month for the locomotives to be added to the railway fleet after testing and trial.
The government is spending Tk 1,123.05 crore for the purchase of 40 broad gauge locos of Progress Railway.
After taking charge of the Ministry of Railways. Nurul Islam Sujan signed an agreement to buy these locos on January 14, 2019.
The locomotive (engine) crisis has been raging for a long time. Due to lack of engine, the railway is not able to operate the train as per the schedule. As a result, the engines are often crippled while running. In addition, as the engine is old, most of the trains are running at a lower speed than the prescribed speed. As a result, passengers are suffering due to continuous schedule disruptions.
Earlier, 10 new meter gauge locomotives were added to the South Korean fleet in mid-2020. However, the engines are not running now because they are substandard. The railways have not decided when they will be run.
