Bangladesh Railway Faces Severe Engine Shortage, Passenger and Freight Trains Disrupted

The Chattala Express, scheduled to leave Dhaka’s Kamalapur Station for Chattogram at 2:15 p.m. on August 16, was delayed by nearly four hours after its engine failed. With no replacement engine available in the capital, railway authorities had to halt a freight train at Narsingdi and bring its engine back to Dhaka. The express finally departed around 6:00 p.m., reaching Chattogram almost four hours late.

Railway insiders admit that such disruptions are now routine due to a chronic shortage of locomotives. In June alone, 435 passenger and freight train services were cancelled in the eastern zone of Bangladesh Railway. More than 1,000 containers remain stuck at Chattogram Port because freight trains cannot be operated.

Officials say the shortage has already reduced freight earnings in the eastern region by Tk 550 million over the past year, with fears that even intercity trains may have to be suspended in the coming months.

Engine Shortage Deepens

At present, Bangladesh Railway operates with 306 engines, down from 486 at independence. Around 60 percent of the fleet has exceeded its service life of 20 years. Of the active engines, nearly one-third are frequently under repair.

In the eastern zone, only two engines remain dedicated to freight: one for container trains and the other for fuel tankers. To ease the backlog at Chattogram Port—where 1,286 containers await shipment—railway officials say at least 13 freight trains per day would be required.

Due to the shortage, local, commuter, and freight services are being sacrificed, while intercity trains continue to run under pressure from passengers.

Revenue Losses

Railway earnings from freight fell from Tk 1.53 billion in FY 2023–24 to Tk 980 million in FY 2024–25. Passenger services are also under pressure, with overall railway revenue missing targets by wide margins.

Last fiscal year, Bangladesh Railway earned Tk 18.46 billion against a target of Tk 27.25 billion. Losses remain high: in FY 2022–23, revenues were Tk 17.83 billion compared to Tk 33.07 billion in expenditures, leaving a deficit of Tk 15.24 billion.

Although government spending on the railways has topped Tk 1 trillion since 2009—mostly on new tracks and infrastructure—the number of operating trains has fallen, and engine availability has worsened.

Breakdowns Continue, Even in New Engines

Despite repairs at the central locomotive workshop in Pahartali, many engines break down again within months. For instance, the Bijoy Express engine failed shortly after servicing, while another locomotive had to be repaired twice in one year.

Even relatively new engines purchased within the last three to four years have shown serious faults. Officials admit that delayed procurement of spare parts has hampered repair work.

Criticism of Current Policy

Transport experts argue that prioritizing passenger services over freight is a strategic mistake. Professor Shamsul Haque of BUET said freight transport usually ensures steady revenue worldwide, while passenger operations often require subsidies.

“By suspending freight and local trains while trying to keep intercity services running, Bangladesh Railway is heading in the wrong direction,” he said. “Farmers once depended on local trains to send produce to Dhaka, but those services have been discontinued. Meanwhile, new intercity trains are launched in constituencies of politicians without proper cost analysis.”

He warned that without urgent investment in engines and a clear operational strategy, the railway’s huge infrastructure spending risks becoming wasteful.