Bangladesh locomotive funding has moved into review for Bangladesh Railways’ 1000mm-gauge network. This is reported by the railway transport news portal Railway Supply.

Bangladesh locomotive funding covers 30 diesels
Photo: Wikimedia Commons/Wasiul Bahar

The Ministry of Railways has submitted the plan to the Bangladesh Planning Commission. It covers 30 diesel locomotives for Bangladesh Railways. Funding would come through a loan from the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank. Also, the bank is based in Beijing.

AIIB support for Bangladesh Railways

A senior ministry official was cited by The Financial Express. AIIB would provide Taka 20bn, or $US 162.9m, toward the procurement. The full order is estimated at Taka 28.3bn. The project is expected to be approved by the end of this year. Tendering would then begin. The new locomotives are expected to be delivered by December 2029.

This order would account for half of the planned 60 new locomotives. The 60 units fall under the Bangladesh Railway Capacity Expansion Project. Separately, the remaining 30 units are to be acquired. Funding support would come from the Asian Development Bank.

Locomotive shortage affects Chattogram traffic

Bangladesh Railways currently has 168 locomotives for its 1000mm-gauge network. It also has 128 locomotives for 1676mm-gauge routes. Still, fleet availability has not kept pace with infrastructure development.

The severe locomotive shortage has recently caused delays at the port of Chattogram. It has increased transit times for container traffic. It has also disrupted supply chains. In addition, the new locomotives should increase capacity. They should also allow Bangladesh Railways to replace older diesel units. That should reduce emissions and improve fuel efficiency.

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