Trial run begins for 18 rail coaches imported from India as coaches head for Panchagarh

The trial run of 18 rail coaches imported from India has begun. At around 11am on Sunday (8 November), the coaches set off from the Syedpur Railway Workshop in Nilphamari on a trial run towards Panchagarh.

Railway workshop authorities said the coaches were sent for trial runs after technical inspections and commissioning at the Syedpur Railway Workshop were completed. If the trial run is completed successfully, the coaches will be formally handed over to the railway's traffic department.

According to railway workshop sources, the 18 coaches arrived at the Syedpur Railway Workshop at around 4am on 17 October in the first consignment from India. Special de-preservation, mechanical inspections and commissioning work on the coaches were then carried out at the workshop.

After all kinds of technical tests were completed, the coaches were sent for trial runs on Sunday with the help of the required locomotives and crew. The trial run of the coaches up to Panchagarh will be held on Sunday.

Shah Sufi Nur Mohammad, divisional superintendent (DS) of the Syedpur Railway Workshop, said the coaches brought to the workshop had been tested in various ways. Alongside the workshop's workers, employees and officials, experts from India also worked on the task.

He said that if the trial run is successful, the coaches will be handed over to the traffic department. After that, the process of adding the coaches to regular passenger service will begin.

Railway sources said the coaches, built to European standards, have various modern safety and passenger-service facilities. The coaches are fitted with anti-telescopic and anti-climbing technology.

The railway authorities said this technology will reduce the risk of one coach riding up over another in the event of an accident or collision.

In addition, the advanced CBC (centre buffer coupling) system, replacing the old screw coupling system, will improve the connection between coaches and reduce jerking during travel, making the journey more comfortable for passengers.

For the convenience of passengers, the coaches have a separate baby care room for childcare and facilities for prayer. There is also modern CCTV surveillance and a passenger alarm system for alerting the authorities in an emergency.

Considering the realities of Bangladesh Railway, the roofs of the coaches have also been made structurally stronger so they can bear extra weight. Modern interior decoration and folding seats have made the coaches even more passenger-friendly.

Railway authorities said that after the trial run is completed successfully, the process of adding the coaches to regular passenger service will begin.