Locomotive crisis cuts special train number

The number of special trains for Eid journey, operating from Chattogram to different destinations across the country, has been significantly reduced due to an acute shortage of locomotives (engines).

According to Bangladesh Railway, only one pair of Eid special trains will be available this time, which will operate between Chattogram and Chandpur.

There were four pairs of special trains were scheduled to accommodate the heavy demand during Eid journeys last year, one on the Chattogram-Mymensingh route, two on the Chattogram-Chandpur, and one on the Chattogram-Cox's Bazar route.

The limited train availability is likely to cause considerable inconvenience for the homebound people during Eid rush.

Syedul Alam, a regular passenger on the Chattogram-Chandpur route and a businessman from Riyazuddin Bazar, expressed concerns, saying, "This route typically experiences heavy passenger demand during Eid. Every year, the railway operates two pairs of trains on this route to accommodate the demand. However, I've heard that only one pair will be running this year. If that is the case, Eid home journeys will be much more difficult this time."

Officials from BR's transport department said they did not receive enough locomotives from the mechanical department for the Eid schedule.

"We wrote to the mechanical department for allocating engines to run additional trains during Eid, but they failed to provide engines as per our demands," said Tarek Imran, deputy chief operating superintendent of BR.

"The shortage of engines will lead to a reduction in number of Eid special trains, which is likely to place additional pressure on existing trains," he added.

According to Sajid Hasan Nirjhor, divisional mechanical engineer of the BR (Chattogram), several locomotives from the 3000 series remain idle in workshop due to a lack of necessary parts for repairs.

While the department requires 65 locomotives daily to run scheduled trains, currently only 52-55 engines are available for operation, he added.

Asked why the store department failed to supply the necessary parts for engine repairs, Anwarul Islam, chief controller of BR's Eastern Zone store, explained that the department could not purchase crucial engine parts due to a shortage of funds.

"The finance ministry has yet to allocate the required budget in line with the BR's demand for repair work. As a result, the department has been unable to procure the necessary parts, which has significantly impacted the repair and maintenance of locomotives," he added.