Bangladesh Railway is set to open its Diesel Electrical Multiple Unit railcar service on two routes in Chittagong from May 25, said officials.
It also has a plan to open DEMU railcar service between Chittagong University and the port city on the same day, they said. BR took the decision to open the new shuttle services in the backdrop of its inability to fully resume the DEMU railcar service between Dhaka and Narayanganj.
BR would press two DEMU railcars into service on two routes in Chittagong on May 25, BR director general Mohammad Abu Taher told New age on Monday.
One DEMU train would shuttle between Chittagong and Laksham and the second one would be pressed into service on a circular route in the port city, he said.
On the circular route, he said, the DEMU train would link Chittagong-Foujdarhat-Chittagong Port Yard-Saltgola-SRV station-Chittagong-Sholsahar-Kalurghat.
Taher said that BR would press two DEMU trains between Chittagong University and the port city through discussions with the CU authorities.
The Chinese DEMU train, with two engines at both ends and one compartment in the middle, is good for short-haul passenger service, said officials.
With its two engines DEMU can easily move either way that held it save at least 20 minutes other trains need for readjustment of engines.
Each DEMU train, which costs Tk 20 crore, provides comfortable space for 300 passengers — 149 seating and 151 standing.
BR inaugurated its DEMU train service on Dhaka-Narayanganj route on April 24.
But problems that cropped up due to overloading led to suspension of the service from the following day.
BR resumed the shuttle service between Dhaka and Narayanganj on April 30 after Chinese experts resolved the problems by fully opening the windows of the railcar.
Traditionally, two six-bogie trains shuttled on the route — each with space for about 1,000 passengers, both seating and standing.
Meanwhile Kamalapur railway station master Shakhawat Hossian Khan told New Age on Monday that the DEMU rail cars ran six trips a day, up and down, between Dhaka and Narayanganj.
Originally, BR planned running 16 trips, up and down, between Dhaka and Narayanganj using its DEMU railcars.
DEMU railcar’s 460-horsepower engine has a maximum speed of 80 kilometres per hour, officials said.
-With New Age input
