Aging locomotives and neglected infrastructure spark frequent disruptions on Dhaka-Mymensingh rail route
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The Dhaka-Mymensingh-Jamalpur rail corridor is facing a mounting crisis as aging locomotives and deteriorating infrastructure lead to a spate of accidents, engine failures, and systemic service delays. Commuters along this vital transit route are enduring significant hardship as frequent mechanical breakdowns and derailments cripple the railway’s operational efficiency.
Official railway data reveals a deteriorating trend in recent months. In June alone, two derailments and three major engine failures were recorded, following eight failures in May and six in April. The most recent incidents occurred on June 15, when a decoupling caused by a mechanical failure halted the Jamalpur Express for two hours, while a separate engine fire on the Chittagong-bound Bijoy Express caused a three-hour disruption. The situation was exacerbated when the rescue locomotive subsequently broke down, leading to the cancellation of the Mymensingh Express.
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Technical staff attribute the recurring failures to the use of antiquated locomotives and the poor condition of the rail lines. According to Shafiul Hassan, an inspector at the Mymensingh locomotive shed, engines are frequently deployed without undergoing full, necessary repairs due to equipment shortages. Many of these units are long past their operational lifespan and are prone to overheating under standard operating conditions. Furthermore, the rail infrastructure suffers from critical shortages of ballast, sleepers, and fasteners, forcing trains to operate at restricted, slower speeds.
Senior Assistant Executive Engineer Nazmul Hasan confirmed that the railway’s Eastern Zone is drafting a project proposal to overhaul the corridor, specifically targeting the segments from Sreepur to Mohanganj and Jaria. Officials emphasize that unless these lines are fully upgraded and replaced with modern, reliable engines, the frequency of line fractures and mechanical failures will remain high.
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The impact extends beyond mechanical issues to the broader regional network. Currently, 18 pairs of trains operate on routes connecting Mymensingh to Dhaka, Jamalpur, Netrokona, and Chittagong. However, a severe shortage of functional rolling stock has forced the suspension of several mail and local train services. Station Superintendent Abdullah Al Harun noted that the ongoing instability has made the railway an unreliable option for daily travelers.
Critics have raised concerns over a perceived lack of accountability and systemic neglect. Ali Yusuf, secretary of the Mymensingh branch of the advocacy group SHUJAN, argued that the lack of consistent investment—such as failing to replenish rail ballast or failing to perform timely maintenance—has rendered the network increasingly hazardous. He asserted that the failure to modernize the system not only jeopardizes passenger safety but also results in significant lost revenue for the government, effectively disenfranchising the public from a service that should be their safest mode of transportation.
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