The Railway Eastern Zone is grappling with a severe locomotive (engine) shortage, causing major disruptions to both passenger and freight train services. While 119 engines are required daily to maintain normal operations, only 75 to 76 are available. The shortage is accelerating engine wear due to insufficient maintenance and rest, while creating widespread delays and cancellations.
Officials say that over the past few years, local and mail train services on multiple routes—including Chittagong–Dohazari, Chittagong–Nazirhat, Chittagong–Comilla, and Chittagong–Sylhet—have been suspended. Currently, the Chittagong–Jamalpur-bound Nasirabad Express is frequently canceled, with seven to eight trips per month affected. Railway control room sources confirmed that cancellations are primarily due to engine shortages, with no resolution expected until new engines are supplied.
The shortage is directly affecting train schedules, with multiple services departing one to one and a half hours late daily. Passengers at various stations have protested over the delays.
Railway officials warn that if the shortage continues, the Eastern Zone’s passenger services could collapse further. Freight services are also impacted: only five of the 15 engines required daily are available, causing repeated delays for container and oil trains.
Engines are supposed to undergo 45 minutes of fuel and maintenance checks after each trip, 45 minutes of LM checking, and a six-hour full shutdown every 72 hours. These procedures are currently being skipped, reducing the lifespan of available engines.
Md Gias Uddin, a Cox’s Bazar resident, said: “The Saikat Express, operating on the Cox’s Bazar–Chittagong route, is scheduled to depart at 8:00 pm but is often delayed one to three hours. The Prabal Express on the Chittagong–Cox’s Bazar route also departs late or is sometimes canceled. Railway officials say this is due to the engine shortage, causing passengers considerable inconvenience.”
Major impact expected
Chittagong Railway Station Manager Abu Bakar Siddique told Dhaka Tribune: “Engine shortages are causing delays and cancellations on routes including Chittagong–Sylhet. The Nasirabad Express is most affected. Passengers are frustrated, but there is little we can do because of the shortage.”
Chief Mechanical Engineer Sadekur Rahman said: “To maintain daily train operations in the Eastern Zone, 119 engines are needed, but only 75 to 76 are available. Engines borrowed from freight trains are losing durability quickly. If the shortage continues, passenger transport will be heavily affected. Over 50 percent of passenger train engines have exceeded their 20-year lifespan, leading to more mechanical faults.”
Sources said that two pairs of local trains on Chittagong–Dohazari, two pairs on Chittagong–Nazirhat, trains to Chittagong–Cumilla, and the Jalalabad Express on Chittagong–Sylhet have been suspended, along with other local and mail services. Freight trains, including container and oil transport, are also affected. While 13 engines are needed daily for freight, only five are available. Chittagong Port requires five engines for container transport to Dhaka’s Kamalapur ICD, but only one or two are operational.
Container congestion at Chittagong Port bound for Dhaka’s ICD has worsened, with 1,300 containers now piled up. Mohammad Omar Faruk, Director (Administration) of Chittagong Port Authority, told Dhaka Tribune: “Engines for container trains are not available as needed. This delays shipments to Dhaka and back. We need four to five engines daily, but only get one or two. We have repeatedly requested the railway authorities to increase engines.”
No rest for engines
M Subaktageen, general manager of Railway Eastern Zone, told Dhaka Tribune: “Available engines are overused and cannot get the rest they require. After one trip, an engine is immediately assigned to another train. New trains cannot be added due to the shortage. Engine procurement depends on higher government authorities. Without additional engines, there is no solution.”
The crisis shows no signs of abating, with passenger delays and freight disruptions expected to continue unless new engines are supplied.
