AC coaches are being introduced on the Chattogram–Cox’s Bazar intercity trains, with plans to replace the long-used old coaches of Seakot and Probal Express trains with more comfortable imported rolling stock.
Officials from the Transport and Mechanical Department of the railway’s eastern zone said that the existing coaches of Seakot Express and Probal Express have been in service for a long time and do not include AC coaches.
Recently, modern high-speed coaches imported from South Korea were added to the Mahanagar Express operating on the Dhaka–Chattogram route. The coaches released from that train—originally imported from Indonesia in 2020—are now being allocated to the Chattogram–Cox’s Bazar route.
Chief Mechanical Engineer of Eastern Railway, Sadequr Rahman, said that a policy decision has been made to replace the old coaches of the Seakot and Probal Express with AC coaches. The released coaches from Mahanagar Express will be used for these trains.
He added that after the introduction of AC coaches, ticket fares will align with existing rates for Shovon Chair and AC Chair classes.
An official from the railway’s transport department said the Indonesian coaches released from the Mahanagar Express are modern and comfortable.
Chattogram Station Master Abu Jafar Mojumdar said the plan was initially to replace the coaches by April 14, but no formal notification has yet been received. He noted that the process will be completed soon.
Once the AC coaches are added, traditional Shovon class coaches will be phased out, leaving only Shovon Chair and AC Chair seating, with corresponding fare structures applied for ticketing.
Cox’s Bazar Life Report
File Photo
