Bangladesh orders 250 train cars from Indonesian firm

Indonesian state-owned train maker PT Industri Kereta Api (Inka) said Bangladesh has ordered 250 extra strong train cars from the company.

"The train cars purchased by Bangladesh are larger with stronger structures and thicker walls and roofs. It is twice as strong as an ordinary train car," said Inka finishing manager Agung Budiono on the sidelines of a visit by lawmakers to an Inka factory in Madiun, East Java on Thursday as quoted by kompas.com.

Such a specification was needed because when the trains were overcrowded, passengers would climb onto the roofs while the trains were travelling, Agung added.

Indonesian train users used to sit on the roof while traveling, particularly for short distance trips, but it is now strictly prohibited.

The train cars purchased by Bangladesh are larger and longer, as each train car has 90 seats, while the train cars used in Indonesia have 64 seats on average, said Agung, adding that a train in Bangladesh uses 22 train cars compared to the longest train in Indonesia, which uses 16 train cars.

 Agung explained that the first shipment of 18 train cars is scheduled for November, comprising cars of economy class, executive class, restaurant train cars and sleeper train cars.

House of Representatives Commission VI overseeing transportation official Azam Azman praised Inka as it had been able to produce trains both for domestic needs and export.

Copyright: The Jakarta Post/ Asia News network