#Freight trains could make up for the railway's losses. But the lossmaker keeps neglecting its golden goose


Did you know that once upon a time, Bangladesh's freight trains produced more than 55 percent of the total railway revenues? Or that once the average speed of these trains was above 17km per hour? Or even that during 1969-70 the railway actually netted profits? 

The comparison of the country's freight train service with pre-independence data may sound a little out of place. But the assessment is necessary because while the railways of the leading economies around the world are profiting from their freight train services, Bangladesh's Railway (BR) authority has lost more than Tk20 billion in 2019-20; and losing such hefty amounts has been a regular occurrence in the last decade. 

Bangladesh as a country has progressed in every sector since its independence. But if you compare some basic data of the railway's freight train services including freight trains run, coverage, speed, revenue percentage, etc with the 1969-1970's, you will be disappointed.

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