Bangladesh Railway for the first time is going to launch Rangpur Express, which will connect the northern divisional city of Rangpur with Dhaka, on August 21.
The railway authorities have already selected the route and station stops for the new metre-gauge train.“We have got the decision of the higher authorities today (Tuesday). The train will start running on August 21,” said Md Miajahan, railway’s joint director general (operation), on Tuesday.Communications Minister Syed Abul Hossain is scheduled to inaugurate the service in Rangpur, he told daily sun.
Earlier, the railway officials were in favour of inaugurating the train after the Eid festival.
The railway authorities have stipulated that the train will take 11 hours to travel over 410 kilometres from Kamalapur Railway Station to Rangpur.
As per the draft schedule, the train will leave Rangpur station for Dhaka at 7:40pm and reach Kamalapur Railway Station at 6:35am every day except Sunday.
The same train will depart the capital at 9:00am and reach Rangpur at 7:00pm.
The authorities have chosen nine stops for the intercity train between Dhaka and Rangpur.The stations are Dhaka Airport, Bangabandhu Bridge (east), Natore, Shantahar, Bogra, Gaibandha, Bonarpara, Bamondanga, Kaunia and Rangpur.
The train will stop at Chatmohor station in Pabna while going to Rangpur from Dhaka. But the Rangpur-bound trip will not stop in the station.
“A quarter of the communications ministry is in favour of many stops. But we oppose more stops as frequent stops will hamper smooth operation of the train,” a railway official told daily sun on Tuesday.
The government launched the train as per the commitment of the communications minister who assured parliament of introducing the first-ever direct passenger train between Dhaka and Rangpur.
According to the government figures, Bangladesh Railway operates 246 passenger trains across the country.
With operation of the train, the number of commuter trains now stands at 247.
Railway officials said the Rangpur Express will be run by brand new Korean engines which reached the country on August 2.
The train will perform better than other trains since it will not witness frequent machinery breakdown on the way, they added.