Train travel in Bangladesh is the best way to travel between the largest cities of the country. The length of railway lines in Bangladesh is about 2877 km. Some lines have a gauge of 1000 mm, some 1676 mm, and some use mixed gauges. The national carrier is Bangladesh Railway. Administratively, the railway is divided into the East and West zones. Bangladesh Railways serve 440 stations.
The path of railway lines may seem strange and irrational at first glance, but in practice, it is due to the terrain and the need to build railway lines that they are not frequently flooded (in Bangladesh, it is impossible to build lines without passing through flood-prone areas). Floods and other natural disasters are one of the factors hindering the operation of railways in Bangladesh.
Rehabilitation of existing railway lines, modernization of signaling system and acquisition of new rolling stocks is underway.
Train travel in Bangladesh – domestic trains
Railway in Bangladesh connects almost all important places and plays important role in the economy.
Trains in Bangladesh resemble those in India. Local trains are dirty and crowded, but many tourists emphasize that the journey has its charms, particularly the opportunity to get to know locals and observe beautiful views through the window. Intercity trains offer decent quality of service. At present there are more than 90 Intercity trains running. Trains are operated by state-owned Bangladesh Railway (BR). All long-distance trains are named.
The most comfortable trains are the daytime and overnight trains operating between Dhaka and Chittagong. The highest category is Intercity, while Express trains have a much lower standard.
Tickets for Bangladesh Railway services are available at all stations. Most stations are computerized and tickets which can be purchased within four days of departure, are printed.
Useful websites:
Bangladesh Railway – official website
Online ticket shop – not available for foreigners
Bd-info.com – unofficial train schedule
Railway map of Bangladesh (2016)(Wikipedia)
Passenger carriages in Bangladesh are divided into th following classes:
AC seat – the most expensive and comfortable class available only on Intercity trains on the Dhaka – Chittagong route. In day trains, these are modernized open carriages. All carriages are air-conditioned.
AC berths – air-conditioned 2-berth & 4-berth sleeper compartments.
First class (chair) – similar to AC, but less comfortable and without air conditioning.
Shovan – regular second class on long-distance trains. Reservation is compulsory.
Shovan chair – 2nd class reclining seats arranged 2+3. Seat reservation is mandatory.
Shulov – the cheapest and least comfortable class of trains. Available only on suburban and local trains. Seats are often wooden.
Snigdha (AC) – air-conditioned open-plain carriages. Seats arranged 2+2 across.
Most popular among tourists is the Cox Bazar Express from the Kamalapur station in Dhacca to Cox Bazar.
There is a small Bangladesh Railway Museum in Chattogram opened in 2003.
Train travel in Bangladesh – Dhaka Metro Rail
Bangladesh has a mass rapid transit system serving Dhaka, the capital and largest city of Bangladesh. The system is being developed and operated by the Dhaka Mass Transit Company (DMTC). Currently, the only operational line is Line 6 from Uttara North to Motijheel (21,2 km). In the future the line will be extended to Kamlapur station.
Construction of the Line 5 is underway. The line from Hemayetpur to Vatara will be 20 km long. The 13,5 km underground stretch from Gabtoli to Notun Bazar will cover high-density areas. A viaduct with a length of 6,5 kilometers will be built from Hemayetpur and Amin Bazar and from Notun Bazar to Vatara. Line 5 will connect with Line 6 at Mirpur and Line 1 at Notun Bazar station.
The Line 1 with a total length of 31,24km will be underground from Kamalapur station to Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport (19,87 km) and elevated from Notun Bazar to Purbachal (11,36 km)
The proposed Line 2 will be the longest metro rail line (35 km).
The Line 4 will have both underground and elevated sections. The line with total length of 16 km will connect Kamalapur station with outskirts of the Dhaka.
The government plans to build 140-kilometer metro rail network in Dhaka and its adjacent areas by 2030.
Dhaka Metro – official website
Train travel in Bangladesh – international trains
There are three international trains between Bangladesh and India.
Maitree Express (Friendship Express) – modern, fully air-conditioned train between Dhaka and Kolkata. Train was inaugurated in 2008 after being closed for 43 years. A valid visa and passport is required beforehand to purchase a ticket for the Maitree Express train. Tickets are available at Dhaka Cantonment railway station in Bangladesh and at Chitpur Station in Kolkata, India. Operating speed is 45 kilometres per hour. The Maitree Express runs five days a week.The train has 10 coaches. 4 AC Executive Class, 4 AC Chair Car and 2 power car brake vans.
Bandhan Express – express train from Kolkhata to Khulna in Bangladesh. All carriages are equipped with air-conditioning. Train covers the distance of 170 km in 5 hours and 20 minutes. The route recreates the previous Barisal Express route. The immigration process is done in Kolkata and Khulna. A valid visa and passport is required before purchasing a ticket for the Bandhan Express train. Tickets are available at Khulna Railway Station in Bangladesh and at Chitpur Station in Kolkata, India. Train runs twice a week.
Mitali Express – international express train from Dhaka to New Jalpaiguri inaugurated in 2022. A valid visa and passport is required beforehand to purchase a ticket for the Mitali Express train. Tickets are available at Dhaka Kamalapur railway station in Dhaka, Bangladesh and at New Jalpaiguri railway station in Siliguri, India. The train starts at Dhaka Cantonment railway station on the Bangladesh side, stopping at Parbatipur and Chilahati and then crosses the border to Haldibari. The distance between Dhaka and Chilahati is 453 km and from Chilahati to New Jalpaiguri is 71 km.[1] Two extra coaches are added at Chilahati for passengers travelling from that area to India. The train then crosses the Indian side, stopping at Haldibari before reaching New Jalpaiguri railway station. Operating speed is 51.12 km/h. The train has 10 coaches. 4 AC Executive Class, 4 AC Chair Car and 2 power car brake vans.
Related articles:
