Railway to offer 25 new services

Says communications boss, opens commuter train services on N’ganj route
In an effort to ease traffic hold-ups, Bangladesh Railway yesterday launched two new commuter train services on the Dhaka-Narayanganj route.
The services have been introduced to facilitate more people using the route, railway officials said adding, it would also provide over five thousand people a safer and more convenient mode of transport.
Communications Minister Syed Abul Hossain inaugurated the new services at Kamalapur Railway Station.
The minister said the government is working to procure another 30 pairs of Diesel-Electrical Multiple Units (DEMU) — multiple unit trains with multiple carriages powered by one or more on-board diesel engines.
These DEMUs will run on Dhaka-Joydevpur, Dhaka-Mymensingh and Dhaka-Narayanganj routes as commuter services, he added.
Another 25 initiatives taken to improve the railway services would also start to show their results from next year, hoped the minister.
Rashed Khan Menon MP, president of Workers Party of Bangladesh and T A Chowdhury, director general of BR, were also present at the ceremony.
The new train set off from Kamalapur Railway Station at 11:20am and reached Narayanganj around 12:05pm.
The trains to and from the suburbs are always packed with commuters working in offices in the capital, said Md Nazmul Islam, Dhaka Divisional Transport Officer of BR.
While each of the six-coach trains can carry up to 350 sitting passengers, more than a hundred people buy standing tickets, he added.
Sources in railway said the first commuter train leaves Dhaka at 5:45am. After passing through Gandaria, Fatulla, Pagla and Chashara, it reaches Narayanganj at 6:25am. It sets off on return trip at 6:45am.
The second one leaves Dhaka at 6:40am to reach Narayanganj at 7:20am.
Twelve trains will operate in pairs from two ends in every hour of the day, with the last train leaving Narayanganj at 10:25pm. A one-way trip will cost Tk 6 a passenger, they added.
Railway officials believe the trains would be able to run on schedule as the tracks have been remodelled in a Tk 43-crore project.
“After the remodelling, the trains can run at a speed of 50 kilometres instead of 40 km. So, they can now reach the destinations faster,” mentioned an official. 
 

 
Via: The Daily Star