Railway to change schedule of 43 intercity trains

Bangladesh Railway has announced schedule adjustments for 43 intercity trains, coming into effect on 1 December.

Among these changes, 20 trains will be rescheduled for earlier departures, while 23 trains will see delayed departure times.

The new Railway schedule includes the Cox's Bazar Express as a new train service between Dhaka and Cox's Bazar. 

Furthermore, the Bijoy Express, previously operating between Chattogram and Mymensingh, will now extend its route to Jamalpur. Additionally, the Madhumati Express travelling from Rajshahi to Dhaka via Padma Bridge and the Dhalarchar Express from Dhalarchar to Rajshahi will extend their services up to Chapainawabganj.

An analysis of the updated schedule indicates time reductions in travel along the double-lined rail track from Dhaka to Chattogram, with time savings ranging from 20 minutes to an hour.

While travel times between Dhaka and Sylhet have seen both increases and decreases, most trains operating in the western region have experienced an increase in their duration.

Moreover, the commercial operations for trains along the Dhaka-Cox's Bazar and Chattogram-Cox's Bazar routes are set to commence on 1 December.

The train will depart from Cox's Bazar at 12pm and reach Dhaka at 9:10pm. Then, departing from Dhaka at 10am, the train will arrive in Cox's Bazar at 7:20am the following day.

Among the six trains from Dhaka to Chattogram, five will maintain their usual schedule.

However, the Turna Express will depart at 11:15pm instead of 11:30pm.

On the return journey, four trains will have adjusted timings. 

The Chattala Express will leave at 6am instead of the usual 8am, advancing by 2.5 hours.

The Subarna Express will depart at 4:45pm instead of 5pm, 45 minutes earlier.

On the Chattogram to Dhaka route, the Sonar Bangla Express will depart at 7:30am instead of 7:00am. Additionally, the Turna Express will leave at 11:30pm instead of the previous 11:00pm, both delaying by 20 minutes.

Between Dhaka and Sylhet, three out of four trains will have revised schedules. 

The Parabat Express will leave Dhaka at 6am instead of 6:20am, while the Upaban Express will depart at 10pm instead of the initial 8pm, delaying by 2 hours. 

Although two trains have experienced delays, the Kalni Express's departure has been brought forward by five minutes. Instead of its previous departure time of 3:00pm, it will now leave at 2:55pm.

The Parabat Express will depart Sylhet at 3:00pm instead of the previous 3:45 PM, reaching Dhaka at 3:00am instead of 3:45am. Meanwhile, the Upaban Express will leave at 11:00pm instead of the earlier time of 10:45pm, arriving in Dhaka at 11:00am instead of 10:15am.

Additionally, the Joyontika Express's departure from Sylhet has been delayed by 45 minutes. Instead of leaving at 11:15am, it will now depart at 12:00pm.

The schedules of three trains between Dhaka and Kishoreganj remain unchanged. The Egarosindhur Provati and Egarosindhur Godhuli will continue their regular departures from Dhaka at their previous times.

However, for the Kishoreganj Express destined for this route, a slight advancement has been made in its departure time. 

Instead of departing at 10:45am, it will now leave at 10:30am, 15 minutes earlier than before.

From Dhaka to Mohanganj and Deowaniganj Bazaar and then towards Tarakandi to Taramkandi, the schedules of two trains—Agnibina Express and Jamuna Express—remain unaltered. However, the Agnibina Express from Tarakandi to Dhaka will now depart at 6:00pm instead of the previous 5:20pm.

The schedule for the Jamalpur Express running between Dhaka and Bhuiyapur has been advanced on both routes. The train will now depart from Dhaka at 10:00am instead of its previous departure time of 9:45am.

Additionally, departing from Bhuiyapur, the train will now leave at 4:00pm instead of 5:10pm.

Upakul Express heading from Dhaka towards Noakhali, its departure time has been brought forward by 10 minutes. 

The train will now depart Dhaka at 3:10pm instead of the earlier 3:20pm. However, the train will maintain its previous schedule departing from Noakhali at 6:00am.

In the western region, the Dhoomketu Express from Dhaka to Rajshahi will maintain its previous departure time. However, the Silk City Express will depart Dhaka at 2:40pm instead of the previous 2:45pm, and the Padma Express will leave at 10:45pm instead of the previous 11:00pm. 

On the return journey, these three trains will depart Rajshahi as per their scheduled times.

The newly added Madhumati Express, operating on the Dhaka-Rajshahi route via the Padma Bridge, will depart Dhaka at 3:00pm and leave Rajshahi at 6:40am.

However, the Bonolata Express operating between Dhaka and Chapainawabganj remains unchanged in its schedule.

This is the 53rd timetable revision in Bangladesh railway history. The last revision in the timetable was implemented in January 2020. 

Currently,102 intercity trains are operational across the country.