Two regular trains ‘Saikat Express’ and ‘Prabal Express’ will start running on the Chattogram-Cox’s Bazar route from 1 February.
Authorities of Bangladesh Railway has taken decision in a meeting recently in the capital, assistant chief operating superintendent (ACOPS) of Eastern Railway Kamal Akhtar Hossain told BSS today.
In the meeting, it was decided that the two new trains will start running Chattogram-Cox’s Bazar-Chattogram route from 1 February aimed at safe and pleasure journey both of tourists and passengers of Cox’s Bazar and adjacent areas, he said, adding that the trains are ‘Saikat Express’ (821/824) and ‘Probal Express’ (822/823).
Railway officials said both the trains will have 16 coaches each. The number of seats will be 743 and a total of 2,972 passengers will be able to travel every day except Monday.
Abu Bakkar Siddique, assistant chief operating officer of Eastern Railway, told BSS that although ‘Saikat Express’ and ‘Probal Express' trains are non-AC, But there will be first-class cabins, first-class chairs and luxury chairs.
“It will take four hours to go to Cox’s Bazar from Chattogram. The train will stop at major stations. It will run like an intercity train. We will also add food cars on both the trains”, he said.
He, however, said people including tourists become very happy for start running these new trains’ side by side regular trains of Dhaka-Cox’s Bazar route.
Golam Rabbani, Station Master of Cox’s Bazar Iconic Railway Station, said Saikat Express will leave Chattogram at 6.15 am and to reach Cox’s Bazar at 9.55 am while the Prabal Express will leave from Chattogram at 3.10 pm and reach Cox’s Bazar at 7.00 pm.
On the other hand Prabal Express will leave Cox’s Bazar at 10.35 am and will reach Chattogram at 2.15 pm and Saikat Express will leave Cox’s Bazar station at 8.15 pm and will reach Chattogram at 11.50 pm.
Saikat Express will break at 8 stations. These are Sholoshahar, Janalihat, Patiya, Dohazari, Satkania, Chakaria, Dulhazra and Ramu.
The Prabal Express will break at 10 stations. The stations are Sholoshahar, Gumdandi, Patiya, Dohazari, Satkania, Lohagara, Chakaria, Dulhazra, Islamabad and Ramu. These two trains will remain closed every Monday.
