Making train journey comfortable

LAST Thursday, that is, on December 14 I went to Kamlapur Station around 1:45 pm to avail Rajhahi-bound Silk City Train which was supposed to start at 2:40 pm. As I had no advanced booking, I stood in the long queue for AC (air-conditioned) compartment tickets. When my turn came, I asked for a ticket but the sales person at the counter told me that no seats were available. Then I asked for a non-AC ticket and he told me to stand in another queue leading to a counter that sold non-AC tickets. The queue at the non-AC counter was even longer and at one point of time I thought I would miss the train. Then I requested a boy who was close to the counter and he got me a ticket that had no seat number. In the meantime it was around 2:30 pm and the counter person informed that sale of Rajshahi tickets would be closed soon although the train was late. The train finally started for Rajshahi at about 3:10 pm. Many passengers had to leave the queue without collecting a ticket and rush towards the platform to avail the train.

But when the train reached the Airport station some people including a few females entered our compartment through the window although it was almost full from Kamalapur station. We saw many people including girls and women climbing up to the roof of the train. Many could not avail the train though they had bought tickets as people had to buy tickets to enter the platform of the station. 

Against such a backdrop I have the following suggestions to make:

1. Only 30 per cent of non-AC standing tickets may be sold and passengers should be ensured that they would get tickets in 30 minutes at the most after standing in the queue.
2. If someone standing in the queue for AC tickets does not get one, he/she may be served a non-AC ticket from the same counter.
3. Some people working in Dhaka have their families in Rajshahi and they come to Rajshahi almost every weekend. But one is entitled to only one ticket per month online. They could be registered in the e-sheba or railway website so that they get several tickets in a month. Return tickets could also be made available online.
4. Finally, an extra train could be introduced after office hours on weekends so that people could visit their families without hassles.

We urge upon the authorities to look into the matter and make train journeys convenient for all.

Md. Tofazzel Hossain

[email protected]