Dhaka to propose changes in Kolkata train schedule

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Bangladesh will propose changing the schedule of the Dhaka-Kolkata Maitree Express to make it more attractive and convenient for passengers, say senior railway officials, reports bdnews24.com.
Bangladesh wants the train to reach Dhaka Tuesday and go back to Kolkata Wednesday, Bangladesh Railway's director general Md Belayet Hossain said.
He also said they have no problem with the schedule of the train operating from Dhaka.
Currently, one Bangladesh train leaves Dhaka for Kolkata Saturday and returns Sunday.
Similarly, one Indian train starts for Dhaka from Kolkata Saturday and goes back the next day.
"According to the current schedule, if passengers go to Kolkata by train, they have to spend seven days in Kolkata for the next return train.
"Because of the inconvenience, passengers travel by bus, instead," Hossain added.
"If the Indian authorities agree, the new schedule would come into effect from January next year," said the director general.
He also said they would table the proposal in the next inter-governmental railway meeting next month.
"If the new schedule is implemented, the Maitree Express trains would become more attractive and convenient for passengers," Railway's additional director general (operations) Quazi Asadullah said.
He informed that both Bangladesh and India agreed to cut the travel time by two hours.
"The agreed travel time cannot be enforced until the Indian Railway (Eastern Railway) completes the construction of a new platform at Kolkata station," said Asadullah.
Maitree Express takes at least 12 hours - six hours for customs and immigration formalities at the border stations - to reach Kolkata from Dhaka and vice versa.
The direct passenger trains were launched on April 14 after the service had been snapped in 1965.
About 100 passengers travel on an average by the 418-seat train.