The country's railway network is set to see a major breakthrough next month as three more newly-constructed rail tracks will be inaugurated from Akhaura to Agartala and Khulna to Mongla on November 1 along with the launch of the first commercial train operation through recently inaugurated track of Padma Bridge Rail link.
Officials said Akhaura to Agartala and Khulna to Mongla rail tracks will be inaugurated on November 1 establishing connectivity with north-east of India and Mongla port.
Prime Ministers of Bangladesh and India will virtually join the inaugural ceremony of Akhaura-Agartalaand Khulna-Mongla rail tracks, the two projects implemented under the Indian Line of Credit.
The Akhaura-Agartala rail track is 12.24 kilometres while Khulna- Mongla track is 65 kilometres, including 716 km Rupsha Railway Bridge.
Prior to the inauguration, they also said, the BR will operate trial run on both the new tracks today (Monday).
As the Dohazari-Cox's Bazar rail link is scheduled to be inaugurated by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on November 12, the BR has also plan to conduct trial train run on the route on November 7.
The trail train run will start from Chattogram station, Director General Kamrul Ahsan said.
Meanwhile, BR has finalised operation of two passenger trains through newly-built 81 km track connecting through the country's longest Padma Bridge with Sundarban Express and Benapole Express.
Sources said the Sundarban Express will start from Dhaka on November 2 from 8:15 am and reach Khulna at 3:50 pm touching stations at Bhanga, Faridpur, Rajbari, Kushtia Court, Poradaha, Alamdanga, Chuadanga, Kotchandpur, Mobarakganj, Jashore and Noapara.
The Benapole Express will start at 1 pm from Benapole station and cross Jhikorgacha, Jashore, Mobarakganj, Kotchandpur, Darshanahalt, Chuadanga, Poradaha, Kushtia Court, Rajbari and Bhanga to reach Dhaka at 8:45 pm on the same day on November 2.
The same train will start return journey from Dhaka at 11:45 pm and reach Benapole at 7:20 am on the following day.
None of the two trains will touch any other new stations built under the Padma Bridge Rail Link project though the Prime Minister inaugurated the track on October 10.
Director General Kamrul Ahsan said train operation time for the both routes was lessened more than an hour and it will be further reduced after completion of the track work from Bhanga to Jashore.
'This new track will direct the track Narail reducing 200 km more,' he told the FE at his office.
Meanwhile, the BR has fixed the fare for traveling on the new track through the Padma Bridge fixing Shovon chair Tk500, AC coach Tk995 and AC berth Tk 1495 between Dhaka and Daulatpur, Khulna.
The 532 km fare is, however, slightly lower than the rate of fares of the Sundarban Express now availed by passengers through the Jamuna Bangabandhu Bridge.
The officials said the fare which is lower than bus fare is calculated based on 48 paisa per km and state of the seat arrangement and bridge's length.
According to the new fare chart, Benapole Express will charge Tk480 for Shovon chair, Tk 960 for AC chair and Tk1,440 for AC berth though it will reduce the journey by over an hour.
The new fare charts are slightly lower than the current fare charts.
smunima@yahoo.com