Trials of train travels for delayed departure

Passengers travelling by rail on different routes underwent an ordeal as most of the trains at Kamalapur Station departed late on Wednesday.
Thousands of city-dwellers started leaving the capital city of Dhaka by train to celebrate the upcoming festival with their near and dear ones.
During a visit to Kamalapur, the FE found passengers, especially women, children and the elderly, suffered a lot due to schedule disruptions amid sweltering heat.
Passengers in their multitudes were seen waiting eagerly to embark their trains on the first day of the Eid rail service to going back to their roots.
From morning till noon, a total of 15 trains left Kamalapur behind schedule.
"I had to wait at least two hours to get on board my train," said Md Harun Mia, a Sylhet-bound passenger of Parabat Express, told the FE.
His train was due to leave the station at 6:10 am, but it departed at 8:00 am.
"It's unbearable to wait longer to get aboard a train," said Md Farid Hossain who came to the station with his family members to travel to Rajshahi.
The Rajshahi-bound Dhumketu Express was scheduled to leave at 6:00 am, but it departed at 7:20 am.
On the other hand, Parjatak Express left Kamalapur at 6:50 am instead of the scheduled time of 6:15 am.
Similarly, Jamalpur Express, Sylhet-bound Jayantika Express and Tarakandi-bound Agnibina Express and Titas commuter trains also left the station much later than their respective schedules.
About delay, Kamalapur Railway Station manager Md Masud Sarwar said they were adding extra coaches for different routes, so trains left the station late.
He, however, said the problem would be resolved soon.
Mr Sarwar said their main objective was to serve passengers better.
Meanwhile, the railway authorities have taken measures to prevent passengers to enter the station without tickets.
Police and RAB personnel deployed at the station along with Government Railway Police with an eye to ensuring safety and security of passengers.
The Bangladesh Railway (BR) completed sales of online tickets on June 06. The sales began on June 02.
Many backpackers have failed to buy tickets as demand mounted against the number of tickets available.
Those who booked tickets on June 06 would be able to travel on June 16, the day before Eid-ul-Azha.
A railway official at Kamalapur said those who bought tickets online on June 02 travelled on June 12.
The BR has been selling Eid travel tickets online over the past few years.
The holy Eid-ul-Azha will be celebrated on June 17.

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