Train services on Ctg-Cox's Bazar route resume after 5 days
The Cox's Bazar-bound Tourist Express left Chattogram Railway Station at 1:30pm, marking the restart of train operations on the route.
Train services on the Chattogram–Cox's Bazar route resumed today (12 July) after a five-day suspension caused by waterlogging following continuous heavy rainfall.
The Cox's Bazar-bound Tourist Express left Chattogram Railway Station at 1:30pm, marking the restart of train operations on the route.
Earlier, the same train had departed Dhaka at 6:15am and reached Chattogram Railway Station at around 11:30am.
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Railway authorities said all scheduled trains from Chattogram, Cox's Bazar and Dhaka would resume passenger services on the route today.
Mohammad Farhan Mahmud, transport officer of Bangladesh Railway for Chattogram division, told The Business Standard that train services on the Cox's Bazar route were suspended from Tuesday afternoon (7 July) after water entered the railway track.
"Repair work in the affected areas has been completed, and train movement resumed today."
According to Bangladesh Railway, around 500 metres of railway track in the Shamsher Para area, about one kilometre east of Jan Ali Hat Station under the Sholoshahar–Dohazari section, were underwater. Railway authorities suspended train movement after water levels on the track rose to a maximum of 21 inches.
Although floodwater washed away some ballast stones beneath the track, the main railway line did not bend or suffer damage, they said.
Several railway engineering teams carried out repair work at the site. They raised around 300 metres of affected track by up to one and a half feet in some areas and restored the displaced ballast.
On Tuesday, the Tourist Express got stranded at Sholoshahar station for nearly eight hours before railway authorities brought it back to Chattogram Railway Station.
Later, authorities cancelled its journey to Cox's Bazar. Waterlogging disrupted the operations of four trains.
The Chattogram-bound Saikat Express from Cox's Bazar and the Cox's Bazar-bound Probal Express from Chattogram had their journeys cancelled completely.
Railway authorities also cancelled the Chattogram–Cox's Bazar sections of the Cox's Bazar Express and Tourist Express services. They arranged alternative transport to take passengers to their destinations.
State Minister for Railways Habibur Rashid visited the affected area on Wednesday.
Explaining the reason behind the suspension, he said, "Passenger safety is the government's top priority. Water accumulated in some parts of the railway track to nearly two feet. Operating trains in such conditions could create the risk of a major accident."
