No risk of major train schedule disruption during Eid travel, says rail minister

Railway Minister Shaikh Rabiul Alam has said there is no risk of a major disruption to train schedules during the Eid-ul-Adha travel period despite the increased pressure from homebound passengers.

Speaking to journalists during a visit to Dhaka Railway Station in Kamalapur today (24 May), he said train operations were being conducted with maximum caution using the existing railway infrastructure and locomotives.

"Travelling by train holds special importance for people leaving Dhaka. However, the number and capacity of trains are not sufficient compared to passenger demand," he said.

He said around 32,000 passengers are normally transported daily from Dhaka on intercity trains.

For Eid, Bangladesh Railway has increased capacity by releasing an additional 25% of tickets, allowing around 40,000 passengers to travel each day. However, demand during the Eid period stands at around 100,000 passengers.

Reflecting on his inspection of Kamalapur station, the minister said he boarded two trains without prior planning and spoke with passengers. 

He said passengers expressed satisfaction with the services and that the condition of the trains and platforms appeared satisfactory.

Addressing reports of delays to several trains, Rabiul said three services had run behind schedule in the morning.

He said the Burimari Express was delayed after its wheels slipped on straw left to dry on the railway tracks, causing a late arrival in Dhaka and affecting the departure of the Kurigram Express.

Asked whether the incident would affect subsequent schedules, he said railway authorities expected operations to return to normal within the day.

He also noted that a mechanical fault had caused delays to a few trains the previous day, but the issue was resolved quickly. Spare locomotives have been kept ready and additional precautions taken to address any unexpected problems, he added.

The minister said Bangladesh Railway had identified locations with risks of accidents or derailments and taken special measures ahead of Eid.

"We are alert. We hope there will be no major collapse under the current circumstances," he said.

He also claimed that railway services and the overall travel environment had improved compared to previous years. The online ticketing system has helped prevent ticket black-marketing, he added.

According to the minister, 51 new coaches have been added to various routes for the Eid period. Currently, 82 to 83 metre-gauge locomotives are in operation, with one or two more expected to be added soon.

He said increasing the number of active metre-gauge locomotives to 85 or 86 would further reduce the possibility of schedule disruptions and help passengers reach their destinations more comfortably.

Railways Secretary Md Fahimul Islam, Bangladesh Railway Director General Md Afzal Hossain and other senior officials were present during the inspection.

Fare discounts for elderly, disabled passengers

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Railways has decided to introduce fare discounts for elderly and physically disabled passengers from tomorrow (25 May).

Under the scheme, passengers aged 65 and above will receive a 25% discount on the base fare.

The concession will be available through both online and counter ticket sales, although service charges, VAT and other applicable fees will remain unchanged. Senior citizens will be able to use the discount up to twice a week.

Passengers with disabilities holding a 'Suborna' identity card issued under the Ministry of Social Welfare will also be eligible for discounted travel.

They will receive a 50% discount in Shulov and Shovon classes of intercity trains and a newly introduced 25% discount in all air-conditioned classes. Initially, the facility will be available only through station ticket counters.

The ministry said the decision was taken as part of efforts to make rail transport more accessible and inclusive.

It added that discounts for students and on short-distance commuter services would be considered at a later stage.