Trial train on Dhaka-Khulna route reaches Khulna via Padma Bridge
Commercial train services on this route is scheduled to start in the first week of December
Aiming to introduce the Dhaka-Khulna direct link, the final trial run on the 87-km route from Bhanga to Jashore through Padma Rail Bridge reached Khulna today (24 November).
The train with 12 compartments left from Dhaka Kamalapur rail station around 9:10am and reached Khulna station around 1:10pm with a speed of 100km per hour via Narail.
The train will travel from Dhaka, crossing the Padma Bridge, and pass through Bhanga-Narail-Jashore route before reaching in Khulna.
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Excitements were seen among the passengers and business persons with the operation of the rail through Bhanga-Narail-Jashore via Padma Bridge from Dhaka.
Secretary to the Railway Division Abdul Baki, Railway Director General Sardar Shahadat Hossain, Railway West zone managing director Mamunul Islam and high officials were present at the train.
Thanking the residents of this region, Abdul Baki said: "We have successfully completed three trials. We observed that it took 3 hours and 45-50 minutes. All senior authorities and technical officers were present during the trial. We plan to start commercial train services on this route in the first week of December."
Sardar Shahadat said it is not yet finalised the number of trains that will operate on the Dhaka-Khulna route via Padma.
"We are facing a shortage of sufficient compartments. To meet the demand, we will need to coordinate our operations. We will try our best to provide maximum service to the people with the available resources," he added.
Sources said the train will travel at 100 kilometres per hour from Faridpur's Bhanga Junction to Padmabila Station in Jashore while the train will run at a speed of 75 kilometers per hour from Padmabila to Singia and then to Khulna.
On 10 October 2023, a portion of the Padma Bridge Rail Link Project was opened, enabling train services from Dhaka to Bhanga, covering an 82-kilometre rail route.
Now, an additional 87 kilometres from Bhanga to Jashore will be added, creating a direct rail link between Dhaka and Jashore, covering a total distance of 169 kilometres.
