There is a long-standing engine shortage in the Eastern Railway. Because of this, nearly half a hundred trains are closed in the eastern part of the railway. That engine crisis is now suffering in Chittagong-Cox’s Bazar train journey. Tomorrow, December 1, Dhaka-Cox’s Bazar route will start commercial train operation. However, trains cannot be started from Chittagong due to engine shortage. Railway authorities said that there will be two compartments allocated for the passengers of Chittagong in Dhaka-Cox’s Bazar bound train. Passengers of Chittagong should be satisfied with those two compartments.
It is known that the new train on the Dhaka-Cox’s Bazar route has a total of 780 seats in 16 coaches. 115 seats have been allocated for passengers from Chittagong station. Initially, the plan was to operate trains on the Chittagong-Cox’s Bazar route with a rake of 12 coaches of Chattla Express. It was supposed to have about 600-700 seats. The train will stop at a total of 9 stations from Chittagong Railway Station.
For this purpose, the rake of Chattla Express was prepared, but in the end, the authorities withdrew from it as they did not get the engine. They said that there is no possibility of opening this year.
The railway authority approved the commercial train on the Dhaka-Cox’s Bazar route on November 21. It was decided to sell non-stop train tickets only from Dhaka. But in the face of criticism, the next day on November 22, it was decided to allocate two coaches for Chittagong passengers.
Bangladesh Railway General Manager (Eastern Region) Mohammad Nazmul Islam said that efforts are being made to increase train movement on Cox’s Bazar route. The engine crisis may take another three years to overcome. A project has been undertaken. A total of 80 engines will arrive in 20 increments after three years.
The 101 km railway from Chittagong’s Dohazari to Cox’s Bazar is being constructed at a cost of around Tk 18,000 crore. 9 new stations are under construction under the project.
Cox’s Bazar Express to be inaugurated from Dhaka-Cox’s Bazar
Ministry of Railways has prepared to inaugurate the Cox’s Bazar Express train from both Dhaka and Cox’s Bazar. According to sources from the Ministry of Railways, on Friday (December 1) at 11:30 am, the operation of ‘Cox’s Bazar Express’ will be inaugurated on the Dhaka-Cox’s Bazar railway from Cox’s Bazar iconic railway station. Secretary of the Ministry of Railways will be the chief guest at the opening ceremony in Cox’s Bazar. Md. Humayun Kabir.
The train will also be launched from Dhaka’s Kamalapur railway station at 10 pm on the same day. At this time, Director General of Bangladesh Railway Kamrul Ahsan will exchange greetings with the passengers going to Cox’s Bazar. News BanglaNews and Tribune.
According to railway sources, Cox’s Bazar Express will leave Dhaka’s Kamalapur station at 10:30 pm on Friday. It will reach Chittagong at 3:40 PM. The journey will depart for Cox’s Bazar at 4 pm with a 20 minute break. Will reach Cox’s Bazar at 6:40 am. That means it will take 8 hours and 10 minutes to go from the capital to the tourist town. In other words, passengers have to come to the station at this time to catch the train from Chittagong to Cox’s Bazar.
On the other hand, the train will leave Cox’s Bazar for Dhaka at 12:40 PM. This train will arrive at Chittagong at 3:40 PM. And will reach Dhaka at 9:10 PM.
The fare of Sobhon chair from Dhaka to Cox’s Bazar is fixed at Tk 695. AC chair rent is Tk 1,325, AC seat is Tk 1,590 and AC berth (sleeping seat) is Tk 2,380.
The fare from Chittagong to Cox’s Bazar is Tk 205 for Sobhan chair, Tk 386 for Snigdha class, Tk 466 for AC seat and Tk 696 for AC berth.
News Source : Suprobhat.com
