84 more trains to hit tracks by Sept 16

Bangladesh Railway (BR) has decided to resume operation of 84 more trains by September 16, raising the total number of trains on track to 218 after a long halt due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

144 more mail and local trains will resume service on various routes in next phases.

Md Khairul Kabir, deputy director (traffic transportation) at the Bangladesh Railway, confirmed the information in a press release issued on Monday.

From September 10, Karnaphuli Express will resume operation on Chattogram-Dhaka-Chattogram route, Titas Commuter on Akhaura-Dhaka-Brahmanbaria-Dhaka-Akhaura route, Turag Commuter on Dhaka-Joydevpur-Dhaka route and local train on Narayanganj-Dhaka-Narayanganj route.

From September 13, Jalalabad Express will resume service on Chattogram-Sylhet-Chattogram route, Surma Mail on Dhaka-Sylhet-Dhaka route, Dhaka / Noakhali Express on Noakhali-Dhaka-Noakhali route, Mymensingh Express on Chattogram-Bangabandhu Bridge East-Chattogram route, Vawal Express on Dhaka-Dewanganj Bazar-Dhaka route, Dhaleshwari Express on Mymensingh-Bangabandhu Bridge East-Mymensingh route, Chandpur Commuter on Chandpur-Laksam-Chandpur route and Noakhali Commuter on Noakhali-Laksam-Noakhali route.

Nazirhat Commuter will run on Chattogram-Nazirhat-Chattogram route, local train on Chattogram-Dohazari-Chattogram, Mohanganj-Mymensingh-Mohanganj and Jharia Jhangail-Mymensingh-Jharia Jhangail routes, Uttarbanga Mail on Santahar-Freedom Fighter Sirajul Islam Station- Santahar route, Kanchan commuter on Parbatipur route, Dinajpur commuter on Lalmonirhat-Birol-Lalmonirhat route, Burimari commuter on Lalmonirhat-Burimari-Lalmonirhat route, Kurigram Mail on Kurigram-Lalmonirhat-Kurigram route, Rajbari Express on Rajbari-Bhanga-Rajbari route and Bhatiapara Express on Rajbari-Bhatiapara-Rajbari route, from September 16, said the press release.

However, 50 percent tickets of each train's capacity can be sold in a bid to ensure safe physical distancing. The passengers must abide by the health guidelines while travelling, added the release.

On March 24, Railway suspended operation of passenger trains to curb the spread of Covid-19.

Later, on May 31, train service was resumed on limited scale abiding by health guidelines.