Passenger train services on Dhaka-Narail-Khulna and Dhaka-Narail-Benapole routes are currently operating with only one train, forcing travellers to rely on limited schedules and often wait long hours for the next journey.
Local people have demanded an increase in train services to ease the inconvenience.
Passengers said the district was connected to the railway network for the first time under the Padma Bridge Rail Link Project.
Train services on the route began on December 24, 2024.
At present, a single train operates from Dhaka to Khulna and Benapole under two different names ‘Ruposhi Bangla’ and ‘Jahanabad’.
Jahanabad Express departs Khulna at 6:00am and reaches Narail at around 7:15am. The same train later runs as ‘Ruposhi Bangla’ from Benapole, leaving at 3:00pm and arriving in Narail at 4:45pm.
From Narail, it takes about two and a half hours to reach Kamalapur Railway Station in Dhaka.
However, passengers cannot travel to the capital at night and must wait until the next morning for the next available service.
Rezaul Karim, a passenger of the route, said the railway is the most comfortable way to travel between Narail and Dhaka in a short time.
“Except for the morning and afternoon schedules there is no other train available. So we demand that the number of trains be increased quickly,” he said.
Another passenger, A Al-Marjan, said the railway line was built at a cost of several thousand crore taka.
“While the rail link has improved communication we are not getting the full benefit because only one train is operating under two different names. We hope the new government will take steps to address this issue,” he said.
Amena Begum said the train service has brought significant convenience.
“Since the train started running, it has become easier to travel. I can go to Dhaka in the morning for office work and return home later. If more trains are added, commuting will become even easier,” she said.
Narail Railway Station Master Ujjal Biswas said train operations on the route officially began on December 24, 2024.
He said the service has already contributed to the socio-economic development of the region and expressed hope that more trains would be added in the future.
Narail Deputy Commissioner Dr Mohammad Abdul Salam said on Wednesday that a letter has been sent to the railway secretary requesting an increase in train services on the Dhaka-Narail-Khulna route.
Member of Parliament for Narail-2 constituency, Advocate Ataur Rahman Bacchu, said the launch of the train fulfilled a long-standing demand of Narail residents.
“However, rail services are still not meeting the demand. Necessary steps are being taken to increase the number of trains,” he said.
The Padma Bridge Rail Link Project connected the southern and south-western regions of Bangladesh to the national railway network. The project was completed in 2024 at a cost of about Tk 39,246 crore.
Of the total cost, the Bangladesh government financed Tk 18,210 crore, while China provided the remaining Tk 21,036 crore.