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 on Sunday.
The train with 12 compartments left from Dhaka Kamalapur rail station around 9:10 am and reached Khulna station around 1:10 pm with a speed of 100 km per hour via Narail.
It will travel from Dhaka through the Padma Bridge and will touch the Bhanga-Narail-Jessore routes before reaching Khulna.
With this, the train will reduce the distance from Dhaka to Khulna by rail.
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 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."
Sources said, the train will travel at 100 kilometers per hour from Faridpur’s Bhanga Junction to Padmabila Station in Jessore while the train will run at a speed of 75 kilometers per hour from Padmabila to Singia and then to Khulna.
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On October 10, 2023, a portion of the Padma Bridge Rail Link Project was opened, enabling train services from Dhaka to Bhanga, covering an 82-kilometer rail route.
Now, an additional 87 kilometers from Bhanga to Jessore will be added, creating a direct rail link between Dhaka and Jessore, covering a total distance of 169 kilometers.