New inter-city train on Dhaka-Rajshahi route from Nov 23

Railway authorities are going to introduce new inter-city 'Dhumketu Express' from November 23.

Away in Khulna, the work on implementation of a project to modernise the district's railway station has begun.

The new luxury coach will start from Rajshahi station at 11:15 pm and reach Kamalapur station in Dhaka at 4:40 am the next day, general manager (GM) of Bangladesh Railway (BR) western zone Mushfikur Rahman said.

From Dhaka, the 798-seater train will leave at 5:35am on November 24 and reach Rajshahi next morning at 11:05 am. The minimum fare will be Tk 165 and the train will have air conditioned coaches including expensive AC-berth and AC-chair, reports our staff correspondent in Rajshahi.

'It was a long cherished demand of the locals and we are launching the night train ahead of Eid', said the GM.

The train will remain off the track on Mondays from Rajshahi and on Tuesdays from Dhaka.

With Dhumketu Express, the number of inter-city trains on the Rajshahi-Dhaka route will stand at three, two others being Silk City and Padma Express that carry 1,600 passengers daily.

Railway officials said, the Dhaka-bound train will stop at seven stations: Abdulpur (Natore), Chatmohor (Pabna), Baral Bridge (Pabna), Sadanandapur (Sirajganj), Bangabandhu Bridge (west), Joydevpur (Gazipur) and Zia International Airport.

In addition, the Rajshahi-bound Dhumketu Express will stop at Arani station in Rajshahi.

Our staff correspondent in Khulna reports: The much awaited work to implement the Tk50 crore modernisation project for

Khulna railway station has finally taken off.

A new two-storied station building and three platforms would be built under the project. Besides, construction of a shopping complex adjacent to main building of the railway station has also been included in the project.

The year 2011 has been set as deadline for its full implementation, said an engineer of Khulna railway zone.

Work on preparing the job schedule and inviting tenders for 'Khulna railway station and yard re-modeling' is going on, he said.

He said about 50 crore taka would be needed to build the new station building and three platforms.

The government has already allocated Tk 36.11 crore for this purpose, he added.

Modernisation of the 174-year-old Khulna railway station was one of the demands placed by the Greater Khulna Development Action Coordination Committee (GKDACC).

It was also among the polls pledges of Awami League and BNP chiefs when they came to Khulna during campaign ahead of last national elections.