The West Zone of Bangladesh Railway has launched “Tungipara Express” on Rajshshi-Gopalgonj route for convenience of the passengers in general on the route.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has declared the train opens through a video conference on Thursday.
For the first time, the intercity train left Rajshahi station at 3pm on Friday for Gopalgonj. Mayor of Rajshahi City Corporation (RCC) AHM Khairuzzaman Liton accompanied by the railway high officials was present at the station on the occasion.
Earlier at 1.30 pm, the train reached here via Ishwardi Junction when it left Gobra Railway Station in Gopalgonj at 6.45 am making a 256-kilometer journey in six hours.
Golam Mostofa, station superintendent, told BSS that the train will run on the route every day except Monday and Tuesday.
The zone has constructed a 55-kilomter new railway track from Kasiani to Tungipara via Gopalgonj and renovated another 82-kilomter line from Kalukhali to Bhatiapara with a total cost of around Tk 11 billion. There are 14 stations and 120 bridges on the route, said Executive Engineer Mustafizur Rahman.
The new railway line has ensured connection between the project area people with the existing railway network along with expanding the facilities of passenger movement and goods transportation.
Engineer Rahman said the west zone has been implementing four mega projects at a total cost of around Taka 18 billion aiming at bringing dynamism in the railway transportation along with boosting quality of services.
The zone, covering Rajshahi, Rangpur and Khulna divisions, has been operating 133 trains, including 42 intercity, on different routes including the capital city at present.
Forty-seven locals or shuttle and 46 commuter or mail trains are also being operated on various routes which are very popular among the passengers.