The railway authorities are refunding home-bound holidaymakers on the advanced tickets purchased as the train schedules are in complete shambles.

“If anyone wants refund on their advanced tickets, they can take it,” Railways Secretary Md Mofazzel Hossain told Bangla Tribune.

“This does not apply to trains leaving today,” he said and added that the refund is applicable for passengers who bought advanced tickets for Sunday (Aug 10).

Following, the secretary’s announcement, passengers are being refunded at Kamalapur Railway Station’s counter 1-6.

Train schedules collapsed completely following the derailment of a Khulna-bound intercity train at the eastern corner of Bangabandhu Bridge on Friday (Aug 8), causing the holidaymakers to suffer with six to 10 hours delays.

Rail communication between Dhaka and the northern districts were cut off for three hours following the derailment and has consequently effected the other train routes.

According to the schedule display at Kamalapur Railway Station on Saturday, Rajshahi-bound Dhumketu Express was suppose to leave the station at 6 am in the morning. Instead, it has been delayed for eight hours, and now scheduled to leave at 2:30 pm.

Sundarban Express was also supposed to leave for Khulna at 6 am instead but has been delayed for six hours.

The schedule for Rangpur Express is still uncertain, with the train scheduled to leave at 9 am. However, up until 12 pm it hadn’t reached the station. There is a chance that it might leave the station at 5 pm but it’s not yet concrete.

“I’ve been at the station since before 6 am,” said Amir Hossain, a passenger of Dhumketu Express.

He added that the delay is causing him and his family to suffer, and said, “It would be better if the passengers are notified of the delay through mobile or online.”

Meanwhile, Kishoreganj Express was delayed for half-hour and a Panchgarh-bound train left the station at 12 pm after a two hour delay.

Padma Express that runs on the Rajshahi route was supposed to leave the station on Friday at 11:10 pm but left on Saturday 10:10 am.

Attributing the schedule-collapse to the derailment, Kamalapur Station Manager Aminul Hoque said that it won’t be possible to fix the situation before Eid.

The rail secretary, however, said that they can fix the situation to some extent on Sunday, but the passengers will be refunded if they want.