Rail services on the newly built railway line via the Padma Bridge will launch on December 24, linking Dhaka with Khulna. Two new passenger train pairs will operate on the Dhaka-Kashiani-Khulna and Dhaka-Kashiani-Benapole routes, marking the official inauguration of rail travel on the Dhaka-Jashore-Khulna-Benapole section via the Padma Bridge.
According to railway officials, the new line has shortened the Dhaka-Khulna distance by 212 kilometers. The travel time between Dhaka and Khulna or Benapole will now be around three hours and forty-five minutes, compared to the current nine and a half hours via the Bangabandhu Jamuna Bridge.
The Ministry of Railways has announced that the “Jahanabad Express” on the Khulna-Dhaka-Khulna route and the “Ruposhi Bangla Express” on the Benapole-Dhaka-Benapole route will operate daily except on Mondays. Both trains will run twice daily in each direction, featuring 12 coaches with a total seating capacity of 768.
“Jahanabad Express” will depart from Khulna at 6:00 AM, reaching Dhaka by 9:45 AM. On its return trip, it will leave Dhaka at 8:00 PM and arrive in Khulna at 11:40 PM. The train will stop at Noapara, Singia Junction, Lohagara, Kashiani Junction, and Bhanga Junction.
“Ruposhi Bangla Express” will leave Dhaka at 10:45 AM, reaching Benapole in Jashore by 2:30 PM. On the return trip, it will depart from Benapole at 3:30 PM and arrive in Dhaka at 7:10 PM. The train will make stops at Jashore Junction, Narail, Kashiani Junction, and Bhanga Junction.
Currently, the journey from Dhaka to Khulna via Tangail-Ishwardi takes 9 hours and 30 minutes, while the trip to Benapole via Rajbari takes 7 hours and 35 minutes. The new train services will drastically reduce travel times, saving approximately 5 hours and 35 minutes to Khulna and around 4 hours to Benapole.
Tickets will be available starting December 21 at 8:00 PM through station counters, online services, and mobile apps.
The Ministerial Advisor for the Ministry of Railways, Muhammad Fawzul Kabir Khan, will formally inaugurate the two new train services on December 24.
Source: Jamuna Tv
