Trains moving at a snail’s pace to avoid sabotage to railway tracks by BNP alliance blockaders are causing Bangladesh Railway’s timetables to fall apart, despite the railway minister’s vow to keep services running smoothly.
Railway authorities said, of the 62 scheduled departures from Kamalapur Railway Station, three intercity and two local services had been cancelled yesterday due to the slow movement of trains.
The 57 remaining services faced delays of between three and 21 hours.
The result for passengers has been long waits, changed travel plans, and, when trains were available, extremely crammed conditions.
Bangladesh Railway Managing Director Amzad Hossain told the Dhaka Tribune: “We have decided to operate train services at any cost but we have emphasised passenger security and the protection of railway assets.”
“A patrolling and piloting system has been started, meaning that pilot trains precede passenger trains to ensure that railway tracks are safe,” he said.
Amzad said: “To avoid derailments or other incidents, we have decided to slow the trains down.”
“Generally an intercity train moves at between 70 and 80 kilometres per hour, but they are now running at a maximum of 50 kilometres per hour,” he said.
Delays and cancellations
Bangladesh Railway is facing a collapse of its timetable, with virtually every train failing to leave or arrive on time.
The Chittagong-bound Turna Express, Sylhet-bound Jayantika Express, Dinajpur-bound Akata Express, Gazipur-bound Turag Local and Sirajganj-bound Sirajganj Express had been cancelled yesterday. The remaining 57 scheduled services departed three to 21 hours behind schedule.
The Chittagong-bound Mahanagar Provati, scheduled to leave at 7:40am, left the station yesterday evening at 7:30pm. The Rangpur Express left the station at 3:30pm although it was scheduled to depart at 9am.
The Tarakandi-bound Agnibina Express, which was scheduled to leave the station at 9:40am, did not even reach the station until 3:15pm. The Jamalpur-bound Jamuna Express, scheduled to leave at 8:30am reached Kamalapur Railway Station at 4:00pm.
At Kamalapur Railway Station, throngs of people were seen yesterday waiting for their trains.
Anamul Haque, a passenger, said: “We have been waiting for the Chittagong-bound Suborna Express for two hours but the train has not yet reached the station. My wife and child are weary from waiting.”
Thousands of others waited on the platform alongside Anamul and his family, some for much longer.
Incoming trains were full to the brim with passengers who had no other option for long haul travel since many bus operators had suspended their services.
