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The Dhaka Mass Transit Company Limited (DMTCL) plans to extend the operating hours of Metro Rail by 30 minutes, allowing services to run until 11:00pm from September.
Currently, the last train from Motijheel to Uttara departs at 10:30pm, while the final train from Uttara leaves at 9:50pm. However, there is no immediate plan to change the morning schedule, officials said.
The authorities also plan to introduce two additional trains by the end of August to improve services for commuters, particularly during the evening rush.
According to the existing schedule, the first train leaves Uttara for Motijheel at 6:30am, while the first train from Motijheel to Uttara departs at 7:15am.
DMTCL sources said specialised training for locomotive operators and drivers required to operate the additional trains is in its final stage and is expected to be completed by August 26. The arrangement is intended to expand passenger services without disrupting mandatory nightly maintenance work.
With the addition of two trains, the interval between late-evening services is expected to fall from the current 20 minutes to around seven to eight minutes. The move could allow about 10,000 additional passengers to use the metro rail system each day.
DMTCL Director Md Nazrul Islam confirmed the decision to increase the number of night trains and said the formal launch date would be finalised shortly.
He said increasing the fleet would significantly reduce the interval between trains, while preparations are already underway to extend metro rail operating hours from September.