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The journey time of Maitree Express between Dhaka and Kolkata could be reduced by around three hours to six hours if the cross-border passenger train is rerouted through the Padma Bridge-Benapole corridor instead of the existing Jamuna Bridge-Darsana route, officials said.
The proposed route could also reduce the passenger fare by around Tk 1,000, making the train a more convenient alternative to air travel between the two cities, according to sources familiar with the matter.
The Maitree Express, which connects Bangladesh and India, was suspended on July 19, 2024, amid security concerns.
Despite recent political tensions between the two neighbouring countries, the number of Bangladeshi tourists travelling to India has increased significantly. Preliminary data from India’s Ministry of Tourism showed that more than 74,000 Bangladeshis travelled to India in August, nearly 80 percent higher than in the corresponding period of the previous year.
On September 9, Railways Minister Shaikh Rabiul Alam informed Parliament that freight train services were currently operating between Bangladesh and India, while initiatives were being taken to resume passenger train services with the neighbouring country.
Railway Ministry Additional Secretary Ziaul Haque told reporters after a recent three-day inter-governmental railway meeting that no decision had yet been taken to resume the suspended cross-border passenger train services.
Officials said the two sides were reviewing the possibility of restarting the services.
The Maitree Express was jointly launched by Bangladesh and India in April 2008 on the occasion of the Bengali New Year, restoring passenger rail connectivity between the two countries that had been disrupted in 1965.
The cross-border service has since served as an important mode of transport for passengers travelling between Bangladesh and India, particularly for tourism, trade, business and medical treatment.
According to Bangladesh Railway sources, 288,360 passengers travelled on the Maitree Express between FY2022-23 and July 19, 2024. Available records show that around 95 percent of the passengers were from Bangladesh.
The train maintained an average occupancy rate of 80 to 85 percent, while occupancy exceeded 95 percent during major holidays such as Eid and Durga Puja, reflecting strong demand among Bangladeshi passengers.
Under the existing arrangement for cross-border passenger train operations, Bangladesh Railway receives 75 percent of the apportioned earnings from Maitree Express passenger bookings, while the remaining 25 percent goes to Indian Railways.
Before its suspension, the Maitree Express operated through the Tangail-Jamuna Bridge-Ishwardi-Darsana route, covering around 392 kilometres between Dhaka and Kolkata.
According to the approved timetable, the train departed Dhaka at 8:15am and was scheduled to reach Kolkata at 4pm, taking seven hours and 45 minutes. On the return journey, it departed Kolkata’s Chitpur Terminal Station at 7:10am and was scheduled to arrive in Dhaka at 3:35pm, taking eight hours and 25 minutes.
In practice, however, the journey could take more than nine to 10 hours because of congestion on the railway network, particularly along the Dhaka-Ishwardi-Darsana section.
The opening of the Padma Bridge railway route in December 2024 created an alternative corridor for trains travelling towards the southwestern region and the Benapole border.
The new route has significantly reduced the distance and travel time between Kamalapur and Benapole.
While trains previously took more than eight hours for the journey, Ruposhi Bangla Express now covers the route in around three hours and four minutes, according to railway sources.
Railway officials believe the Maitree Express could similarly benefit if it is rerouted through Padma Bridge and Benapole instead of the Jamuna Bridge-Darsana corridor.
