Dhaka-Siliguri train service: Talk on launch this month

A delegation of Bangladesh Railway (BR) will visit India this month to discuss preparations for introducing a passenger train service between Dhaka and Siliguri, officials said.

Led by Shahidul Islam, divisional railway manager of BR Paksey Division, an eight-member delegation would take part in the "DRM-level Coordination Meeting" to be held in New Jalpaiguri of West Bengal from February 22-24, they said.

Railways Ministry in October last year announced that Bangladesh and India were planning to introduce a passenger train service on Dhaka-Siliguri route from this March as the restoration work of Chilahati-Haldibari rail link was nearly complete.

After 55 years, rail communication between the countries via Chilahati-Haldibari route resumed in December. Freight trains were supposed to be regular since then, but that didn't happen.

Contacted, Sardar Sahadat Ali, additional director general (operations) of BR, said a railway team would visit India and talk to officials there about various issues, including the launch of the passenger train service.

Asked if the launch would be possible by March 26, he said the date would be fixed upon discussion and completion of all other work.

Shahidul told The Daily Star last night that they would discuss "operational and commercial aspects" of the Dhaka-Shiliguri passenger train and issues regarding freight train operations.

Passenger trains travel between Dhaka and Kolkata and Khulna and Kolkata, but they have been suspended since March last year due to the pandemic. Freight trains are still operating though.