Banalata Express
The Banalata Express is a Bangladeshi Intercity train (Train no. 791/792) which runs between Chapainawabganj and Dhaka under Bangladesh Railway.[1][2]
| Overview | |
|---|---|
| Service type | Non stop train |
| First service | 25 April 2019 |
| Current operator(s) | Bangladesh Railway |
| Route | |
| Start | Dhaka |
| Stops | 4 |
| End | Chapainawabganj |
| Distance travelled | 316 km (196 mi) |
| Average journey time | 5 hr 50 minutes |
| Service frequency | Six days each week (Friday off) |
| On-board services | |
| Class(es) | AC First Class and AC Chair Car |
| Seating arrangements | Yes |
| Sleeping arrangements | Yes |
| Auto-rack arrangements | Yes |
| Catering facilities | Yes |
| Entertainment facilities | No |
| Technical | |
| Track gauge | Broad Gauge |
History
A new passenger train with modern facilities connected the Bangladeshi capital Dhaka with its northern city of Rajshahi on 25 April 2019. After few days this train route extended up to Chapainawabganj. Now its running Chapainawabganj-Rajashahi to Dhaka. The train has modern facilities like bio-toilet, recliner chair, Wi-Fi connections, LED display, and save at least one and a half hour journey time than those of the existing three express trains plying between Dhaka and Rajshahi.
Naming
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Thursday inaugurated the train Bonolota Express named after a famous Bangla poem Bonolota Sen by renowned poet Jibanananda Das.
Timetable
The timetable below is according to the 52nd timetable of Bangladesh Railway that was effective from 10 January 2020.
| Train
no. |
Source | Departure | Destination | Arrival | Weekly
holiday |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 791 | Kamalapur | 13:30 | Chapai Nawabganj | 19:30 | Friday |
| 792 | Chapai Nawabganj | 06:00 | Kamalapur | 11:30 |
Coach composition
The 928 seated ultramodern and high speed train with 12 coaches including two air-conditioned chairs and seven non-air conditioned chairs are running on the route without any stoppage between Dhaka and Rajshahi.[3] It has 12 coaches, imported from Indonesia recently, and two engines, imported from India in 2013. It was taken to Rajshahi from Ishwardi junction on April 23.[4] Bangladesh Railways procured 50 high-speed and modern coaches from Indonesia for new trains on different routes, including the Rajshahi-Dhaka route.[5]
References
- "Bonolota Express Train Schedule, Time Table, Off Day". 21 April 2019.
- https://bd-info.com/bonolota-express-schedule-rent/
- https://newsnextbd.com/?p=7054
- https://www.thedailystar.net/city/news/bonolota-express-starts-journey-1735111
- https://www.msn.com/en-xl/news/other/pm-opens-first-ever-non-stop-train-service-on-dhaka-rajshahi-route/ar-BBWgGW0
External links
Media related to Banalata Express at Wikimedia Commons