Second inter-city train between N-districts, Dhaka soon

The Lalmonirhat-Dhaka service will cover Kurigram, Rangpur, Gaibandha, Bogra, Natore and Naogaon districts.

All preparations are ready for its formal inauguration and all the coaches are at Lalmonirhat now.

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March 7 may be a tentative date as the Prime Minister may be in the northern districts then. But her visit is yet to be finalised, Railway sources told this correspondent yesterday. A trial run is likely anytime before the formal inauguration.

The Divisional Railway Manager (DRM), Lalmonirhat, told this correspondent over phone that that the exact time schedule for the commercial operation is yet to be fixed.

About 500 passengers will to travel in the 11-coach train, now ready at Lalmonirhat for the trial run. Six of the coaches have been renovated at Syedpur railway workshop and the rest arranged from other railway zones.

"We expect to cover the distance the distance (Lalmonirhat to Dhaka) via Santaher and Iswardy in 10 to 11 hours" the DRM said.

Through this service, passengers will get rid of the time-consuming and troublesome ferry service between Teesta Muk Ghat and Bahadurabad Ghat, which normally takes three hours, the Gaibandha railway station master said. More time is needed during winter when the river flow decreases.