File Photo

CHATTOGRAM, Jan 12, 2025 (BSS) – Two regular trains ‘Saikat Express’ and ‘Prabal Express’ will start running on the Chattogram-Cox’s Bazar route by this month.

Railway officials said both the trains will have 16 coaches each. The number of seats will be 743 and a total of 2,972 passengers will be able to travel every day.

In a letter from the Ministry of Railway sent to the Railway authorities here said two pairs of trains have been proposed to be named ‘Prabal Express’ and ‘Saikat Express’.

The ministry has fixed the names of the two trains and issued a letter of approval on Thursday for the movement from this month

Talking to BSS, Engineer Md Sabuktogeen, General Manager (GM) of Railway Eastern Region, said “We have decided to run two pairs of trains on the Chattagram-Cox’s Bazar route by this month.

“We will decide the exact opening date and schedule time in a meeting to be held on Monday (tomorrow),” he said adding that there will be a discussion on how to reduce train time for passengers' relief.

 Abu Bakkar Siddique, assistant chief operating officer of Eastern Railway, told BSS that although ‘Saikat Express’ and ‘Probal Express' trains are non-AC, But there will be first-class cabins, first-class chairs and luxury chairs.

“It will take four hours to go to Cox’s Bazar from Chattogram. The train will stop at major stations. It will run like an intercity train. We will also add food cars on both the trains”, he said.

Saikat Express will leave Chattogram at 6.15 am and to reach Cox’s Bazar at 9.55 am while the Prabal Express will leave from Chattogram at 3.10 pm and reach Cox’s Bazar at 7.00 pm.

On the other hand Prabal Express will leave Cox’s Bazar at 10.35 am and will reach Chattogram at 2.15 pm and Saikat Express will leave Cox’s Bazar station at 8.15 pm and will reach Chattogram at 11.50 pm.

Saikat Express will break at 8 stations. These are Sholoshahar, Janalihat, Patiya, Dohazari, Satkania, Chakaria, Dulhazra and Ramu.

The ‘Prabal Express’ will break at 10 stations. The stations are Sholoshahar, Gumdandi, Patiya, Dohazari, Satkania, Lohagara, Chakaria, Dulhazra, Islamabad and Ramu. These two trains will remain closed every Monday.