Railway to operate special trains on Dhaka-Cox's Bazar route during Durga Puja holidays
In anticipation of increased demand during the Durga Puja and weekly holidays, the Bangladesh Railway has decided to operate seven additional special passenger trains on the Dhaka-Cox's Bazar route.
These trains will run from 10 October to 13 October, supplementing the two regular trains already operating on the route. The director general of Bangladesh Railway approved the proposal for the special service yesterday (3 October).
"The Bangladesh Railway always considers passenger demand when planning operations. Due to the long holiday, we expect high demand for travel to Cox's Bazar and will operate seven special trains," said Railway's Eastern Zone Chief Commercial Officer Md Mahbubur Rahman.
According to Railway officials, holidays during the Durga Puja and the weekend are expected to lead to a surge in travel to the popular tourist destination, Cox's Bazar. Many passengers have already applied for tickets for the night train departing on 10 October.
According to the plan, the night train will have 518 seats, including seven AC berths, one first-class berth, four AC chair coaches, and several regular seating options. During daytime operations, the seat count will increase to 634 as sleeper coaches will be converted into regular seating. The train will depart from Dhaka at 11pm on 10 October and reach Cox's Bazar by 7:30am the following morning.
Cox's Bazar Express, an intercity service, began operations on 1 December 2023, followed by the launch of the Tourist Express on 1 January 2024. Both trains offer stops in Chattogram and have designated coaches for Chattogram passengers.