Mahanagar Express to Operate on New Route from Monday
The intercity Mahanagar Express will operate on a new route from Monday (October 26), extending its service beyond Dhaka and Chittagong to Cox’s Bazar. The train will also follow a new timetable from that day.
Chittagong Railway Station Manager Abu Bakar Siddique confirmed the development on Friday (October 23). According to him, Railways Minister Sheikh Robiul Alam will inaugurate the train’s first journey to Cox’s Bazar from Kamalapur Railway Station in Dhaka at 8:30pm on Monday. The train is scheduled to reach Chattogram at 3am and depart for Cox’s Bazar at 3:20am.
Sources at the Bangladesh Railway’s eastern zone said the extension of the Mahanagar Express to Cox’s Bazar would allow passengers from several stations between Dhaka and Chittagong to travel directly to the tourist destination by train. These stations include Dhaka Airport, Narsingdi, Bhairab Bazar, Ashuganj, Brahmanbaria, Akhaura, Kasba, Cumilla, Laksam, Nangalkot and Feni.
Officials expect the new service to attract more tourists to Cox’s Bazar, home to the world’s longest natural sea beach, while increasing railway revenue. Until now, the Cox’s Bazar Express and the Tourist Express have operated non-stop between Dhaka and Cox’s Bazar, leaving passengers from these districts without a direct train service to the destination.
The Mahanagar Express will have 16 coaches, with a total capacity of 706 to 736 seats. Its weekly closure day will be Sunday. Abu Bakar Siddique said all necessary preparations had been completed to launch the train service on the Dhaka–Cox’s Bazar route.
Under the new timetable, the Mahanagar Express will leave Dhaka at 8:30pm and is scheduled to reach Cox’s Bazar at 6am the following day. On its return journey, the train will depart Cox’s Bazar at 8am, reach Chittagong at 12:20pm and arrive in Dhaka at 6:30pm. Ticket sales for the new route began on October 16.
