Persistent train delays become travellers’ bane

Train schedule problems faced by passengers travelling home for Eid have persisted into the day before the Islamic festival.

Some trains leaving Dhaka’s Kamalapur Station on Tuesday were delayed by three to five hours, leaving travellers waiting on the platform for extended periods.

Women, children and the elderly were especially affected. They have had to battle to get on trains amid the rush of people, reports bdnews24.com.

According to the schedule, 53 trains were to depart Kamalapur Rail Station on Tuesday on their way to various destinations across the country. Five ‘special trains’ were also scheduled.

In addition to the trouble caused by the train delays, the rail authorities have been floundering in their attempts to handle the rush of Eid travellers.

The ‘Eid Special’ Lalmoni Express bound for Lalmonirhat was to set off at 9:15am. The train finally departed the station platform at 12pm, but was recalled by authorities after it was determined that one carriage was overburdened with passengers. The train finally departed at1:15pm after some passengers were brought down from the roof.

“I had a standing ticket,” said Abu Bakr, who was forced to get off. “But I had to get on the roof because there was no space in the carriages. Then they forced us to get down. I don’t know how I’ll get home.”

“We keep telling passengers not to ride on the rooftops of the trains,” said Kamalapur Station Manager Sitangshu Chakrabarty. “But they aren’t listening to anything we say. We are unable to control them.”

The train scheduling problems have contributed to the extra rush of passengers.

“There are more delays as it is taking longer for people to board and disembark at the stops. Instead of taking five minutes, it is taking 15-30. Trains also travel at slower speed when they are more crowded. So it is taking more time to complete the trips.”

Even though the Rajshahi-bound Dhumketu Express was to leave Dhaka at 6am, it finally left the station at 11:30am. The Sundarban Express for Khulna, scheduled to depart at 6:20am, left at 10:30am.

The Rangpur Express, scheduled to leave Dhaka at 9am, did not arrive at Kamalapur until1:15pm. Passengers on the Chilahati-bound Nilsagar Express, set to depart at 8am, were still waiting for the train at 1pm.

Rahima Akhtar, who works in the private sector, says she is bound for Rangpur with her husband and mother-in-law and expressed her irritation at the delays.

“My mother-in-law is in poor health and now she has fallen ill. If I had known that this would be the state of the station, we would have stayed.”

Fahad Bin Alam is also bound for Rangpur.

“I bought my ticket 13 days ago,” he said. “Today I am truly peeved.”