Railway schedule disrupted after strike

Train services have resumed across the country after the Bangladesh Railway running staff called off their strike, but the work stoppage has led to disruptions of the rail schedule.

Authorities have cancelled the Jayantika Express train on the Sylhet route and the Burimari Express train on the Burimari route due to a lack of train carriages in Dhaka.

As of 10:00 am on Wednesday, 10 trains had left Dhaka’s Kamalapur Railway Station, including the Dhumketu Express on the Rajshahi route, the Joydebpur Commuter, the Sonar Bangla Express, the Cox’s Bazar-bound Parjatak Express, and the Teesta Express.

Each train left an hour after the scheduled time, with the Parabat Express – which was set to leave at 6:30 am but had not left as of 10am - suffering the longest delay, reports bdnews24.com.

The Mahua Commuter was scheduled to depart at 8:15am, the Karnaphuli Commuter on the Chattogram route at 8:45 am, and the Rangpur Express at 9:10 am. However, the trains had not departed as of 10:00 am.

The Dewanganj-bound Teesta Express was to set off at 7:30 am, but left Kamalapur at 9:50 am.

Passengers were waiting for trains on the platforms at the station, but there wasn’t a major rush due to the work stoppage on Tuesday.

Rabeya Begum, a passenger of the Parabat Express headed for Sylhet, said, "There was a train scheduled for 6:30 am. Knowing that it would be late, I came to the station at 8:00 am. However, the train has not left yet. They say it will leave after 10:00 am."

Parabat Express passenger Joynal Abedin said, "I heard in the morning that the strike has been lifted. I came to the station at 5am, but the train has not left. I have been waiting all this time."

Kamalapur Station Manager Md Shahadat Hossain said that efforts are being made to run the trains according to the schedule, but time is needed to prepare the trains before they leave.

"It takes some time to start the train's engine, clean the coaches and get them ready. Due to this, the trains are delayed. The rakes of the Jayantika Express and Burimari Express trains are not in Dhaka, they are at the stations on the other end of the line. When the rakes arrive, they will depart from Dhaka. That is why the trips of those two trains have been cancelled."

The Chattala Express, a Dhaka-bound inter-district train, started at 8:10 am from Chattogram Railway Station, while the Paharika Express bound for Sylhet left the station at 8:40 am, Eastern Railway officers said.

However, the Subarno Express, scheduled to leave for Dhaka at 7:30 am, was delayed and left the Chattogram Railway Station at 9:05 am.

Mymensingh Railway Station Superintendent Nazmul Haque Khan said that passengers have been relieved of their suffering as train services have resumed since the morning. Although there is some disruption in the schedule, railway workers are trying to overcome it.

The Chattogram-bound Mymensingh Express left Mymensingh Railway Station at 7:30am, followed by the Dhaka-bound Jamalpur Commuter from Jamalpur, another Mymensingh Express train left for Bhuapur at 8:00 am, and the Haor Express left for Mohanganj at 8:40 am.

Dhaka-bound passenger Shafiqul Islam said, "Although the train services have restarted, the schedule has been disrupted. Every train is arriving at the station about 30-40 minutes late. Even then, it is a relief that train services have resumed. We passengers are happy if things return to normal."

Train services across the country were suspended on Tuesday due to a strike called by railway running staff from 12 am on Tuesday.

Early on Wednesday morning, the running staff announced the strike would be lifted following assurances that their demands would be met.