A pair of new commuter trains named “Abhijatri Commuter” has commenced operations on Dhaka-Gopalganj-Dhaka route via Padma Bridge.
Shaikh Rabiul Alam, minister for Road Transport and Bridges, Shipping, and Railways, officially inaugurated the service at Kamalapur Railway Station in Dhaka on Monday.
According to officials, the current government is prioritising the expansion of safe, affordable, modern, and environment-friendly rail services.
In addition to establishing an effective commuter network between the capital and its surrounding areas, initiatives have also been taken to expand intercity rail services.
Despite resource constraints regarding passenger coaches and locomotives, the new commuter trains have been launched within 180 days of the administration taking office through efficient resource management.
The train service will enable office employees, students, traders, and daily commuters from Gopalganj and intermediate areas to travel to Dhaka reliably and at low cost, returning to their hometowns at the end of the working day.
This is expected to curb permanent migration to the capital, helping to ease pressure on housing, traffic congestion, and civic utility services in Dhaka.
The service is also set to boost the local economy by facilitating rapid, low-cost transport of agricultural products, vegetables, fish, and other locally produced goods from Gopalganj and nearby areas to Dhaka markets, benefiting both local producers and consumers.
The schedule released indicates that the 135 Abhijatri Commuter train will depart Dhaka at 3:30pm and reach Gopalganj at 6:45pm. Conversely, the 136 Abhijatri Commuter will depart Gopalganj at 7:15pm, arriving in Dhaka at 10:25pm.
The train consists of eight coaches with a total seating capacity of 630.
Operating on a 148-kilometre route, the train will make seven stoppages: Keraniganj, Srinagar, Mawa, Bhanga Junction, Nagarkanda, Maheshpur, and Kashiani Junction. The weekly off-day for the train service is Saturday.
On the maiden journey, Member of Parliament for Gopalganj-1 Md Selimuzzaman Mollah, Member of Parliament for Gopalganj-2 KM Babar, and Member of Parliament for Gopalganj-3 SM Jilani, travelled with the passengers from Dhaka to Gopalganj.
Also present at the inauguration ceremony were Minister of State for the Road Transport and Highways Division and Ministry of Railways Habibur Rashid, Secretary of the Ministry of Railways Md Fahimul Islam, and Director General of Bangladesh Railway Md Afzal Hossain, along with senior officials from both the Ministry and Bangladesh Railway.
