UNB, Dhaka :
The quality of services of intercity trains on different routes across the country has deteriorated with the passage of time as the railway authorities have failed to maintain the standards as promised during their launching, allege passengers.
“Bangladesh Railway introduces various luxurious inter-city train services promising better and more comfortable journeys, but it ultimately cannot maintain the standards. Excessive ticket fares are charged in the name of luxurious journeys, but the service it ultimately offers is below the standard,” said Maria Salam, hailing from Rajshahi, who frequently by Silk City Express.
To name a few, facilities offered nowadays to the passengers of Subarna Express, Mohanagar Godhuli, Mohanagar Provati and Turna-Nishitha Express on Dhaka-Chittagong route, Sundarbans Express and Chitra Express on Dhaka-Khulna route, and Silk City Express and Padma Express on Dhaka-Rajshahi route have no reflection of those promised during their launching.
Admitting the gap between the services offered in reality and the services that were in promise, Directorate General (DG) of Bangladesh Railway (BR) Amzad Hossain said lack of skilled manpower,
limited resources and ‘insensible’ behaviour of the passengers are the main reasons behind the fall in the quality of the train services. He said the railways provide an important mode of transport for everyone across the country, and are used by millions. In 2015-16 fiscal, Amzad Hossain said, BR transported some 6.73 crore passengers on different routes.
Despite such incapacities to deal with the number of passengers travelling in different routes across the country, luxurious train service Sonar Bangla Express has brought some admiration and hope for the passengers of Dhaka-Chittagong route.
On June 25, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina inaugurated the direct train service with a promise to provide faster and better service to passengers of Dhaka-Chittagong route.
‘Sonar Bangla Express’ is the second direct train service on the important Dhaka-Chittagong route as another direct inter-city train ‘Suborno Express’ was launched on the route in 1998.
Appreciating the move, some regular passengers of the route urged the Bangladesh Railway (BR) to look after the train services with much care, expressing their fear that lack of proper monitoring can lead to the degradation of quality of the service like the other long-route train services of the country.
‘Sonar Bangla Express’ has been offering some attractive features like large windows, spacious seating arrangements and quality food service, promising to make the long journeys between Dhaka and Chittagong more comfortable. BR director (Traffic) Zahirul Haque said there are 16 compartments in Sonar Bangla Express and of them eight air-conditioned ones.
A passenger has to spend Tk 600-100 to enjoy the facilities of the air-conditioned compartments, Zahriul added while talking to UNB. Besides, its dining car serves a food package to each commuter costing Tk 195 which is included with the cost of the ticket, the BR director said. Bangladesh Parjatan Corporation caters to the food service, he added.
The quality of services of intercity trains on different routes across the country has deteriorated with the passage of time as the railway authorities have failed to maintain the standards as promised during their launching, allege passengers.
“Bangladesh Railway introduces various luxurious inter-city train services promising better and more comfortable journeys, but it ultimately cannot maintain the standards. Excessive ticket fares are charged in the name of luxurious journeys, but the service it ultimately offers is below the standard,” said Maria Salam, hailing from Rajshahi, who frequently by Silk City Express.
To name a few, facilities offered nowadays to the passengers of Subarna Express, Mohanagar Godhuli, Mohanagar Provati and Turna-Nishitha Express on Dhaka-Chittagong route, Sundarbans Express and Chitra Express on Dhaka-Khulna route, and Silk City Express and Padma Express on Dhaka-Rajshahi route have no reflection of those promised during their launching.
Admitting the gap between the services offered in reality and the services that were in promise, Directorate General (DG) of Bangladesh Railway (BR) Amzad Hossain said lack of skilled manpower,
limited resources and ‘insensible’ behaviour of the passengers are the main reasons behind the fall in the quality of the train services. He said the railways provide an important mode of transport for everyone across the country, and are used by millions. In 2015-16 fiscal, Amzad Hossain said, BR transported some 6.73 crore passengers on different routes.
Despite such incapacities to deal with the number of passengers travelling in different routes across the country, luxurious train service Sonar Bangla Express has brought some admiration and hope for the passengers of Dhaka-Chittagong route.
On June 25, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina inaugurated the direct train service with a promise to provide faster and better service to passengers of Dhaka-Chittagong route.
‘Sonar Bangla Express’ is the second direct train service on the important Dhaka-Chittagong route as another direct inter-city train ‘Suborno Express’ was launched on the route in 1998.
Appreciating the move, some regular passengers of the route urged the Bangladesh Railway (BR) to look after the train services with much care, expressing their fear that lack of proper monitoring can lead to the degradation of quality of the service like the other long-route train services of the country.
‘Sonar Bangla Express’ has been offering some attractive features like large windows, spacious seating arrangements and quality food service, promising to make the long journeys between Dhaka and Chittagong more comfortable. BR director (Traffic) Zahirul Haque said there are 16 compartments in Sonar Bangla Express and of them eight air-conditioned ones.
A passenger has to spend Tk 600-100 to enjoy the facilities of the air-conditioned compartments, Zahriul added while talking to UNB. Besides, its dining car serves a food package to each commuter costing Tk 195 which is included with the cost of the ticket, the BR director said. Bangladesh Parjatan Corporation caters to the food service, he added.
