Mitali Express
Overview | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Service type | AC Express, | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
First service | 27 March 2021 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Current operator(s) | Bangladesh Railway, Indian Railways | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Route | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Start | New Jalpaiguri (NJP) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Stops | 3 (technical halt only) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
End | Dhaka Cantonment | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Distance travelled | 524 km (326 mi)[1] | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Average journey time | 11 hours 20 mins | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Service frequency | Bi-Weekly | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
On-board services | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Class(es) | Executive Class (EC) AC Chair Car (CC) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Seating arrangements | Yes | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Sleeping arrangements | Yes | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Catering facilities | Yes | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Observation facilities | LHB rake | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Entertainment facilities | No | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Technical | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Track gauge | Broad gauge1,676 mm (5 ft 6 in) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Operating speed | 45.19 km/h (28.08 mph) with halts | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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The Mitali Express train (Bengali: মিতালী এক্সপ্রেস) is an international express rail service which runs between the Indian city of Siliguri and the Bangladeshi capital Dhaka every week. It is the third modern-day fully air conditioned passenger train link between the Indian state of West Bengal and Bangladesh. Both the prime ministers of the two neighboring countries officially inaugurated the non-stop passenger train with ten compartments on the new 513 km route from Dhaka on 26 March 2021, the day Bangladesh celebrated the golden jubilee of its independence. The prime minister of India was in Dhaka to mark the auspicious occasion of fifty years of independence of Bangladesh. After 56 years of stoppage, this train route recreates the previous Siliguri route between India and Bangladesh.[2] A valid visa and passport is required beforehand to purchase a ticket for the Mitali Express train. Tickets are available at Cantonment railway station in Dhaka, Bangladesh and at New Jalpaiguri railway station in Siliguri, India.[3]
History[]
The Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modi, together with the Prime Minister of Bangladesh, Sheikh Hasina, jointly flagged off the New Jalpaiguri to Dhaka Mitali Express train service via video conference from Dhaka on 26 March 2021.[4] Prime Minister Modi was in Dhaka to celebrate the fifty years of Independence of Bangladesh.
The train service was inaugurated on the occasion of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman's birth centenary and the golden jubilee (fifty years) of Independence of Bangladesh.[1]
Naming[]
Railway officials proposed four different names to the Prime Minister of Bangladesh for the name of the new train. These were Mitali, Sampriti, Suhrid and Bondhu. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina chose the name Mitali. Mitali Express similar to Maitree Express and Bandhan Express is a Bengali name. The Bengali word Mitali means Friendship in English (Bengali: বন্ধুত্ব).[5]
Route[]
The train starts at Dhaka Cantonment railway station on the Bangladesh side, stopping at Parbatipur and Chilahati and then crosses the border to Haldibari. The distance between Dhaka and Chilahati is 453 km and from Chilahati to New Jalpaiguri is 71 km.[1] Two extra coaches are added at Chilhati for passengers travelling from that area to India. The train then crosses the Indian side, stopping at Haldibari before reaching New Jalpaiguri railway station.[6]
Timings and frequency[]
Since its inauguration, the Bi-weekly train runs on Mondays and Thursdays from Dhaka Cantonment, and from New Jalpaiguri on Sundays and Wednesdays.[6]
Timings as of now are: –
Train No. | Station | Arrival | Departure | Zone |
---|---|---|---|---|
13131 | New Jalpaiguri | – | 08:40 | NFR |
Dhaka Cantonment | 20:00 | – | BR |
Train No. | Station | Arrival | Departure | Zone |
---|---|---|---|---|
13132 | Dhaka Cantonment | – | 07:25 | BR |
New Jalpaiguri | 18:45 | – | NFR |
Coach composition[]
The train has 10 coaches. 4 AC Cabins, 4 AC Chair Car and 2 power car brake vans.[1]
See also[]
- Maitree Express
- Bandhan Express
- Transport between India and Bangladesh#Rail links
References[]
- ^ a b c d Bhandari, Shashwat (27 March 2021). "PM Modi, Hasina jointly launch new passenger train between India and Bangladesh". India TV. Retrieved 11 April 2021.
- ^ "Dhaka-New Jalpaiguri train fare fixed at Tk2,200". Dhaka Tribune. 9 March 2021.
- ^ "'Mitali Express' to be announced on Saturday". The Daily Star. 23 March 2021. Retrieved 11 April 2021.
- ^ "Hasina and Modi to inaugurate 'Mitali Express' train today". The Business Standard. 27 March 2021. Retrieved 27 March 2021.
- ^ "Mitali Express for Jalpaiguri on Monday, Thursday". Daily Bangladesh. Retrieved 11 April 2021.
- ^ a b "'Mitali Express' to be announced on Saturday". The Daily Star. 23 March 2021. Retrieved 27 March 2021.
External links[]
- Named passenger trains of Bangladesh
- Named passenger trains of India
- International named passenger trains
- Bangladesh–India relations
- Rail transport in West Bengal
- Transport in Dhaka
- Transport in Siliguri