Dhaka-Gopalganj direct train rolls out amid schedule ‘frustration’

Commuter train service between Dhaka and Gopalganj has finally launched after a long wait, though passengers have voiced disappointment over its schedule.

The "Ovijatri Commuter" train left Kamalapur Railway Station at 3:30pm on Monday and reached Gopalganj Railway Station at 7:10pm.

Following a formal ceremony, it departed for the capital again at 8:05pm.

Ratna Baidya, station master at Gopalganj Railway Station, said the train will run six days a week, skipping Saturdays.

It offers 609 seats, with the fare set at Tk 145 between Gopalganj and Dhaka.

Under the fixed schedule, the train will leave Dhaka daily at 3:30pm and reach Gopalganj by 6:45pm, then depart Gopalganj at 7:15pm to reach Dhaka around 10:30pm.

The roughly three-and-a-half-hour journey includes stops at nine stations.

Among the first day's passengers were Gopalganj-1 MP Salimuzzaman Salim, Gopalganj-3 MP SM Jelari, and Gopalganj-2 MP KM Babar.

They later inaugurated the service at a ceremony held at Gopalganj Railway Station.

Plans for rail connectivity in Gopalganj began in 2010.

The Rajbari-Gopalganj-Tungipara railway was inaugurated in November 2018, following construction and renovation work.

The Tk 21.1 billion project led to the launch of a Gopalganj-Rajshahi train service, though a direct Dhaka-Gopalganj passenger train did not follow at the time.

Direct rail links between Gopalganj and Dhaka became possible only after the Dhaka-Bhanga line opened under the Padma Bridge rail connectivity project.

That possibility finally materialised on Monday with the launch of the “Ovijatri Commuter”, after years of anticipation.

The long-awaited launch created a festive atmosphere in the Gopalganj station, with many passengers arriving early to catch the inaugural service.

Crowds swelled at the station through the afternoon.

Local residents say the direct train will make Dhaka-Gopalganj travel easier and cheaper, though the schedule has sparked disappointment.

Mataleb Fakir, a fish trader from Golabaria Union in Gopalganj Sadar Upazila, said: "If the train left Gopalganj in the morning, we could take our fish and produce to Dhaka and still return the same day.

"But with an evening departure, we'll have to stay overnight in Dhaka, which means hotel costs and worrying about the fish going bad. A morning departure would have benefited traders and many others."

Md Zakir Hossain of Khatiagarh Union in Gopalganj Sadar Upazila arrived at the station with his wife to catch the inaugural train to Dhaka.

He said, "Some feelings can't be put into words. After such a long wait, we're thrilled and overjoyed that a train from Gopalganj to Dhaka has finally started.

“My wife and I are travelling to Dhaka for some work, so we bought two tickets for the first day's train.

"Our demand is for another morning train alongside the current one, or a change to the existing schedule. This isn't just my wish, it's what the people of Gopalganj have wanted for a long time."

Shabnur Khanam, a third-year honours student at Gopalganj Government College, said: "Students stand to benefit the most from this Dhaka-Gopalganj train. We often need to travel to Dhaka for job exams and other purposes.

“A bus fare costs around Tk 500, but the train will cost just Tk 145. This cuts costs and lowers the risk of missing exams due to traffic jams."

"But a morning departure from Gopalganj to Dhaka would have suited students and women passengers better,” she added. “Adjusting the schedule to arrive in Dhaka before evening would make things far more convenient for us."

Station Master Ratna said that despite passengers' mixed feelings about the schedule, the affordable rail link will benefit people travelling to Dhaka for education, medical treatment, business and other needs.