Bangladesh's new railway line struggles with just one daily train
The Dhaka-Narail-Khulna railway line officially opened in December 2024, linking Bangladesh's capital to its south-western regions. Despite the major investment, only one train currently serves both routes, leaving passengers with limited options for travel.
The Padma Bridge Rail Link Project, costing around Tk 39,246 crore, was funded jointly by Bangladesh (Tk 18,210 crore) and China (Tk 21,036 crore). It connected the southern and south-western parts of the country to the national rail network for the first time.
A single train, operating under two names—*Ruposhi Bangla* and *Jahanabad*—covers both the Dhaka-Khulna and Dhaka-Benapole routes. The *Jahanabad Express* departs Khulna at 6:00am, reaches Narail by 7:15am, and continues as *Ruposhi Bangla* from Benapole. From Narail, the journey to Dhaka's Kamalapur Railway Station takes about two and a half hours. Since the line's launch, no additional services have been announced. Passengers face long waits, with no overnight trains available. Many must stay in Narail or Khulna until morning if they miss the only daily service. Local residents have repeatedly called for more frequent trains to reduce travel delays. Currently, travellers have no alternative but to rely on this single schedule, often leading to overcrowding and extended waiting times.
The new rail link has improved connectivity, but the lack of extra trains creates ongoing challenges. Without further services, passengers will continue to face restricted travel options and lengthy delays. Officials have yet to confirm any plans for expanding the timetable.
