Commuters traveling on the Chattogram-Sylhet route are facing extended and irregular delays as intercity trains are consistently running hours late for several weeks.
The Paharika Express, which was scheduled to depart Chattogram at 7:50 am on March 28, eventually left around 1:30 pm, nearly six hours behind schedule. This delay is part of a pattern affecting both the Paharika and Udayan Express trains, as reported by passengers.
Ali Akbar, a private college teacher from Chattogram who frequently travels to Sylhet, highlighted the growing unreliability of the journey. He mentioned that the usual seven to eight-hour trip has now been plagued by delays, with his train often running four to five hours late.
Due to poor road conditions, especially in areas like Brahmanbaria, many passengers prefer trains as their mode of transport. However, the significant delays are causing considerable inconvenience to commuters.
Railway officials attribute the delays to various factors, including speed restrictions on deteriorating tracks, challenging terrain in hilly regions, frequent accidents, and a scarcity of locomotives. Tarek Imran, the deputy chief operating superintendent of the railway’s Eastern Zone, pointed out the poor condition of sections along the Akhaura-Sylhet line, which traverse hilly landscapes and necessitate slower train speeds, disrupting schedules.
The recent derailment of an oil tanker train in Montola, Sylhet, worsened the situation by halting operations temporarily. The shortage of engines further exacerbates the problem, with officials mentioning that additional locomotives could reduce delays significantly.
Despite the route’s popularity and profitability, with each train accommodating around 600 passengers and collectively carrying approximately 2,400 travelers daily, passengers are increasingly dissatisfied with the unreliable service.
Passengers have reported routine delays ranging from two to eight hours, severely impacting their travel plans and daily routines. Md Zakir Hossain, a stone trader from Sylhet, expressed the negative effect on his business, noting the significant delay in his arrival time due to train delays.
According to Anisur Rahman, the divisional traffic officer of Bangladesh Railway’s Chattogram division, restoring normal operating speeds is crucial to addressing the delays. He emphasized the need for repairing tracks promptly to improve train punctuality.
Efforts to reach Md Tanvirul Islam, the chief engineer of the railway’s Eastern Zone, for comments were unsuccessful, as he did not respond to multiple phone calls.
