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The Bandhan Express train (Template:Lang-bn) is an international express rail service which runs between the Indian city of Kolkata and the Bangladeshi city of Khulna every week. It is the second modern day, fully air conditioned passenger train link between the Indian state of West Bengal and Bangladesh. The Bengali word Bandhan means bonding when translated to English. It was initially referred to as the Maitree Express II. A valid visa and passport is required before purchasing a ticket for the Bandhan Express train. Tickets are available at Khulna Railway Station in Bangladesh and at Chitpur Station in Kolkata, India.
History
Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modi; Prime Minister of Bangladesh, Sheikh Hasina; and Chief Minister of West Bengal, Mamata Banerjee, flagged off the Kolkata-Khulna Bandhan Express train service via video conference from Template:Rws on 9 November 2017.[1]
Naming
After the Kolkata-Dhaka Maitree Express train was operational, it was proposed to name this second India-Bangladesh train on the Kolkata-Khulna route as 'Sonartari'.[1] But the same name is used in the railways and trains of both countries and hence it was omitted. Then the names Sampritee and Bandhan were offered. Finally the name Bandhan meaning Bonding was unanimously accepted.[1]
Route
The route recreates the previous Barisal Express route. The train starts at Kolkata railway station on the Indian side, stopping at Dum Dum and Bangaon before reaching the Indian border at Petrapole. The train then crosses to Benapole on the Bangladeshi side, going through Jhikargachha & Jessore, before reaching Khulna railway station.[2][3] There are no immigration or customs checks at the international border between India and Bangladesh for this train. The immigration process is done in Kolkata and Khulna. A valid visa and passport is required before purchasing a ticket for the Bandhan Express train. Tickets are available at Khulna Railway Station in Bangladesh and at Chitpur Station in Kolkata, India.
On 8 March 2019 both Government agreed to make a 3-minute halt at Template:Rws in order to attract more passengers and 200 tickets are reserved for the passengers from Jessore station.[4][5]
Timings and frequency
Since its inauguration, the train run only on Thursday but in February 2020, the frequency was increased and now the train runs twice in a week (i.e. Sunday and Thursday).[6]
| Station | Arrival | Departure | Zone |
|---|
| Station | Arrival | Departure | Zone |
|---|
Coach composition
Pure LHB Coaches in Red-Grey (used by Rajdhani Expresses) and Sky blue-grey (used by Shatabdi Expresses) are used and manufactured in India, are used for this train.
- It comprises 4 Executive Chair (EC), 4 AC Chair car (CC) and 2 Generator cum luggage cum guard van, hence, a total of 10 coaches.
- Legends
| LRM/GD/EOG/SLR | H- | C- |
|---|---|---|
| Generator cum luggage van | Executive Chair (EC) | AC Chair Car (CC) |
- Rake composition of 13129 down Kolkata to Khulna
| Loco | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| File:BSicon LDER.svg | EOG | H1 | H2 | H3 | H4 | C1 | C2 | C3 | C4 | EOG |
- while 13130 up Khulna to Kolkata has reverse rake composition of 13130
Galley
-
Bandhan Express entering at Khulna
See also
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Template:Cite press release
- ↑ Maitree Express-II chugged across India, Bangladesh border amid cheers, applause. Indo-Asian News Service(8 April 2017). Retrieved 13 April 2017.
- ↑ Sheikh Hasina visit: Maitree Express to be made fully AC, new passenger service to be announced. The Indian Express(7 April 2017). Retrieved 13 April 2017.
- ↑ Kolkata-Khulna train: After 52 years you can now buy ticket to Bangladesh; all you need to know. India Today.
- ↑ {{{title}}}. Anandabazar Patrika. Retrieved 15 March 2019.
- ↑ {{{title}}}. Prothom Alo. Retrieved 20 February 2020.
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 Bandhan Express/13129 Time Table/Schedule: Kolkata to Khulna ER/Eastern Zone - Railway Enquiry. indiarailinfo.com. Retrieved 20 February 2020.
External links
Template:Railway lines in Eastern India Template:Railways in Bangladesh Template:Eurasian Land Bridge Template:International trains from India