Most trains on time as Eid rush picks up

Eid holidaymakers who chose to travel by train are leaving the capital, Dhaka, hassle free as most trains departing the Kamalapur Railway Station are on time.

However, Rangpur-bound Rangpur Express, which was due to leave Dhaka at 9:00am today, is running late as it reached the platform at 1:00pm.  

Hundreds of passengers of the Rangpur Express were waiting in the sweltering heat at the platform No. two and three of at the train station.

On the monitors hung at the platforms the possible departure time for the train is said to be 1:20pm.

With seats already confirmed on the Sylhet- bound Joyantika Express, this holidaymaker is now happily taking 'selfies' while waiting for the train to leave Kamalapur Railway Station on Saturday, June 24, 2017. Photo: Tuhin Shubhra Adhikary

“I stayed up all night to collect the tickets on the morning of June 14 and today came here at 6:30am all the way from Keraniganj. I wanted to make the journey in comfort and I am now waiting for almost 6 hours,” said Shahjul Haque, an honors student told The Daily Star.

“I am not even sure when it will arrive and when we will start,” he said.

Meanwhile, another family of five, heading for Gaibandha, has also been waiting at the platform for hours for the Rangpur Express.

“My 3 and a half year old niece is already tired and the wait is becoming more and more difficult,” said Julekha Begum, who along with her family came to the station from Meradia.

The Rangpur Express left Dhaka two hours late yesterday due to technical glitch and few other problems, Shitangshu Chakrabarty, station manager of Kamalapur Railway Station told The Daily Star.

Meanwhile, 20 trains left the station till 11:00am today with Nilshagar Express, heading for Chilahati of Panchagarh, 20 minutes late, Shitangshu said.

The Eid rush began on Thursday, the last working day before the Eid vacation, has picked up further today with huge crowds at the train station. Many were seen travelling on the train roof as well today.