Rail travel time to reduce

We are happy to note that Bangladesh Railway has introduced double tracks on another long stretch of Dhaka-Chittagong route which will reduce travel time between the two cities by more than two hours. Chittagong is the second largest city in the country and a major hub of both trade and tourism and the upgrading of this very important route is welcome news. We hope the remaining of the tracks would be double-tracked soon. This, we are sure, will attract more people to use the rail service and reduce the pressure on the highways. 

That the railway is finally being prioritised that can service hundreds of passengers and a huge volume of goods faster is good news for commuters and businessmen. And while we applaud the government's efforts to better the railway infrastructure, it is hoped that improvements of the railway is not limited to better infrastructure only. The service has been plagued by unsatisfactory timekeeping, decrepit carriages, and a poor safety record. Needless to say, these factors have kept the railway off as the first choice for travelling long distances. With trains now able to ply simultaneously between the capital city and Chittagong, it is time for the concerned ministry to look into making railway more efficient.

Railway, in other countries in the region, plays a pivotal role in moving bulk goods. As Chittagong is also the largest port of the country, we would expect the necessary financial allocations to make use of appropriate technology in upgrading the signalling system, appointing requisite linesmen at crucial junctions and an overall improvement in the quality of service to support the newly expanded service.