Ekota Express
Ekota Express (Train no. 705-706) is an inter-city train service of Bangladesh, running between Kamalapur Railway Station of Dhaka and Panchagarh Railway Station of Panchagarh, operated by Bangladesh Railway.
Ekota Express | |
---|---|
Overview | |
Service type | Inter-city |
Status | Active |
Current operator(s) | Bangladesh Railway |
Route | |
Start | Kamalapur Railway Station |
Stops | 18 |
End | Panchagarh Railway Station |
Distance travelled | 526 km |
Average journey time | 10 hours 45 minutes |
Service frequency | Daily |
Train number(s) | 705/706 |
On-board services | |
Class(es) | AC Cabin, AC Chair, Non AC Chair |
Seating arrangements | Yes |
Sleeping arrangements | Yes |
Catering facilities | Yes |
Baggage facilities | Yes |
Technical | |
Track gauge | Broad gauge |
Operating speed | 100 km/h |
Track owner(s) | Bangladesh Railway |
History
In 1986, a train named Ekota Express was started between Dinajpur and Dhaka. As Jamuna Bridge did no exist on that time, passengers can go from Dinajpur up to Balashi Ghat. There, they had to cross Jamuna river by ferry, and on the other side of the river, another rake of Ekota Express started up to Dhaka. Since the introduction of Jamuna Bridge, Ekota Express runs on a single rake.
On September 2, 2016, Ekota Express along with Drutojan Express were converted from meter-gauge to broad-gauge. Ekota Express has a load of 13/26 and can hold up to 1,200 passengers.[1]
Timetable
(Note: Bangladesh Railway time-table is being "updated" over time. Before reading this section, anyone should visit Bangladesh Railway's official site here to check the latest time table.)
According to 52nd Time Table (active from 10-01-2020) of Bangladesh Railway, Ekota Express train maintains the following time table:
- 705 no. Ekota Express departs Kamalapur Railway Station at 10:10 am, and reaches Panchagarh Railway Station at 09:00 pm.
- 706 no. Ekota Express departs Panchagarh Railway Station at 09:10 pm, and reaches Kamalapur Railway Station at 08:10 am.
Stoppages
Ekota Express gives stoppages at following railway stations on its way:
- Airport Railway Station
- Joydebpur Railway Station
- Tangail Railway Station
- Bangabandhu Brige East Railway Station
- Bangabandhu Brige West Railway Station
- Natore Railway Station
- Santahar Junction Railway Station
- Akkelpur Railway Station
- Joypurhat Railway Station
- Pachbibi Railway Station
- Birampur Railway Station
- Fulbari Railway Station
- Parbatipur Junction Railway Station
- Dinajpur Railway Station
- Setabganj Railway Station
- Pirganj Railway Station
- Thakurgaon Road Railway Station
- Ruhia Railway Station
Rolling Stock
Ekota Express runs on green-red colored Indonesian PT INKA made air-braked coaches with a load of 13/26. Class 6500 locomotive is usually used to haul this train.
Performance
This train is one of the fastest and luxurious train of western Bangladesh.
See also
- List of inter-city trains in Bangladesh
- Bangladesh Railway
References
- "পঞ্চগড়-ঢাকা সরাসরি ট্রেন চলাচল শুরু". প্রথম আলো (in Bengali). Retrieved 2020-05-01.