The Hindu Business Line : Maitree Express to be flagged off

The first passenger train service between India and Bangladesh is being launched today, the Bengali New Year’s Day. Maitree Express, to run between Kolkata and Dhaka Cantonment, is to be flagged off in the presence of top dignitaries of Union, West Bengal and Bangladesh Governments. The distance of 406 km will be covered in 13 hours. The customs and immigration checking at the Gede (India)-Darshana (Bangladesh) border point, it is felt, will take several hours. The t rain to be run by the Indian Railways will offer 368 seats, spread over six coaches comprising one air-conditioned (AC) first class, one AC chair car, two non-AC compartments, one SLR (second class-cum-luggage van-cum-guard van) compartment and the pantry car. The train to be run by Bangladesh Railways will have 418 seats, due to different configuration of the coaches. The fares will be rupee equivalent of $20, $12 and $8 depending on the class. The trains will run on diesel engines. There will be two services every week — on Saturday and Sunday. Indian Railway Catering & Tourism Corporation will serve food on board to suit the Bengali palate. It may be noted that freight service between the two countries has been in force for quite some time through three border points — Petrapole-Benapole and Gede-Darshana under Eastern Railway and Singhabad-Rohanpur under Northeast Frontier Railway.

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