Chattala Express
Chattala Express (train no. 801/802) is an intercity train of Bangladesh operated by Bangladesh Railway. It runs between Chittagong railway station of Chittagong and Kamalapur railway station of Dhaka. On its way, it connects Feni, Comilla, Brahmanbaria, Kishoreganj, Narsingdi and Gazipur district.
| Overview | |
|---|---|
| Service type | Inter-city |
| Status | Active |
| First service | 1 November 2010 |
| Current operator(s) | Bangladesh Railway |
| Route | |
| Start | Chittagong railway station |
| Stops | 14 |
| End | Kamalapur railway station |
| Distance travelled | 346 kilometres (215 miles) |
| Average journey time | 7 hours and 25 minutes |
| Service frequency | 6 days each week (Off day: Tuesday) |
| Train number(s) | 801/802 |
| Line(s) used | |
| On-board services | |
| Class(es) |
|
| Seating arrangements | Yes |
| Sleeping arrangements | No |
| Catering facilities | On-board |
| Baggage facilities | Overhead racks |
| Technical | |
| Track gauge | 1,000 mm (3 ft 3 3⁄8 in) |
| Operating speed | 80 km/h (max) |
| Track owner(s) | Bangladesh Railway |
| Rake maintenance | Chittagong |
It was inaugurated on 1st November, 2010 as an express train.[1] It was allocated train no. 67/68. Almost 10 years later, this train was converted to intercity train on August 27, 2020, with train no. 801/802.[2] In Chttagong−Dhaka route, Subarna Express (701/702), Mohanagar Provati/Godhuli Express (703/704), Mohanagar Express (721/722), Turna Express (741/742), Sonar Bangla Express (787/788), Dhaka/Chittagong Mail (1/2) and Karnaphuli Express (3/4) also run alongside Chattala Express.
Timetable
The timetable of Bangladesh Railway is changed over the time. It is requested to visit the official website of Bangladesh Railway to check the latest timetable. The timetable below is according to the 52nd timetable of Bangladesh Railway that was effective from 10th January, 2020.
| Station | Code | Entry | Exit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chittagong | CTG | - | 08:30 |
| Kumira | 08:58 | 09:00 | |
| Feni Junction | 10:10 | 10:15 | |
| Hasanpur | 10:38 | 10:40 | |
| Nangalkot | 10:48 | 10:50 | |
| Laksham Junction | 11:07 | 11:12 | |
| Comilla | 11:52 | 11:57 | |
| Shashidal | 12:20 | 12:22 | |
| Kasba | 12:38 | 12:40 | |
| Akhaura Junction | 13:02 | 13:05 | |
| Brahmanbaria | 13:25 | 13:28 | |
| Bhairab Bazar Junction | 13:48 | 13:50 | |
| Methikanda | 14:07 | 14:09 | |
| Narsingdi | 14:26 | 14:28 | |
| Dhaka Airport | DABB | 15:10 | 15:12 |
| Kamalapur | DA | 15:50 | - |
| Station | Code | Entry | Exit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kamalapur | DA | - | 13:00 |
| Dhaka Airport | DABB | 13:27 | 13:32 |
| Narsingdi | 14:15 | 14:17 | |
| Methikanda | 14:40 | 14:42 | |
| Bhairab Bazar Junction | 14:58 | 15:00 | |
| Brahmanbaria | 15:20 | 15:22 | |
| Akhaura Junction | 15:50 | 15:53 | |
| Kasba | 16:25 | 16:27 | |
| Shashidal | 16:41 | 16:43 | |
| Comilla | 17:05 | 17:08 | |
| Laksham Junction | 17:55 | 18:00 | |
| Nangalkot | 18:16 | 18:18 | |
| Hasanpur | 18:25 | 18:27 | |
| Feni Junction | 18:50 | 18:53 | |
| Kumira | 19:59 | 20:01 | |
| Chittagong | CTG | 20:30 | - |
Rolling Stock
Chattala Express is usually hauled by a class 2700 locomotive. Sometimes, class 2600 or class 2900 locomotives are used too.
Previously, the train ran with mail green-yellow vacuum braked coaches. At first, it ran with a load of 16/32 having 514 seats. Then, the load was decreased to 12/24. It used to share its rakes with Dhaka/Chittagong Mail. Then the inter-city green-yellow vacuum braked coaches of Paharika and Udayan Express was replaced by Indonesian red-green air braked coaches. Then Chattala Express was given the older coaches of Paharika and Udayan Express. Now the train has a load of 12/24 with 580 seats. Among them, 27 are first class (seat) and 553 are non-ac chair and shovan combined. The train runs on two rakes.
Accidents
- 07/09/2019: Chattala Express avoided a fatal head-on collision with Mohanagar Express near Imambari railway station, Brahmanbaria District.[3]
- 14/11/2019: Chattala Express was supposed to pass a rail crossing in Murapara, Comilla District. Meanwhile, a loaded truck became stuck on that crossing. The loco-master stopped the train in time, avoiding a fatal collision with the truck.[4][5]
- 23/11/2019: The locomotive of Chattala Express caught fire at Tongi Junction railway station, Gazipur. No fatalities occurred.[6]
- 14/12/2019: The locomotive of Chattala Express caught fire at Lalmai railway station, Comilla. No major fatalities occurred.[7]
References
- "ঢাকা-চট্টগ্রাম রুটে নামছে নয়া আন্তঃনগর ট্রেন 'চট্টলা এক্সপ্রেস'". banglanews24.com (in Bengali). Retrieved 2020-09-06.
- "গরিবি চেহারা ছেড়ে 'চট্টলা এক্সপ্রেস' এখন বিলাসী আন্তঃনগর". Chattogram Pratidin (in Bengali). 2020-08-29. Retrieved 2020-09-06.
- "অল্পের জন্য মুখোমুখি সংঘর্ষ থেকে রক্ষা পেল চট্টলা ও মহানগর এক্সপ্রেস" [The Chattala and Mahanagar Express escaped a head-on collision for a short while]. The Daily Ittefaq (in Bengali). 2019-09-07. Retrieved 2020-09-06.
- "লেভেল ক্রসিংয়ে বিকল ট্রাক: অল্পের জন্য দুর্ঘটনা এড়ালো চট্টলা এক্সপ্রেস" [Defective truck at level crossing: Chattala Express avoided accident for a while]. Dhaka Tribune (in Bengali). 2019-11-14. Retrieved 2020-09-06.
- "এবার বড় দুর্ঘটনা থেকে রক্ষা পেল চট্টলা এক্সপ্রেস" [This time Chattala Express was saved from a big accident]. Daily Bangladesh (in Bengali). 2019-11-15. Retrieved 2020-09-06.
- "চট্টলা এক্সপ্রেস ট্রেনের ইঞ্জিনে আগুন" [The engine of the Chattala Express train caught fire]. Prothom Alo (in Bengali). 2019-11-23. Retrieved 2020-09-06.
- "কুমিল্লার লালমাই স্টেশনে 'চট্টলা এক্সপ্রেস' ইঞ্জিনে আগুন" [Fire broke out in 'Chattala Express' engine at Lalmai station in Comilla]. Chandpur Times (in Bengali). 2019-12-13. Retrieved 2020-09-06.