Ekota Express
Ekota Express (Bengali: একতা এক্সপ্রেস) (train no. 705/706) is an inter-city passenger train service of Bangladesh that runs between Kamalapur railway station of Dhaka District and Bir Muktijoddha Sirajul Islam railway station of Panchagarh District.
| Ekota Express | |
|---|---|
| Overview | |
| Service type | Inter-city passenger |
| Status | Operating |
| Route | |
| Start | Kamalapur railway station |
| End | Bir Muktijoddha Sirajul Islam railway station |
| Distance travelled | 593[1] or 639 km[2] |
| Train number(s) | 705/706 |
| Technical | |
| Track gauge | Broad gauge[3] |
| 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 2 September 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.
On 16 December 2016, railway coaches of Ekota Express along with Drutojan Express were changed with newer ones imported from Indonesia.[3]
On 11 November 2018, the route of Ekota and Drutojan Express were extended from Dhaka–Dinajpur to Dhaka–Panchagarh. As a result, the shuttle train service between Dinajpur and Panchagarh was closed.[2]
Accidents
- 04/08/2005: The locomotive and a coach of Dhaka-bound Ekota Express derailed at the outer signal of Joydebpur Junction railway station of Gazipur District.[4]
- 16/04/2008: Dhaka-bound Ekota Express collided with a local bus on a level crossing on the outskirts of Kalihati, Tangail District. 17 people died and at least 30 were injured.[5]
- 13/04/2014: At about 3:20 am, a running Dhaka-bound Ekota Express collided head-on with a standing Lalmonirhat-bound Lalmoni Express at Ullapara railway station, Sirajganj District. Three coaches of Ekota Express and one coach of Lalmoni Express were mangled. A total of seven coaches veered off the tracks. At least 2 people died and 50 people were injured.[6][7]
- 01/11/2019: Dinajpur-bound Ekota Express escaped from an accident from a broken railway track in Raninagar Upazila of Naogaon District.[8]
References
- "Panchagarh Express maiden voyage tomorrow". Daily Bangladesh. 24 May 2019. Retrieved 13 December 2020.
- "পঞ্চগড়-ঢাকা সরাসরি ট্রেন চলাচল শুরু" [Panchagarh-Dhaka direct train movement started]. Prothom Alo (in Bengali). 11 November 2018. Retrieved 13 December 2020.
- "Ekota, Drutajan get new coaches". The Independent. 16 December 2016. Retrieved 13 December 2020.
- "Dhaka-Mymensingh train link cut off for 8 hrs". Bdnews24.com. 3 August 2005. Retrieved 13 December 2020.
- "Deaths in Bangladesh train accident". Aljazeera.com. 16 April 2008. Retrieved 12 November 2020.
- "2 die in Sirajganj train collision, 3 suspended". Prothom Alo. 13 April 2014. Retrieved 11 November 2020.
- "Running train hits waiting Express 2 killed, 40 injured". The New Nation. 14 April 2014. Retrieved 11 November 2020.
- "DC to honour schoolboys for stopping train to avert accident". Bangladesh Post. 7 September 2020. Retrieved 13 December 2020.