Fog, fear of sabotage disrupt rail schedule in West zone

Ishwardi (Pabna) Correspondent :

Western Zone Railways has experienced schedule disruption due to reduction of pre-scheduled speed of trains. Almost all the trains are running late by 1-8 hours. On Friday, Saturday and Sunday, it was observed on the ground that all the trains running through Ishwardi Junction and Bypass Station are running late. Chilahati Express train on Chilahati-Dhaka route and Rupsa and Shimand Express trains running on Khulna route are running the most late. Although the Chilahati Express train stops at the bypass station at 10:33 am, it enters at 6:44 pm. On Sunday (January 14), the Khulna-bound Rupsa Express from Chilahati had a halt at Ishwardi station at 1:40 p.m. but entered at 7:70 p.m. The schedule of all the trains has been disrupted as the train speed has been reduced due to fear of sabotage. Railway authorities say that the situation has improved now. Speed is increasing gradually. However, these trains are running slowly at night due to fog.
According to the records of Ishwardi Junction Station, the Rupsa Express from Chilahati to Khulna on Saturday was stopped at 2:00 PM but arrived at the station at 7:50 PM. On Friday, the Chitra Express train from Dhaka to Khulna had a stoppage of 20 minutes. But it entered the station at 4:10 PM. The Rupsa Express train from Khulna to Chilahati leaves at 11 am but enters at 2:30 am. The Dhaka-bound Madhumati Express train arrives one hour late. Apart from this, Sangardari Express, Shimonda Express, Rajshahi-bound Ishwardi Commuter, Tungipara Express are running late than the scheduled time.
Same picture at bypass stations. The Dhumketu Express train from Dhaka to Rajshahi was supposed to stop at the bypass station at 10:21, but it arrived in 50 minutes. Besides, Ekota Express three hours, Padma Express one and a half hours, Banalta Express two hours, Dharathyan three hours, Nilsagar Express four hours along with Rangpur Express, Panchagarh Express, Dhallachar Express all trains are running late. Bypass station master Saiful Islam said, “Almost all trains are running late.” The Chilahati Express train is running the most late.
Mahibur Islam, superintendent of the station at Ishwardi Junction, said, “According to the instructions of the higher authorities, the speed of the train has been reduced, so it is getting late to the destination.” Haroon Or Rashid, Assistant Transport Officer of Pakshi Divisional Railway said, “Due to the increase in vandalism in trains in recent times, the speed of trains has been reduced. During the day, trains run at a speed of 90 km per hour on the broad gauge line. It has been reduced to 75 km. It used to run at a speed of 60-70 km at night, but later it was reduced to 50 km. Also night train piloting system has been introduced. That is, the locomotive (engine) is sent on that route a few minutes before the departure of a night train.