The Sonar Bangla Express (Train no. 787/788) is an inter-city rail service run by Bangladesh Railway. This service provides a swift and luxurious passenger rail connection between the capital of Bangladesh, Dhaka and the port city of Chattogram. This service only has one intermediate stop at Dhaka Airport.
History
Sonar Bangla Express was introduced as a nonstop Inter-city train that offers quality food and fast service. Since its inauguration, the train had started from Dhaka Kamalapur railway station. Sonar Bangla Express gets the 2nd top priority on Bangladesh Railway network. It only gives stoppage at Dhaka Airport Station. The train fare is similar to that of Suborno Express. Since 2021, food price is not included in the tickets supplied by Bangladesh Parjatan Corporation. On 16 April 2023, during an Eid trip, Sonar Bangla Express derailed and hit a goods train in Nangalkot, Comilla at 6:30PM. Sixty people were injured.
Schedule The train departs Dhaka railway station at 07:00 AM (Bangladesh Standard Time) and arrives in Chattogram at 11:55 AM. On the return trip, it departs Chattogram at 05:00 PM and arrives in Dhaka at 09:55 PM. This train runs 6 days a week and weekly holiday is Wednesday from Dhaka to Chattogram route, and Tuesday for Chattogram to Dhaka route.
Rolling stock After inauguration, the train ran with 14 Indonesia-made red-green PT INKA air-brake coaches. These coaches were imported in 2016. However after the accident at 16th April 2023. 7 compartments was badly damaged to even be repaired. Shonar Bangla temporarily used South Korean coaches made by Sung Sing Rolling Stock Technology (SSRST) for the Eid Trips on April 19th after suspending Sonar Bangla Service for 3 days before switching to Indonesian Made PT-INKA. From 16 August, 2023 the train began running permanently with South Korean coaches made by Sung Sing Rolling Stock Technology (SSRST). With 4 new coaches, the number of coaches of Shonar Bangla Express rise to 18. Sonar Bangla Express is hauled by a Class 3000 of Bangladesh Railway. The train needs an air-braked locomotive which is mandatory.
Stopovers (Including Termini) Dhaka Kamalapur Railway Station Dhaka Airport Railway Station Chattogram Railway Station
Gallery
See also Mahanagar Probhati/Godhuli Express Mahanagar Express Parjotak Express Cox's Bazar Express Suborno Express Chattala Express
References