Shonar Bangla Express

The Shonar 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.

Sonar Bangla Express

At the Kamalapur Railway Station
Overview
Service type	Inter-city rail
Status	Operating
Locale	Dhaka and Chittagong
First service	25 June 2016 (2016-06-25), 10 years ago
Current operator	Bangladesh Railway
Ridership	8,900 to 10,000 (Weekly)
Daily ridership	745 to 835
Annual ridership	4,60,000 to 5,20,000
Website	http://www.railway.gov.bd/
Route
Termini	Kamalapur Railway Station Chattogram railway station
Stops	3
Distance travelled	321 km
Average journey time	4 hours & 55 minutes
Service frequency	6 days a week
Train number	787/788
On-board services
Classes	Non-AC Cabin, AC Cabin, AC Chair and Non-AC Chair
Seating arrangements	Yes
Sleeping arrangements	No
Auto-rack arrangements	Yes
Catering facilities	On-board, two pantry carriage at two ends.
Observation facilities	Yes
Entertainment facilities	Yes
Baggage facilities	Overhead racks
Other facilities	Charging sockets, automatic sliding doors, prayer room in generator carriage with ablution facilities.
Technical
Rolling stock	One 3000 Class Locomotive Five AC Chair carriages Three AC Cabin carriages Six Non AC Chair carriages One Non AC Cabin One generator car Two guard brake carriages with Buffet car and Non AC chair
Track gauge	Metre gauge
Electrification	No
Operating speed	80-89 KM/H
Average length	18/36
Track owner	Bangladesh Railway
Rake maintenance	Pahartali Yard

History

Shonar 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 Railway Station. Shonar Bangla 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, Shonar 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 Shonar 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. Shonar 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

Intercity 788 Shonar Bangla Express at Kamalapur Railway Station

Intercity 788 Shonar Bangla Express at Chattagram Railway Station

See also

• Mahanagar Probhati/Godhuli Express
• Mahanagar Express
• Parjotak Express
• Cox's Bazar Express
• Suborno Express
• Chattala Express