Bandhan Express

{{Short description|Bandhan Express train service connecting Bangladesh to the Indian state of West Bengal}}

{{Infobox rail service

| name = Bandhan Express

| image = Bandhan express.png

| image_width =

| caption =

| type = AC Express

| status = Temporally non-operational

| locale =

| first = {{start date and age|df=yes|2017|11|09}}

| last = {{start date and age|df=yes|2024|07|18}}

| operator = West Zone of Bangladesh Railway & Eastern Railway zone of Indian Railway

| ridership =

| start = {{stnlnk|Kolkata}} (KOAA)

| stops = 3

| end = {{stnlnk|Khulna}} (KLNB)

| distance = {{convert|172|km|abbr=on}}

| journeytime = 5 hours 20 mins

| frequency = Bi-weekly

| class = AC First Class (1A)
AC Chair Car (CC)

| seating = Yes

| sleeping = Yes

| autorack =

| catering = No

| observation =

| entertainment = No

| baggage =

| otherfacilities =

| stock = LHB coach

| gauge = {{track gauge|1676mm}}

| el =

| trainnumber = 13129/13130

| speed =

| map = {{routemap|inline=1|map=

~~km~~

\KBHFa~~0{{0|.0}}~~{{stnlnk|Kolkata}}

\BHF~~{{stnlnk|Dum Dum Junction}}

\BHF~~{{stnlnk|Barasat Junction}}

\BHF~~{{stnlnk|Bangaon Junction}}

\BHF~~78~~Petrapole

\STR+GRZq~~ ~~ ~~India–Bangladesh border

\BHF~~82{{0|.0}}~~{{stnlnk|Benapole}}

\BHF~~117{{0|.0}}~~{{stnlnk|Jessore Junction}}

\KBHFe~~172{{0|.0}}~~{{stnlnk|Khulna}}

}}

| map_state =

}}

The Bandhan Express train ({{langx|bn|বন্ধন এক্সপ্রেস}}) is an international express rail service which runs between the Indian city Kolkata and the Bangladeshi city Khulna every week. It is the second modern day, fully air conditioned passenger train link between the Indian state West Bengal and Bangladesh. The Bengali word Bandhan means bonding when translated to English. It was initially referred to as the Maitree Express II. A valid visa and passport is required before purchasing a ticket for the Bandhan Express train. Tickets are available at Khulna railway station in Bangladesh and at Chitpur Station in Kolkata, India. The train service is currently paused indefinitely due to political upheaval in Bangladesh since July-August 2024.

The commercial run of this train was suspended in the wake of the global COVID-19 pandemic since March 2020. However, the train resumed its normal operations from 29 May 2022.{{cite news |title=Bangladesh bound Maitree, Bandhan Express to resume soon: Check details |url=https://www.news9live.com/utility/bangladesh-bound-maitree-bandhan-express-to-resume-soon-check-details-171584 |access-date=28 May 2022 |work=NEWS9LIVE |date=21 May 2022 |language=en}}{{cite news |title=Passenger Train Services Between India and Bangladesh to Resume from May 29; Check Details |url=https://www.news18.com/news/auto/passenger-train-services-between-india-and-bangladesh-to-resume-from-may-29-check-details-5204455.html |access-date=28 May 2022 |work=News18 |date=19 May 2022 |language=en}} Together with the Maitree Express train and the Mitali Express train, the Bandhan Express train is one of three modern day fully air conditioned passenger train links between the India and Bangladesh.

History

Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modi; Prime Minister of Bangladesh, Sheikh Hasina; and Chief Minister of West Bengal, Mamata Banerjee, flagged off the Kolkata–Khulna Bandhan Express train service via video conference from {{stnlnk|Kolkata}} on 9 November 2017.{{cite press release| title=Prime Minister of India & Prime Minister of Bangladesh Jointly along with Chief Minister, West Bengal Flag off New Cross-Border Train between India & Bangladesh, "Kolkata–Khulna Bandhan Express"... | publisher= Press Information Bureau, Ministry of Railways | date = 9 November 2017| access-date = 10 November 2017 |url= http://pib.nic.in/newsite/PrintRelease.aspx?relid=173351}}

= Naming =

After the Kolkata–Dhaka Maitree Express train was operational, it was proposed to name this second India–Bangladesh train on the Kolkata–Khulna route as 'Sonartari'. But the same name is used in the railways and trains of both countries and hence it was omitted. Then the names Sampritee and Bandhan were offered. Finally the name Bandhan meaning Bonding was unanimously accepted.

Route

The route recreates the previous Barisal Express route. The train starts at Kolkata railway station on the Indian side, stopping at Dum Dum and Bangaon before reaching the Indian border at Petrapole. The train then crosses to Benapole on the Bangladeshi side, going through Jhikargachha & Jessore, before reaching Khulna railway station.{{cite news|url=http://www.firstpost.com/india/maitree-express-ii-chugged-across-india-bangladesh-border-amid-cheers-applause-3374846.html|title=Maitree Express-II chugged across India, Bangladesh border amid cheers, applause|work=Indo-Asian News Service|publisher=Firstpost|date=8 April 2017|access-date=13 April 2017}}{{cite news|url=http://indianexpress.com/article/india/sheikh-hasina-visits-india-narendra-modi-new-rail-passenger-service-to-be-announced-4603357/|title=Sheikh Hasina visit: Maitree Express to be made fully AC, new passenger service to be announced|agency=Press Trust of India|newspaper=The Indian Express|date=7 April 2017|access-date=13 April 2017}} There are no immigration or customs checks at the international border between India and Bangladesh for this train. The immigration process is done in Kolkata and Khulna. A valid visa and passport is required before purchasing a ticket for the Bandhan Express train. Tickets are available at Khulna Railway Station in Bangladesh and at Chitpur Station in Kolkata, India.

On 8 March 2019 both Government agreed to make a 3-minute halt at Jessore in order to attract more passengers and 200 tickets are reserved for the passengers from Jessore station.{{cite news|title=Kolkata–Khulna train: After 52 years you can now buy ticket to Bangladesh; all you need to know|url=http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/kolkata-khulna-train-kolkata-khulna-dhaka-bus/1/924321.html |work=India Today}}{{cite news|script-title=bn:৫৪ বছর পরে যশোর থেকে কলকাতার ট্রেন |url=https://www.anandabazar.com/bangladesh-news/train-service-from-jessore-to-kolkata-started-after-54-years-1.963238 |work=Anandabazar Patrika|language=bn|access-date=15 March 2019}}

Timings and frequency

Since its inauguration, the train only ran on Thursdays but from February 2020, the frequency was increased and now it runs twice a week, Sunday and Thursday.{{cite news |script-title=bn:মৈত্রী ও বন্ধন ট্রেনের যাত্রার সংখ্যা এক দিন বাড়ল |url=https://www.prothomalo.com/international/article/1638153/ |access-date=20 February 2020 |work=Prothom Alo |date=5 February 2020 |language=bn}}

class="wikitable" \|+Kolkata to Khulna (13129){{cite web \|title=Bandhan Express/13129 Time Table/Schedule: Kolkata to Khulna ER/Eastern Zone – Railway Enquiry \|url=https://indiarailinfo.com/train/timetable/bandhan-express-13129/66521/7037/12313#st \|website=India Rail Info \|access-date=20 February 2020}} ! Station !! Arrival !! Departure !! Zone
{{rws\|Kolkata}}	–	07:10 IST	rowspan=2\| ER
{{rws\|Petrapole}}	08:55 IST	09:05 IST
{{rws\|Benapole}}	09:35 BST	10:15 BST	rowspan=3\| BR
{{rws\|Jessore}}	11:30 BST	11:33 BST
{{rws\|Khulna}}	12:30 BST	–

class="wikitable" \|+Khulna to Kolkata (13130) ! Station !! Arrival !! Departure !! Zone
{{rws\|Khulna}}	–	13:30 BST	rowspan=3\| BR
{{rws\|Jessore}}	14:27 BST	14:30 BST
{{rws\|Benapole}}	14:45 BST	16:00 BST
{{rws\|Petrapole}}	16:10 IST	16:20 IST	rowspan=2\| ER
{{rws\|Kolkata}}	18:10 IST	–

Coach composition

Pure LHB coach in red-grey (used by Rajdhani Expresses) and sky blue-grey (used by Shatabdi Expresses) manufactured in India, are used for this train.

It comprises 4 AC First Class (1A), 4 AC Chair car (CC), and 2 Generator cum luggage cum guard van, hence, a total of 10 coaches.

;Legends

LRM/GD/EOG/SLR	H-	C-
class="wikitable"
Generator cum luggage van	AC First Class (1A)	AC Chair Car (CC)

; Rake composition of 13129 down Kolkata to Khulna

class="wikitable plainrowheaders unsortable" style="text-align:center:"
Loco ! style="background:grey;"\| 1 ! style="background:red;"\| 2 ! style="background:red;"\| 3 ! style="background:red;"\| 4 ! style="background:red;"\| 5 ! style="background:#87ceeb;"\| 6 ! style="background:#87ceeb;"\| 7 ! style="background:#87ceeb;"\| 8 ! style="background:#87ceeb;"\| 9 ! style="background:grey;"\| 10
25px	EOG	H1	H2	H3	H4	C1	C2	C3	C4	EOG

class="wikitable plainrowheaders unsortable" style="text-align:center:"

Loco

! style="background:grey;"| 1

! style="background:red;"| 2

! style="background:red;"| 3

! style="background:red;"| 4

! style="background:red;"| 5

! style="background:#87ceeb;"| 6

! style="background:#87ceeb;"| 7

! style="background:#87ceeb;"| 8

! style="background:#87ceeb;"| 9

! style="background:grey;"| 10