Barisal Express
{{Short description|Defunct train in India}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2018}}
{{Use Indian English|date=June 2018}}
The Barishal Express was a railway train that was one of three train services running between India and Bangladesh (then East Pakistan).{{cite web|last1=Thapliyal|first1=Sangeeta|title=India–Bangladesh Transportation Links: A Move for Closer Cooperation|url=http://www.idsa-india.org/an-mar9-8.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20001012050222/http://idsa-india.org/an-mar9-8.html|url-status=usurped|archive-date=12 October 2000|publisher=Institute for Defence Studies and Analyses|access-date=17 November 2017}}
History
The Barishal Express launched in 1884.{{cite news |url=https://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-miscellaneous/tp-others/india-bangladesh-reintroduce-rail-link/article27912008.ece|url-access=subscription|title=India, Bangladesh reintroduce rail link|date=21 January 2001|author=Haroon Habib|work=The Hindu|access-date=15 March 2018}} The train connected the Indian city of Kolkata (then Calcutta) with the city of Khulna in Bangladesh, with a link train from Rupsa to Bagerhat for connecting Barishal. The train used to take 4 hours to complete the {{convert|176|km|mi}} journey. The link train used to take another 1 hrs 45 minutes to connect Bagerhat, {{convert|74|km|mi}} away from Khulna. The railway link was suspended at the outbreak of the Indo-Pakistani War of 1965. In 1972, the route reopened for 2 years for goods train service.
An agreement was signed between India and Bangladesh in July 2000 to re-establish the train link. Feasibility studies had been going on since 1994. The Bandhan Express is a new train recreating this route in the 21st century.{{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|agency=Indo-Asian News Service|work=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|work=The Indian Express|date=7 April 2017|access-date=13 April 2017}}{{cite news|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" from Kolkata through Video Confencing | publisher= Press Information Bureau, Government of India, Ministry of Railways | date = 9 November 2017| access-date = 10 November 2017 |url= http://pib.nic.in/newsite/PrintRelease.aspx?relid=173351}} The immigration checks have been moved to Calcutta train station to avoid losing hours waiting at the border.{{cite web|url=https://www.telegraphindia.com/calcutta/train-to-khulna-chugs-out-after-52-years-184951|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180315133904/https://www.telegraphindia.com/calcutta/train-to-khulna-chugs-out-after-52-years-184951|url-status=dead|archive-date=15 March 2018|title=Train to Khulna chugs out after 52 years |website=The Telegraph |location=Calcutta |date=10 November 2017|access-date=15 March 2018}} New Railway line to Barishal is being constructed, the line will bifurcate at Rupsanagar from the Mongla Port railway line & then head eastward towards Jatharpur, Sakambhuj, Bagerhat & then end at Barishal.
See also
- Bandhan Express
- {{section link|Transport between India and Bangladesh|Rail links}}
References
{{reflist}}
{{Railways in Eastern India}}
{{International trains from India}}
Category:International named passenger trains
Category:Named passenger trains of Bangladesh
Category:Named passenger trains of India
Category:Railway services discontinued in 1965
Category:Defunct trains in India
Category:Rail transport in Khulna
{{Bangladesh-transport-stub}}
{{India-express-train-stub}}