First trial run of goods train between Bangladesh and Tripura on Akhaura-Agartala international rail link completed successfully

A big step forward happened as the first trial run of a goods train between Northeast India and Bangladesh took place. The train started from the Gangasagar railway station in Bangladesh and reached Nischintapur in Tripura, marking a significant moment after a decade of the two countries agreeing to connect Akhaura in Bangladesh to Agartala in India through a railway service.

Sunindra Chaudhury, an executive engineer from the Indian Railways, shared the news, explaining, “This is the first time a goods train on meter gauge has come from Bangladesh to Nischintapur. It covers 6.1 km from Gangasagar to here, with a total length of 12.24 km, including 5.46 km on the Indian side and 6.7 km in Bangladesh. Gangasagar is the first station on the Bangladeshi side connecting India through Nischintapur. The trial run was successful.”

Following the rules, the train will return to Bangladesh after completing necessary paperwork. Chaudhury added, “This project, long-awaited, has finally seen a successful trial run today. It will take one to two more months to connect Agartala railway station. Goods trains will start running soon, but for passenger trains, both the Indian Railways and the Bangladesh Railway Board need to sort out formalities.”

Md Rafizul Rahman, the Bangladeshi loco pilot, shared his experience. “I started from Gangasagar and reached Akhaura railway station with officials and others on board. It’s the first time a train from Bangladesh has come to Northeast India. We are proud to be a part of this journey,” he said.

Abdul Rahim, a railway conductor on the train, highlighted the benefits. “This rail route will help passengers traveling to India or other parts of the country through Agartala’s Maharaja Bir Bikram (MBB) Airport. This is a historic moment for us,” he added.

Liafta Ali Majumder, a senior engineer from Bangladesh Railways, confirmed the successful trial run and hinted at starting passenger trains soon, showing the positive progress between the two countries.

This achievement not only boosts trade but also strengthens the ties between India and Bangladesh. For Tripura, which shares a long border with Bangladesh, this development means better connectivity. Once the Indo-Bangla railway project in Tripura is complete, travel time between Agartala and Kolkata via Dhaka is expected to drop from 31 hours to just 10 hours, making journeys quicker and more convenient for everyone.