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Parabat Express

Parabat Express at Sylhet Rail Station
Overview
Status	Operating
Locale	Bangladesh
First service	19 March 1986 (1986-03-19)
Website	http://www.railway.gov.bd/
Route
Stops	9
Average journey time	6 hours & 45 minutes
Service frequency	6 days each week
On-board services
Catering facilities	On-board
Technical
Rolling stock	One 2900 Class locomotive Eight Chair carriages Two ac Chair carriages Two ac Cabin carriages One non-ac Cabin Carriages One generator car Two guard brake carriages with Buffet car

Parabat Express (Train no. 709/710) is an intercity train which runs between Dhaka (capital of Bangladesh) and Sylhet. Parabat Express has been considered one of the prestigious and luxurious trains since the inception of intercity train in Bangladesh in 1986. The train connects two important cities of Bangladesh.

History

Parabat Express made its 1st inaugural run on 19 March 1986 with allocated train no. 709 (up)/710 (down). It was introduced as inter-city train which offers luxurious and fast service. The train starts from Dhaka Railway Station since its inauguration. Parabat express gets the priority on Bangladesh Railway network. It has fewer stops than other Dhaka-Sylhet express trains and halts only at prominent stations.

Schedule

The train runs between Dhaka and Sylhet district while touching other districts like Kishoreganj, Brahmanbaria, Habiganj and Maulavibazar. It departs Dhaka railway station at 06:35 AM (Bangladesh Standard Time) and arrives Sylhet at 01:20 PM. In return trip, it departs Sylhet at 03:00 PM and arrives Dhaka at 09:55 PM. Tuesday is the weekly holiday of this train.

Carriages

The train currently runs with 16 PT Inka (Industri Kereta Api) made air-brake Coaches. This coaches were introduced to the service on 2 September 2016.^[1] The train has eight chair car, two ac chair car, two non ac chair car, two guard brake with attached dining, one non ac cabin and one generator car. Prior to introducing Inka coaches, the train ran with old vacuum brake coaches.However, the train used to run with Iranian air-brake coaches in between 1998 and 2011. Later, due to maintenance problem, Iranian airbrake coaches were replaced with vacuum coaches in 2011.^[2]

Locomotive

Parabat Express usually gets a Class 2900 locomotive of Bangladesh Railway. However, sometimes because of rolling stock crisis it gets Class 2600 locomotives. The train needs an air-braked locomotive which is mandatory.

Class 2900 locomotive of Bangladesh Railway. This is locomotive no. 2934

Stoppages

• Dhaka Bimanbandor


• Bhairabbazar


• Brahmanbaria


• Azampur


• Noapara


• Shaistaganj


• Sreemangal


• Bhanugach


• Kulaura


• Maizgaon

Passenger interest

People usually travel Parabat Express for its punctual and fast service. The train has more AC carriages than any other Dhaka-Sylhet express trains. This attracts passengers who prefer luxurious travel experience.Furthermore, travelling by Express allows its passenger to view scenic beauty of Sylhet division. One can enjoy trackside beautiful hills,tea gardens and rural lifestyle while travelling by Parabat Express.^[3]

Parabat Express passing through tea garden

Accident of Locomotive no. 2933

Locomotive no. 2933 was one of the newest locomotives of Class 2900 which met fatal accident in Noyapara upazila, Habiganj district on 7 October 2016. The locomotive caught fire soon after it derailed with Parabat Express near Noapara Railstation. Drivar cab and electrical cabinet of the locomotive completely destroyed in fire. The locomotive is now waiting for heavy repair.^[4]

References