Maitree Express
The Maitree Express (13109/13110) train (Bengali: মৈত্রী এক্সপ্রেস), often pronounced Moitree Express, is the first modern day, fully air conditioned, international, express train service connecting Dhaka in Bangladesh to Kolkata in the Indian state of West Bengal. The Bengali name Maitree Express means Friendship Express when translated to English, denoting the significance of the train service to the friendly foreign relations between India and Bangladesh. Previously train services between the two countries existed before the partition of India by the British and the Maitree Express re-established this connection between Dhaka and Kolkata in 2008 after being closed for 43 years. In 2017 a second train service, the Bandhan Express, was inaugurated connecting Kolkata with the Bangladeshi city of Khulna, recreating the previous Barisal Express train route.
Inauguration of Maitree Express train of the Bangladesh Railway on 14 April 2008 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Overview | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Service type | AC Express | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| First service | 14 April 2008 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Current operator(s) | Eastern (West Bengal) Railway zone of Indian Railways & Bangladesh Railway | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Route | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Termini | Kolkata (KOAA) Dhaka Cantonment (DHCA) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Stops | 3 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Distance travelled | 400 kilometres (250 mi) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Average journey time | 8 hours 50 minutes | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Service frequency | 5 days | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Train number(s) | 13107/13108/13109/13110 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| On-board services | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Class(es) | 1st AC (1A) AC Chair Car (CC) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Seating arrangements | Yes | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Sleeping arrangements | Yes | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Catering facilities | Yes | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Entertainment facilities | No | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Technical | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Rolling stock | 2 LHB rakes. 1 rake each of Indian & 1 Bangladeshi type | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Track gauge | broad gauge(1,676 mm (5 ft 6 in)) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Operating speed | 45 kilometres per hour (28 mph) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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A valid visa and passport is required beforehand to purchase a ticket for the Maitree Express train. Tickets are available at Dhaka Cantonment railway station in Bangladesh and at Chitpur Station in Kolkata, India. 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 service again from 29 May 2022. Together with the Bandhan Express train and the Mitali Express train, the Maitree Express train is one of three modern day fully air conditioned passenger train links between India and Bangladesh.