India-Bangladesh Maitree Express Train | Dhaka to Kolkata Train Service | মৈত্রী এক্সপ্রেস ট্রেন

India-Bangladesh Maitree Express Train | Dhaka to Kolkata Train Service মৈত্রী এক্সপ্রেস ট্রেন




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.

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.

The Maitree Express runs five days a week. The train travels around 400 kilometres (250 mi) to reach Dhaka from Kolkata. Earlier there were two stops for immigration checks in Kolkata and Dhaka. One in Gede on the Indian side and the other in Dorshona on the Bangladeshi side. Since November 2017 immigration and customs are completed at Dhaka and Kolkata. This has reduced travel time by two and half hours.

It takes around 8 hours 50 minutes to cover the entire stretch. The entire stretch is covered by broad-gauge diesel locomotives. A change of crew and locomotives takes place at Dorshona in Bangladesh. There are two major river crossings, the 100 year old Hardinge Bridge over the Padma River and the Bangabandhu Bridge over the Jamuna River. Both river crossings occur in Bangladesh. Since Pahela Boishakh 2017 (Bengali: পহেলা বৈশাখ), 14 April 2017, all coaches have been changed to air conditioned LHB coach thus enhancing the travel experience. From February 2020 the service was made five days a week, instead of four days a week till then, with additional run with BR Rake every Tuesday and Wednesday from Dhaka and Kolkata respectively.

The train service is very reliable and punctual. It starts from Kolkata at 07:15 IST and reaches Dhaka at 16:05 BST the same day. Similarly, it starts from Dhaka at 08:15 BST and reaches Kolkata at 16:00 IST the same day. This train's route does not involve any lengthy ferry-crossing pauses or border checks. It is also less costly than the Kolkata to Dhaka air conditioned luxury bus services. Terminal points are Dhaka Cantonment and Kolkata (Chitpur) stations respectively. While Kolkata is a true terminal station, it is possible to continue by local train onwards to Dhaka's main station in Kamalapur from Dhaka Cantonment station. The nearest Metro station from Kolkata is Shyambazar – a distance of 2.0 kilometres (1.2 mi). There is a public bus terminal right outside Kolkata railway station with connectivity to various parts of the city.

Earlier, the train run four days a week but in February 2020, the frequency was increased and now the train runs five days a week. From Kolkata it runs on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday while the train leaves Dhaka Cantonment on Sunday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday.

The train consisting the number 13109/10, is operated by Indian Railways rake which are purely LHB coach in red-grey (used by Rajdhani Express trains) and sky blue-grey (used by Shatabdi Express trains).

While the train consisting the number 13107/08 is operated using Bangladesh Railway rake, which are also LHB coach in dark green livery with white horizontal line.

The train has 10 coaches. 4 AC Executive Class, 4 AC Chair Car and 2 power car brake vans.