Schedule of trains in north-western zone has been disrupted due to the train collision at Joydebpur. On an average, all trains of this zone are running behind schedule by two to three hours, causing immense sufferings to passengers at Kamalapur Railway Station.

“Almost all trains of north-western zone got delayed by two to three hours,” Mohammad Masud Sarwar, Station Manager of Kamalapur Railway Station, told the Daily Sun. “The lines are yet to be restored. Since morning, eight trains left on this route and all of them are running behind schedule. However, the lines will be cleared by the night. The Railway authorities did not suspend journey of any train on the route.”

During a spot visit to Kamalapur Railway Station, it was observed that the station remained overcrowded with passengers on the weekly holiday as the trains ran late. Usually, 53 trains leave for different destinations daily from Kamalapur Railway Station. However, all of the trains are running behind schedule due to the accident at Joydebpur. The trains are also arriving Dhaka late. The Rangpur Express is almost seven hours late.

The Dhumketu Express was scheduled to leave Kamalapur Railway Station for Rajshahi at 6:00am. But it left the station at 8:00am. Similarly, Cox’s Bazar-bound Parjatan Express left Dhaka at 8:30am although it was scheduled to leave Kamalapur Railway Station at 6:15am. The Chilahati-bound Chilahati Express of 6:45am left Kamalapur Railway Station at 9:00am, while the Nilphamari-bound Nilsagar Express of 7:15am left Kamalapur Railway Station at 9:30am and the Chattogram-bound Mahanagar-Provati of 7:45am left Kamalapur Railway Station at 10:00am. The Rangpur Express was scheduled to leave Kamalapur Railway Station for Rangpur at 9:10am. But it could not depart for its destination till 4:00pm.

 Razikul Islam, who was waiting for a Rajshahi-bound train, said, “Since 8:00am, I am waiting for the train at
Kamalapur Railway Station, but the train is yet to reach Dhaka at 3:00pm. I am in great distress. I do not know when the train will depart for Rajshahi.”
Meanwhile, the railway officials informed that it is because of non-clearance of lines, the trains from Joydebpur are running behind schedule. They are running late from Friday. The trains are now using single line.
A freight train carrying oil was hit by a commuter train in Joydebpur Outer Signal (Chhotodeora) area at 11:00am on Friday. Four persons, including two locomotive drivers, sustained injuries and nine compartments got derailed.