The Bandhan Express train (Bengali: বন্ধন এক্সপ্রেস) is an international express rail service which runs between the Indian city Kolkata and the Bangladeshi city Khulna every week. It is the second modern day, fully air conditioned passenger train link between the Indian state West Bengal and Bangladesh. The Bengali word Bandhan means bonding when translated to English. It was initially referred to as the Maitree Express II. A valid visa and passport is required before purchasing a ticket for the Bandhan Express train. Tickets are available at Khulna railway station in Bangladesh and at Chitpur Station in Kolkata, India.

Bandhan Express

Overview
Service type	AC Express
First service	9 November 2017; 4 years ago (2017-11-09)
Current operator(s)	Eastern Railway zone
Route
Termini	Kolkata (KOAA) Khulna (KLNB)
Stops	3
Distance travelled	172 km (107 mi)
Average journey time	5 hours 20 mins
Service frequency	Bi-weekly
Train number(s)	13129/13130
On-board services
Class(es)	Executive Class (EC) AC Chair Car (CC)
Seating arrangements	Yes
Sleeping arrangements	Yes
Catering facilities	No
Entertainment facilities	No
Technical
Rolling stock	LHB coaches
Track gauge	1,676 mm (5 ft 6 in)
Route map Legend km 0.0 Kolkata Dum Dum Junction Barasat Junction Bangaon Junction 78.3 Petrapole India–Bangladesh border 81.9.0 Benapole 116.7.0 Jessore Junction 172.3.0 Khulna

This article contains Bengali text. Without proper rendering support, you may see question marks, boxes, or other symbols.

The commercial run of this train was suspended in the wake of COVID-19 pandemic since March 2020. However, the train resumed its service again from 29 May 2022.[1][2]

History

Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modi; Prime Minister of Bangladesh, Sheikh Hasina; and Chief Minister of West Bengal, Mamata Banerjee, flagged off the Kolkata–Khulna Bandhan Express train service via video conference from Kolkata on 9 November 2017.[3]

Naming

After the Kolkata–Dhaka Maitree Express train was operational, it was proposed to name this second India–Bangladesh train on the Kolkata–Khulna route as 'Sonartari'.[3] But the same name is used in the railways and trains of both countries and hence it was omitted. Then the names Sampritee and Bandhan were offered. Finally the name Bandhan meaning Bonding was unanimously accepted.[3]

Route

The route recreates the previous Barisal Express route. The train starts at Kolkata railway station on the Indian side, stopping at Dum Dum and Bangaon before reaching the Indian border at Petrapole. The train then crosses to Benapole on the Bangladeshi side, going through Jhikargachha & Jessore, before reaching Khulna railway station.[4][5] There are no immigration or customs checks at the international border between India and Bangladesh for this train. The immigration process is done in Kolkata and Khulna. A valid visa and passport is required before purchasing a ticket for the Bandhan Express train. Tickets are available at Khulna Railway Station in Bangladesh and at Chitpur Station in Kolkata, India.

On 8 March 2019 both Government agreed to make a 3-minute halt at Jessore in order to attract more passengers and 200 tickets are reserved for the passengers from Jessore station.[6][7]

Timings and frequency

Since its inauguration, the train run only on Thursday but in February 2020, the frequency was increased and now the train runs twice in a week (i.e. Sunday and Thursday).[8]

Coach composition

Pure LHB coaches in red-grey (used by Rajdhani Expresses) and sky blue-grey (used by Shatabdi Expresses) manufactured in India, are used for this train.

• It comprises 4 Executive Chair (EC), 4 AC Chair car (CC) and 2 Generator cum luggage cum guard van, hence, a total of 10 coaches.

Legends

Rake composition of 13129 down Kolkata to Khulna

Loco	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10
	EOG	H1	H2	H3	H4	C1	C2	C3	C4	EOG

• while 13130 up Khulna to Kolkata has reverse rake composition of 13130

Gallery

• 
  Bandhan Express entering at Khulna

See also

• Maitree Express
• Mitali Express
• Samjhauta Express
• Transport between India and Bangladesh#Rail links

References

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Bandhan Express.

• Bangladesh Railway