Headway for late-night trains to drop to 7-8 minutes, accommodating 10,000 additional commuters daily
Metro Rail to Extend Night Hours in Sept; 2 New Trains Commencing This Month
- The inclusion of new trains will slash the late-night train headway from 20 minutes to just 7-8 minutes.
- Training for required train operators is in its final phase and is scheduled for completion on August 26.
- Officials stated that there are currently no structural blueprints to change the early morning operational schedule
Commuters using the metro rail network in Dhaka are set to enjoy enhanced transit facilities. The transit authorities have revealed that two additional trains will be introduced by the end of this month, followed by an extension of night-time operations starting this September. Currently, the last metro train departs from Motijheel towards Uttara at 10:30 PM, while the final train from Uttara leaves at 9:50 PM. To better serve passengers, the Dhaka Mass Transit Company Limited (DMTCL) is working to extend the night hours by half an hour, push operations until 11:00 PM. However, officials noted that there is no immediate plan to alter the morning schedule.
As per the existing schedule, the day's first train departs from Uttara towards Motijheel at 6:30 AM, while the return first train leaves Motijheel for Uttara at 7:15 AM. According to DMTCL sources, specialized training for the necessary locomotive operators and drivers is already in its final phase and will be wrapped up by August 26. This logistical arrangement aims to expand passenger services without disrupting mandatory nightly maintenance checkups.
The addition of two extra trains at the end of August will bring immense relief to late-evening travelers. The current 20-minute gap between late-night trains will be cut down sharply to just 7 to 8 minutes. This infrastructural tuning will enable approximately 10,000 additional daily passengers to commute effortlessly. Speaking to the media, DMTCL Director Md. Nazrul Islam confirmed the decision to increase night trains, adding that the formal launch date will be finalized shortly.
He reiterated that increasing the fleet numbers will drastically minimize intervals between consecutive trains and confirmed that structural preparations to extend metro operational hours from next month are actively underway.
//DBTech/BMO/SME//
