Tangail: A special train today crossed the newly built Jamuna Railway Bridge in three minutes, marking the opening of a new window for railway communication. “From now at least 88 trains will be able to cross the railway bridge at a higher speed and uninterruptedly. This has opened a new window for the railway sector,” Bangladesh Railways Director General Afzal Hossain told the opening ceremony.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, Project Director Al Fattah M Masudur Rahman stated that the train that marked the bridge’s inauguration began its journey from Tangail’s Ibrahimabad station at 11:40 am. It crossed the 4.8 km bridge at a speed of 120 km/h, reaching Sayedabad station ahead of schedule. This formal opening of the newly constructed railway bridge is expected to offer smoother movement for people in the northern region across the country.
A passenger bound for Rajshahi expressed his satisfaction with the bridge’s opening, noting that while train fares might see a slight increase, the journey would be more comfortable and hassle-free, with trains expected to adhere to schedules. Local traders also shared optimism, saying that the improved connectivity would enable them to supply agricultural and consumer products to Dhaka more efficiently.
Earlier, Railway Secretary M Fahimul Islam inaugurated the longest railway bridge during a simple ceremony at Ibrahimabad railway station in Tangail as the chief guest. With the bridge’s opening, train fares will see an increase due to a pontage charge similar to that imposed on the Padma Bridge. Passengers crossing the Jamuna Railway Bridge will pay a pontage charge based on seat category, ranging from Tk 45 to Tk 160.
The secretary mentioned that previously, heavy goods trains could not operate on the Jamuna Multipurpose Bridge’s railway tracks. The new dedicated railway bridge addresses this issue. According to the project details, trains have been running on the 4.8 km long double track dual gauge bridge on a trial basis since February 12, using one of the two lanes.
Built on 50 pillars and 49 spans utilizing state-of-the-art steel technology, the bridge promises 100 years of durability. Before the formal opening, the Silk City Express train from Rajshahi reached Dhaka, crossing the Jamuna Rail Bridge with passengers onboard for the first time on February 12.
Since the opening of the Jamuna Multipurpose Bridge in 1998, approximately 38 trains used to cross daily at a relatively slow speed, linking the central part of Bangladesh, including Dhaka, with northern, northwestern, southern, and southwestern regions. Railway officials stated that the government decided to construct the dedicated railway bridge in 2020, with its foundation stone laid on November 29 of the same year.
Despite having a parallel railway track, the Jamuna Multipurpose Bridge was primarily constructed for road communication, necessitating trains to cross at low speeds. The new structure was built at a cost of Tk. 16,780.96 crore, with 72.4 percent of the funding provided by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) as a loan, while the government provided the remaining amount. Japan’s OTG and IHI constructed the bridge as a joint venture project.