With the increase in road accidents, it would seem that the citizens of the country have to rely on travelling by trains as they are the safest option. Moreover, it is much cheaper than travelling by road and saves a lot of time. However during and after the holidays, majority of the trains coming to and leaving the capital, as well as all over the country, are delayed by several hours.
One of the reasons for the delay is the introduction of 12 extra trains during the holiday season to accommodate the increased number of passengers. The extra trains being added to the routes delayed several other trains.
Many of the trains cross the Bangabandhu Bridge, where they have to slow down to check the rail track as a safety precaution. Furthermore, the severe flooding in the northern regions has caused damage to several of the rail tracks. Safety precautions have to be taken on these routes and speed is restricted as a result. The huge number of passengers on the roof of the already full trains also causes delays as they take longer to board and get down.
Majority of the people travelling to different parts of the country rely solely on trains for safe and faster journey. It is also most affordable. No doubt, delays in the train schedule causes suffering for these people.
The railway and transport authority must ensure a smoother train journey by taking necessary steps. If new routes or trains are introduced, the timings must be adjusted to ensure that delays do not occur for the preexisting trains.
Safety precautions are mandatory but checks should be carried out more efficiently and by trained professionals to save time. The government must also invest for repairing the damaged rail tracks in the flood-affected regions.
Ensuring timely, affordable and safe train services should be made a priority by the authorities.