Maitree Express Train Schedule, Fare, Route & Running Days (2019)

Are you interested to go from Dhaka to Kolkata by train? So, this post will be helpful to you. Here, we will share the Maitree Express train schedule, fare, route, running days and ticket booking process, which runs on this route.  There are some important issues that need to be known before traveling on this route.

The Maitree Express is an international passenger train, which runs between Dhaka and Kolkata. Here, Dhaka is the capital of Bangladesh and Kolkata is the capital of West Bengal in India. The train service was inaugurated on April 14, 2008, which day was Bengali New Year.

At present, there are two international trains run regularly between Bangladesh and India. One of them is the Maitree Express and another is the Bandhan express. The Bandhan express is the second international train service, which runs on Kolkata-Khulna route only one day in a week.

Maitree Express Train Schedule & Running Days

The train runs four days a week on both routes. Bangladesh Railway Authority and Indian Railway Authority jointly operate this train. Maitree Express departs from Dhaka Cantonment Railway Station at 8:15 am (BST) for Kolkata and arrives Kolkata Chitpur Railway Station at 4:00 pm (IST).

On the hand, the train departs from Kolkata Chitpur Railway Station at 7:10 am (IST) and arrives at Dhaka Cantonment Railway Station at 4:05 (BST) pm. It takes around 9 hours to reach the destination.  The train runs directly on Dhaka-Kolkata route and doesn’t get down and up the passengers at any station in this route.

The MaiItree Express train schedule-

Sometimes it may be late for the train to leave and reach due to different reasons. Whatever, the train runs four days in a week; two days operate by Indian Railway (IR) coaches and another two days operate by Bangladesh Railway (BR) coaches. We have mentioned the Maitree Express running days with train code here.

Train Ticket Fare and Booking Process

There are two types of seats in Maitree Express, such as AC seat (Cabin) and AC chair. All of the seats of this luxury train are air-contained and comfortable. The Maitree Express ticket fare has to be paid in local currency.

In this case, ticket fare is 50% less for child ticket between 1 to 5 years. According to the passport, the age will be fixed at the time of ticket booking. Whatever, Value Added Tax and Travel tax are including with the ticket fares.

How to book a ticket for Maitree Express

You can book a ticket as early as 29 days before the scheduled departure. Most of the people want to book the tickets through online, but online ticket booking is not allowed for this train. Because, there is a provision of checking the traveling documents before booking a ticket in this international train service. So, the passengers have to go physically to the specific counters for Maitree Express ticket booking.

At present, Maitree Express is the most popular passenger transport on Dhaka-Kolkata route.  If you are interested to travel on this route by train, you will try to book a ticket as early as possible. Otherwise, it will be difficult to get a ticket for traveling closer to the date.

Ticket booking from Dhaka

The Maitree Express departs from Dhaka Cantonment Railway Station, but tickets are not available here. But for ticket booking, you have to go to the main reservation counter at Kamlapur Railway Station in Dhaka. It is open from 9:00 to 17:00 every day. A passenger can also purchase the tickets from Chittagong Railway Station before 36 hours of train Departure.  The ticket of this train is not available anywhere without these stations.

You must have the showing a valid passport before booking your ticket to go from Dhaka to Kolkata. A passage can purchase a ticket by showing a valid passport only, but you want to purchase a return ticket, you have to show the visa. It is important that the port of entry must specifically say By Rail Gede on applying for an Indian visa.

Ticket booking from Kolkata

A valid passport and visa are also necessary for booking the ticket from Kolkata. On applying for a Bangladeshi visa, the port of entry must specifically say By Rail Darshana. There are two points in Kolkata, either book a ticket from any of these counters:

• Fairlie Place International Ticket Booking Counter at Dalhousie Square (Open daily from 8:00 to 20:00)
• Kolkata Chitpur Railway Station Reservation Counter (Open only during Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 9:00 to 19:00)

Ticket Return Policy

In case of refund 120 hours before the start of the journey, the service charge will be 25 taka. For less than 120 hours and more than 96 hours, the service charge will be 50% of the rent deductible per ticket. For less than 96 hours and more than 72 hours, 75% of the cost of the service charge is deductible. In other cases, the ticket fare isn’t refundable.

Maitree Express Route Map

Dhaka – Darshana (Border station of Bangladesh) – Gede (Border Station of India) – Kolkata

Immigration and Customs formalities

The formalities of immigration and customs have to complete at the departure station before leaving the train. For that reason, a passenger must reach the departure station two hours earlier the departure time. After reaching the destination station, you have to complete immigration and customs processing again.

Earlier, the immigration and customs formalities were completed at the Gede station of India and Darshana station in Bangladesh. The passengers had to get down on the train two times with baggage for checking, which was very worrisome for them.

At present, these formalities are done at Dhaka Cantonment Railway Station and Kolkata Chitpur Railway Station. So, the passengers don’t have to get down on the train anywhere. This makes it easier to travel and travel less during the journey time.

Catering services

In  the train, there are light food and drinks arranged in the food car for the convenience of the valued passengers, which are provided on payment of the price fixed by the passenger. The menu and the price menu are displayed on the food menu. If the train is standing in an undisclosed stop at the time of travel, there is a criminal offense arising from the train.

Baggage weight limitation and Charges for excess

A passenger can’t carry more than 35 kg goods within two languages against his ticket at time of journey by this train and 20 kg against Child ticket. If you carry more than specific weight, you have to pay charges for excess luggage. Keep in mind that, the dimensions of the luggage will not exceed 65cm by 80cm for scanning by Immigration and Customs.

These rates have been kept excessively high to dissuade misuse of the train for carrying goods for commercial purpose. Also, to keep the luggage within reasonable limits so that immigration and customs checks are completed in time and the train isn’t detained.

You can see more:

• Bangladesh Railway Schedule
• BD Train E-ticket

After all, the train is an easy and safer transport on this route, which has become popular to the people of both countries. If you want to go from Dhaka to Kolkata or Kolkata to Dhaka, the will be best than others. However, you have any question about the Maitree Express fare and train schedule or others; you can inform me through comment. Be happy for your trip.