Staff Correspondent

Bangladesh Railway (BR) is adding 84 more trains, mostly locals and commuter services, to the fleet in between September 10 and 16, as the state-run transport agency is trying to normalise service.

However, BR will continue to operate trains at half capacity, according to a circular signed by Deputy Director (traffic transportation) Khairul Kabir on Monday. The 84 trains will bring the total number of trains in operation to 218 as BR is gradually increasing trains in its fleet, Shariful Islam, senior information officer of the railways ministry, said.

The rest 144 mail and local trains would resume operation gradually, he told The Daily Star yesterday.

The authorities have started selling of all tickets of local, mail and commuter trains from stations from September 5. The authorities could not bring those trains under online ticket selling system.

In another circular issued Monday, BR said it will start selling 50 percent tickets of intercity trains from the stations from September 12 while other 50 percent tickets would be sold out through online.

After resumption of train services, BR has been selling all tickets of intercity trains through online and a mobile app.

Out of 84 trains, 28 will resume operation from Thursday while 20 will resume operation on September 13 and the rest on September 16, according to the circular.

BR started resuming operation of rail services from May 31, more than two months after the authority suspended operation of passenger trains on March 24 to curb the spread of Covid-19 in the country.