Akhaura–Laksam–Chittagong line
The Akhaura–Laksam–Chittagong line is a major Bangladesh Railway route that runs from Akhaura to Chittagong via Laksam. It has branch lines to Chandpur and Noakhali. The line uses dual gauge to carry both metre gauge and broad gauge trains and serves 39 stations.
The line’s history began in the 1890s when the Assam Bengal Railway started building a link from Chittagong to eastern Bengal to support tea exports. A 150-kilometre section from Chittagong to Comilla opened in 1895. The Comilla–Akhaura–Kulaura–Badarpur route reached Lumding by 1903, and Bengal Railway merged with Assam Bengal Railway in 1906. The Laksam–Noakhali line opened in 1903, and the Laksam–Chandpur section followed in 1906. Later projects have included a plan to extend from Dohazari to Cox’s Bazar and onward toward the Bangladesh–Myanmar border to connect with Myanmar Railways as part of a broader Trans-Asian Railway.
Today, the line is being upgraded to improve capacity and connectivity. An important part of the plans is to double-track and regauge much of the Dhaka–Chittagong corridor. In 2017, an agreement with Chinese contractors aimed to double-track the line and convert it to broad gauge, with China contributing a significant portion of the cost.
Every day, about 15 trains depart from Chittagong to different parts of the country, including services like Paharika, Jalalabad, and Udayan Express to Sylhet; Sagarika and Meghna to Chandpur; Karnaphuli, Dhaka Mail, Turna Nishita, Godhuli, Nasirabad, and Upakul Express to Dhaka. From Akhaura, several intercity and mail trains operate to major cities. Other services on the line include Chattala Express, Chittagong Mail, Comilla Commuter, Dhaka Express, Jalalabad Express, Karnafuli Express, Mymensingh Express, Surma Mail, Sylhet Commuter, and Titas Commuter.
This page was last edited on 2 February 2026, at 11:42 (CET).