Dhaka to Rajshahi Train — Schedule, Ticket Price & All Trains (2026)

There is a particular kind of calm that settles over you on the Dhaka to Rajshahi train journey. Once you cross the Bangabandhu Bridge and the train moves into the flat, wide-open agricultural plains of northwestern Bangladesh, the frantic energy of Dhaka starts to feel very far away. The landscape here is different — wheat and mustard fields in winter, mango orchards stretching in every direction as you approach Rajshahi, and the slow, broad Padma running alongside for long stretches near the city. It is one of Bangladesh’s most peacefully beautiful train journeys.

The Dhaka to Rajshahi train route covers approximately 245 kilometres of track, connecting the capital with Bangladesh’s silk and mango capital in the northwest. Five intercity trains operate on this corridor daily — giving you morning, afternoon, evening, and night departure options. Whether you are heading to Rajshahi for business, to visit the university, to attend a family occasion, or simply to eat the best mangoes in the country during season — this guide covers everything: the complete Dhaka to Rajshahi train schedule for 2026, updated ticket prices, an honest breakdown of every train, and tips that make the journey better.

Dhaka to Rajshahi Train — Quick Facts Route Distance: 245 km — Kamalapur to Rajshahi Railway Station Total Trains Daily: 5 intercity trains — morning, afternoon, evening, night options Fastest Train: Banalata Express — approximately 4 hours 35 minutes Journey Time Range: 4 hours 35 min (Banalata Express) to 7 hours (Madhumati Express) Cheapest Fare: ৳ 145 (Shovan class) Premium Fare: ৳ 1,193 (AC Berth/Cabin) Best Season to Travel: April to June — mango season in Rajshahi. The orchards are extraordinary. Book Online: eticket.railway.gov.bd  |  Helpline: 131

Dhaka to Rajshahi Train 2026 guide showing Bangladesh Railway train, schedule, ticket price, Banalata Express and Rajshahi travel information.

Dhaka to Rajshahi Train Schedule 2026 — All 5 Trains

Five intercity trains operate on the Dhaka to Rajshahi route — more options than most other intercity corridors in Bangladesh. You can leave Dhaka in the morning, midday, afternoon, or late night and still reach Rajshahi the same day on most trains. Here is the complete, updated Dhaka to Rajshahi train schedule

Train NameNo.Dep. DhakaArr. RajshahiOff DayType
Banalata Express791/79201:30 PM06:05 PMNoneIntercity — Fastest
Silk City Express753/75402:40 PM08:30 PMSundayIntercity
Padma Express759/76010:45 PM04:25 AM+TuesdayNight Intercity
Dhumketu Express761/76206:00 AM12:10 PMWednesdayIntercity
Madhumati Express795/79609:00 AM04:00 PMThursdayIntercity
Note: Trains marked + arrive the following morning. All departure times are from Dhaka Kamalapur Railway Station. Airport Station (Biman Bandar) serves as a secondary boarding point approximately 20 minutes after Kamalapur departure. Timings based on official Bangladesh Railway 2026 timetable — verify at railway.gov.bd before travelling as schedules are subject to revision.

Every Dhaka to Rajshahi Train — What Each One Is Like

Five trains on the Dhaka to Rajshahi route means you have more flexibility than on most other intercity corridors in Bangladesh. But not all trains are equal — and choosing the right one depends on your timing, your comfort preference, and what you are heading to Rajshahi for. Here is an honest breakdown:

791/792 Fastest
Banalata Express Departs Dhaka: 01:30 PM   Arrives Rajshahi: 06:05 PM   Duration: ~4 hrs 35 min Off Day: None   Key Stops: Airport, Joydebpur, Ishwardi Bypass Jn. (then directly to Rajshahi/Chapainawabganj) Banalata is a name that carries real weight in Bangladesh — it is the title of the most celebrated poem by Jibanananda Das, a Rajshahi-associated poet considered one of the greatest in the Bengali language. The train lives up to its literary name. It is the fastest intercity train on the Dhaka to Rajshahi route, completing the journey in approximately 4 hours and 35 minutes thanks to a very limited number of stops. Unlike most trains on this corridor, the Banalata Express runs seven days a week with no off day — which makes it uniquely convenient when every other train is on its weekly off. Afternoon departure, evening arrival in Rajshahi — a good timing for most travellers.		753/754 Intercity
Silk City Express Departs Dhaka: 02:40 PM   Arrives Rajshahi: 08:30 PM   Duration: ~5 hrs 50 min Off Day: Sunday   Key Stops: Airport, Joydebpur, Tangail, Ullapara, Ishwardi Bypass Jn., Natore Named after Rajshahi’s most famous export — its silk — the Silk City Express has been the most popular afternoon train on this route for years. The departure time of 2:40 PM from Kamalapur suits travellers who have work or commitments in Dhaka until mid-afternoon. It makes more stops than Banalata, which adds about an hour to the journey but makes it useful for passengers in Tangail, Sirajganj, or Natore who want to continue to Rajshahi. Off day is Sunday. For everything the Silk City Express offers, it is worth booking 7 to 10 days in advance on weekends.
759/760 Night Express
Padma Express Departs Dhaka: 10:45 PM   Arrives Rajshahi: 04:25 AM   Duration: ~5 hrs 40 min Off Day: Tuesday   Key Stops: Airport, Joydebpur, Tangail, Sirajganj, Ullapara, Ishwardi Bypass Jn., Natore The Padma Express is the overnight train on the Dhaka to Rajshahi route — and the name is fitting, since the Padma River runs through Rajshahi in a way that defines the city’s entire character. Late night departure from Kamalapur, early morning arrival in Rajshahi. It is not the glamorous overnight sleeper that some might hope for — Padma Express offers Shovan, Shovan Chair, and Snigdha classes rather than AC Berth. But for travellers who can sleep in any moving vehicle, it does the job: leave at night, arrive at dawn with a full day ahead of you and one less hotel night to pay for.		761/762 Intercity
Dhumketu Express Departs Dhaka: 06:00 AM   Arrives Rajshahi: 12:10 PM   Duration: ~6 hrs 10 min Off Day: Wednesday   Key Stops: Airport, Joydebpur, Tangail, Bangabandhu Bridge East, Sirajganj, Ullapara, Ishwardi Bypass Jn., Natore Dhumketu means comet — and the early morning departure certainly requires the energy of one. The 6 AM train from Kamalapur is the only early-morning option on the Dhaka to Rajshahi route, which means it serves a specific kind of traveller — those who need to be in Rajshahi by noon. Business travellers, people attending morning meetings, and those planning to catch a connecting bus from Rajshahi to other northwest districts all use this train regularly. The Dhumketu crosses the Bangabandhu Bridge over the Jamuna River — a section of the journey that is always worth watching, particularly at sunrise from the 6 AM train.
795/796 Intercity
Madhumati Express Departs Dhaka: 09:00 AM   Arrives Rajshahi: 04:00 PM   Duration: ~7 hrs Off Day: Thursday   Key Stops: Airport, Joydebpur, Tangail, Bangabandhu Bridge East, Sirajganj, Ullapara, Ishwardi Bypass Jn., Natore, Rajshahi The Madhumati Express — named after the Madhumati River in the southwest — is the slowest intercity train on the Dhaka to Rajshahi route at approximately 7 hours. More stops, more time. But for passengers who are in no hurry, it is a perfectly comfortable and affordable way to make the journey. The morning departure is convenient for those who don’t like rushing, and the midday sections of the journey through the Tangail and Sirajganj farmland are genuinely pleasant. Off day is Thursday. Not the first choice for most travellers, but a solid option when the faster trains are fully booked.

Dhaka to Rajshahi Train Ticket Price 2026 — Class-Wise Fares

Here are the current ticket prices for the Dhaka to Rajshahi train by seat class. The Dhaka to Rajshahi route falls under the Western Zone of Bangladesh Railway — which means it was not affected by the December 2025 Eastern Zone pontage charge revision. Western Zone fares remained stable. The table below shows the current official fares across all trains:

Seat ClassBanalataSilk CityPadma Exp.DhumketuMadhumati
Shovan (Economy)৳ 145৳ 145৳ 145৳ 145৳ 145
Shovan Chair৳ 215৳ 215৳ 215৳ 215৳ 215
First Class Seat৳ 365৳ 365৳ 365৳ 365৳ 365
Snigdha (AC Chair)৳ 700৳ 700৳ 700৳ 700৳ 700
AC Berth / Cabin৳ 1,193৳ 1,193৳ 1,193N/AN/A
Fare Notes — Dhaka to Rajshahi Train Dhaka to Rajshahi fares were not affected by the December 2025 Eastern Zone revision — this route is on the Western Zone. Fares remain stable compared to Eastern Zone routes.A ৳ 20 online service charge applies per ticket when booking at eticket.railway.gov.bd. This is separate from the base ticket price.Children under 3 travel free. Children aged 3 to 12 pay half the adult fare on all Dhaka to Rajshahi trains.Student concession cardholders get up to 50% discount on most intercity trains — apply at your nearest Bangladesh Railway station or divisional office.The Banalata Express has a mandatory food ticket included in some class fares — this is a legacy policy that may still apply. Verify at the time of booking.

Which Dhaka to Rajshahi Train Should You Take?

Five options on the Dhaka to Rajshahi route means there is a train for every type of traveller and every departure preference. Here is a direct recommendation:

Best Overall — Fastest Banalata Express (791) Fastest on the route at 4.5 hours. Runs daily — no off day. Afternoon departure, evening arrival. First choice for most travellers.Best Afternoon — More Stops Silk City Express (753) More flexible for intermediate stations. Popular and well-known. Book 7 to 10 days early for weekends.
Best for Early Arrival Dhumketu Express (761) 6 AM departure, arrive by noon. Only morning option on the route. Sunrise crossing of Bangabandhu Bridge.Best Night Journey Padma Express (759) Depart at 10:45 PM. Arrive Rajshahi at dawn. No AC Berth but Snigdha available.
Best Budget Shovan Chair on Banalata or Silk City ৳ 215 for a reserved fan-cooled seat. Banalata takes under 5 hours — perfectly manageable in economy.Best Premium Experience Snigdha AC on Banalata Express Air-conditioned, fast, daily service. ৳ 700. Best combination of comfort and speed on this route.

What the Dhaka to Rajshahi Train Journey Actually Feels Like

The Dhaka to Rajshahi train journey does not have the dramatic landscape shifts of the Dhaka to Sylhet route. What it has instead is a quiet, expansive beauty that grows on you slowly — the agricultural heartland of Bangladesh at its most open and unhurried. Here is what to expect along the way:

Dhaka to Joydebpur — The City Thinning Out From Kamalapur, the train moves north through Dhaka’s outer urban belt before reaching Joydebpur — the last major Dhaka district stop. The landscape is still semi-urban here: brick factories, ponds, smaller settlements. But after Joydebpur, the train crosses into open country and the city is finally behind you. Tangail and the Bangabandhu Bridge — The Jamuna Crossing Tangail district is where the journey starts to feel genuinely different. The train slows noticeably approaching the Bangabandhu Bridge over the Jamuna River — one of the longest bridges in Asia. On the Dhumketu’s early morning run, crossing this bridge at sunrise is remarkable: the Jamuna is wide here, the light is extraordinary, and the scale of the river reminds you how much water runs through Bangladesh. Once you cross to the other side, you are in the northwest. Sirajganj, Ullapara and the Northern Plains After the bridge, the train passes through the flat agricultural plains of Sirajganj and Pabna districts. This is where the landscape settles into its characteristic northwestern character — wide open fields, longer sight lines than you ever get in the congested east, and the sense that Bangladesh has more space in it than Dhaka would ever let you believe. The sugarcane and paddy fields here are some of the most productive in the country. Ishwardi Junction and the Approach to Rajshahi Ishwardi is the major junction on the route — where trains to Khulna and other southwestern destinations diverge. From here to Rajshahi, the landscape starts to change again: the Padma gets closer, and by the time the train enters Rajshahi’s outer suburbs, you can see the mango orchards that make this region unlike anywhere else in Bangladesh. In season — April to June — the trees are heavy with fruit and the smell reaches you before the view does.

Rajshahi — What Makes It Worth the Journey

Most people travel on the Dhaka to Rajshahi train to visit family or for work. But if you are going to Rajshahi for the first time, or haven’t paid much attention to the city beyond your personal reason for being there, here is what makes it genuinely interesting:

The Mangoes Rajshahi mangoes are not a marketing claim — they are genuinely different from mangoes grown elsewhere in Bangladesh. The Himsagar, Langra, and Fazli varieties grown in the orchards around Rajshahi and nearby Chapainawabganj are considered the finest in the country. Mango season runs from April to June. If you are on the Dhaka to Rajshahi train during those months, the market outside the station will have stalls selling fresh mangoes at prices that are significantly lower than anywhere in Dhaka. The Silk Rajshahi silk is Bangladesh’s most famous textile — a soft, lustrous fabric produced from locally reared silkworms. Rajshahi Silk is available throughout the city, but the best selection and prices are at the Silk Research Institute shop and the dedicated silk markets in the Saheb Bazar area. The Padma River and the University The Padma River embankment in Rajshahi — locally called Padma Garden — is one of the most pleasant riverside walks in any Bangladeshi city. Rajshahi University, one of the largest in the country, makes the city feel more youthful and intellectually alive than most regional centres. The Varendra Research Museum is also worth visiting — the oldest museum in Bangladesh, built in 1910.

How to Book Your Dhaka to Rajshahi Train Ticket

Booking a Dhaka to Rajshahi train ticket online is quick and straightforward. Here is the step-by-step process:

1- Go to eticket.railway.gov.bd The official Bangladesh Railway e-ticketing portal. Only use the official site — it is the only platform that guarantees a valid ticket and a secure payment transaction.2- Select Dhaka as ‘From’ and Rajshahi as ‘To’ Enter your travel date and preferred class. Click Search Train — all available Dhaka to Rajshahi trains for that date will appear with current seat availability counts.
3- Choose your train and class Pick from Banalata, Silk City, Padma, Dhumketu, or Madhumati based on your timing and budget. Select your seat from the live seat map — green seats are available, red are already taken.4- Pay and receive your e-ticket Pay via bKash, Nagad, Rocket, or Visa/Mastercard debit or credit card. Your e-ticket arrives instantly by SMS and email. Both a phone screenshot and a printed copy are valid at the station.
Booking Window — Dhaka to Rajshahi Trains Booking for all Dhaka to Rajshahi trains opens exactly 10 days before the journey date at 8:00 AM BST. Banalata Express and Silk City Express seats fill up fast on Fridays and Saturdays. The Banalata Express is the only train on this route with no off day — useful as a backup when preferred trains are full.

Dhaka to Rajshahi Train — Practical Tips Worth Knowing

These are the things that regular Dhaka to Rajshahi train travellers have learned through experience — practical details that most guides do not include:

  • The Banalata Express runs seven days a week with no off day — the only Dhaka to Rajshahi train with this feature. If every other train you want is fully booked or on its off day, the Banalata is almost always an option.
  • For the Dhumketu Express 6 AM departure, consider boarding at Airport (Biman Bandar) Station rather than Kamalapur if you are coming from northern Dhaka. All Dhaka to Rajshahi trains stop at Airport Station about 20 minutes after leaving Kamalapur — and avoiding a pre-dawn Kamalapur commute is worth the convenience.
  • If you are travelling during mango season (April to June), book your Dhaka to Rajshahi train well in advance. The route becomes unusually popular during mango season as Dhaka buyers, traders, and tourists flood Rajshahi. Seats — especially Snigdha class — go fast.
  • The Bangabandhu Bridge crossing is one of the more visually impressive moments on the Dhaka to Rajshahi journey. The Jamuna is enormous at this point. Window seats give a better view — try to get one on the side facing the river as you approach the bridge from Dhaka.
  • Rajshahi station is smaller and less chaotic than Kamalapur, which is a relief after Dhaka. CNG auto-rickshaws are available right outside for short trips within the city. The city centre and Saheb Bazar market area are about 15 to 20 minutes from the station by CNG.
  • Track your train live on the day: send ‘tr 791’ (Banalata) or ‘tr 753’ (Silk City) to 16318. Works on Grameenphone, Robi, and Banglalink. Charge: ৳ 4 plus VAT per SMS.

Frequently Asked Questions — Dhaka to Rajshahi Train

Q: What is the fastest Dhaka to Rajshahi train? A: The Banalata Express (train no. 791/792) is the fastest Dhaka to Rajshahi train, covering approximately 245 km in about 4 hours 35 minutes. It departs Kamalapur at 1:30 PM and arrives in Rajshahi at approximately 6:05 PM. Unlike other trains on this route, Banalata Express runs every day with no weekly off day.
Q: What is the Dhaka to Rajshahi train ticket price in 2026? A: Dhaka to Rajshahi train ticket prices range from ৳ 145 (Shovan class) to ৳ 1,193 (AC Berth/Cabin). Shovan Chair costs ৳ 215, First Class Seat is ৳ 365, and Snigdha AC Chair costs ৳ 700. The Dhaka to Rajshahi route is on the Western Zone and was not affected by the December 2025 Eastern Zone fare revision — fares remained stable. A ৳ 20 online service charge applies when booking at eticket.railway.gov.bd.
Q: How many trains run from Dhaka to Rajshahi daily? A: Five intercity trains run on the Dhaka to Rajshahi route — Banalata Express, Silk City Express, Padma Express, Dhumketu Express, and Madhumati Express. Each has a different departure time, off day, and number of stops. There is no mail train on this route — all five services are intercity expresses.
Q: How long does the Dhaka to Rajshahi train journey take? A: The Dhaka to Rajshahi train journey takes between 4 hours 35 minutes (Banalata Express — fastest) and 7 hours (Madhumati Express — slowest). Most intercity trains complete the 245 km route in 5 to 6 hours depending on the number of intermediate stops.
Q: Does the Banalata Express run every day? A: Yes — the Banalata Express (791/792) is the only Dhaka to Rajshahi train that operates seven days a week with no weekly off day. All other trains on the route have one designated off day per week. This makes Banalata Express a useful backup option when other trains are not running.
Q: Is the Dhaka to Rajshahi train route on the Western or Eastern Zone? A: The Dhaka to Rajshahi train route is on the Western Zone of Bangladesh Railway. This is an important distinction because the December 2025 fare revision — which added pontage and bridge charges — only applied to Eastern Zone routes. Dhaka to Rajshahi fares were not affected and remain at their pre-revision levels.
Q: What is the best time to travel from Dhaka to Rajshahi by train? A: For most travellers, the Banalata Express at 1:30 PM is the best option — it is the fastest train on the route, runs daily, and the afternoon departure with evening arrival is a convenient timing. For those who need to be in Rajshahi early in the day, the Dhumketu Express at 6:00 AM is the only morning option. Mango season (April to June) is the best time to visit Rajshahi itself.
Q: What is the distance from Dhaka to Rajshahi by train? A: The distance from Dhaka to Rajshahi by train is approximately 245 kilometres, measured along the Bangladesh Railway Western Zone track from Kamalapur in Dhaka to Rajshahi Railway Station. The rail route passes through Joydebpur, Tangail, the Bangabandhu Bridge, Sirajganj, Ishwardi, and Natore.

Ready to Book Your Dhaka to Rajshahi Train?

The Dhaka to Rajshahi train is one of Bangladesh’s most reliable and comfortable intercity journeys. Five daily trains, a route that takes you through some of the country’s most productive agricultural landscapes, and a destination that offers the best mangoes, the finest silk, and the widest stretch of the Padma River you will find anywhere — Rajshahi is genuinely worth the trip.

Book your Dhaka to Rajshahi train ticket at eticket.railway.gov.bd. Booking opens 10 days before your travel date at 8:00 AM. For help or enquiries, call Bangladesh Railway at 131. Track your train live on the day: send ‘tr 791’ (Banalata) or ‘tr 753’ (Silk City) to 16318 from GP, Robi, or Banglalink.

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