Parabat Express Schedule — Station Timings, Stoppage & Ticket Price (2026)
The name says something. Parabat means mountain pigeon in Bengali — fast, purposeful, and heading toward the hills. This train has been making the Dhaka-Sylhet run since 19 March 1986, which makes it one of Bangladesh Railway’s oldest continuously operating intercity services. Nearly four decades later, it remains the first train Sylhet-bound passengers reach for, the one that diaspora travellers from the UK book months in advance for Eid visits, and the standard against which every other train on this corridor is measured.
Train 709 runs Dhaka to Sylhet, Train 710 returns — complete station timings, stoppage list, ticket prices, and what the journey is actually like.
| Parabat Express — Key Details Train Numbers: 709 (Dhaka → Sylhet) | 710 (Sylhet → Dhaka) Route: Dhaka Kamalapur ↔ Sylhet Railway Station Distance: ~319 km Journey Time: ~6 hours 30 minutes (709) | ~6 hours 45 minutes (710) Off Day: Tuesday — does not run in either direction Total Stoppages: 11 stations including origin and terminus Classes: Shovan, Shovan Chair, First Class Seat, Snigdha (AC Chair), AC Berth Inaugurated: 19 March 1986 — running for 40 years Live Tracking: SMS ‘TR 709’ or ‘TR 710’ to 16318 |
Train 709 — Dhaka to Sylhet Station Timings
Train 709 is the early morning departure from Kamalapur — the direction that gets Dhaka passengers to Sylhet in the early afternoon. The early departure is part of what makes this train popular: leave Dhaka at dawn, arrive in Sylhet before lunch, and have the rest of the day ahead of you. Here is the complete Parabat Express schedule for Train 709:
| Station | Arrival | Departure | Halt |
| Dhaka Kamalapur | — | 06:30 AM | Starting Station |
| Dhaka Airport (Biman Bandar) | 06:53 AM | 06:58 AM | 5 min |
| Bhairab Bazar | 08:03 AM | 08:06 AM | 3 min |
| Brahmanbaria | 08:26 AM | 08:29 AM | 3 min |
| Azampur | 08:50 AM | 08:52 AM | 2 min |
| Nayapara | 09:30 AM | 09:32 AM | 2 min |
| Shaistaganj | 09:52 AM | 09:55 AM | 3 min |
| Srimangal | 10:32 AM | 10:35 AM | 3 min |
| Bhanugach | 10:54 AM | 10:56 AM | 2 min |
| Kulaura Junction | 11:25 AM | 11:28 AM | 3 min |
| Maijgaon | 11:55 AM | 11:57 AM | 2 min |
| Sylhet | 01:00 PM | — | Terminus |
| Srimangal — The Stop Worth Knowing About Srimangal station — Bangladesh’s tea capital — sits about halfway through the journey and is one of the most requested stops on this entire corridor. Passengers travelling to the tea estates, Lawachara National Park, or the famous seven-layer tea shops often prefer to alight here rather than continuing to Sylhet. Train 709 stops for 3 minutes at Srimangal at 10:32 AM. If you are getting off here, confirm with the ticket checker on board that the train is scheduled to stop — it occasionally runs as a request stop depending on the day. |
Train 710 — Sylhet to Dhaka Station Timings
Train 710 is the afternoon return from Sylhet — the direction that brings passengers back to Dhaka in the evening. It departs Sylhet in the mid-afternoon, which gives travellers a full morning and early afternoon in Sylhet before needing to head back. The complete timing for Train 710:
| Station | Arrival | Departure | Halt |
| Sylhet | — | 04:00 PM | Starting Station |
| Maijgaon | 04:03 PM | 04:05 PM | 2 min |
| Kulaura Junction | 04:32 PM | 04:35 PM | 3 min |
| Bhanugach | 05:02 PM | 05:04 PM | 2 min |
| Srimangal | 05:23 PM | 05:26 PM | 3 min |
| Shaistaganj | 06:03 PM | 06:06 PM | 3 min |
| Nayapara | 06:26 PM | 06:28 PM | 2 min |
| Azampur | 07:05 PM | 07:07 PM | 2 min |
| Brahmanbaria | 07:28 PM | 07:31 PM | 3 min |
| Bhairab Bazar | 07:51 PM | 07:54 PM | 3 min |
| Dhaka Airport (Biman Bandar) | 09:00 PM | 09:03 PM | 3 min |
| Dhaka Kamalapur | 09:40 PM | — | Terminus |
Note: Train 710 timings are approximate. Bangladesh Railway publishes the official timetable but actual running times can vary by 15 to 30 minutes depending on track conditions, seasonal weather, and operational factors. The Sylhet return journey (Train 710) is slightly longer at approximately 6 hours 45 minutes, compared to the Dhaka-bound direction. Always check at railway.gov.bd on the day of travel.
The Parabat Express Stoppage List — What Each Station Means
Unlike the Subarna Express on the Chittagong route — which stops at only one intermediate station — the Parabat Express makes ten stops between Dhaka and Sylhet. That is a significant difference, and it changes the character of the journey. Each stop serves a genuine purpose: Bhairab Bazar and Brahmanbaria are major towns in their own right. Nayapara and Azampur serve the densely populated Habiganj corridor. Shaistaganj is the gateway to the Habiganj district headquarters. And Srimangal, Bhanugach, Kulaura, and Maijgaon take the train deep into the hilly, forested tea-country of Moulvibazar district before the final run into Sylhet.
The result is a train that functions both as a premium intercity express and as a practical connection for the major towns along the northeast corridor — something the Sylhet route needs in a way that the more urban Chittagong corridor does not.
Complete Stoppage List — Train 709 (Dhaka → Sylhet)
1. Dhaka Kamalapur — Origin. Departs 6:30 AM.
2. Dhaka Airport (Biman Bandar) — 6:53 AM. For passengers from northern Dhaka.
3. Bhairab Bazar — 8:03 AM. Major river-town, gateway to Kishoreganj district.
4. Brahmanbaria — 8:26 AM. Large district town. Many passengers board and alight here.
5. Azampur — 8:50 AM. Junction area.
6. Nayapara — 9:30 AM. Habiganj district.
7. Shaistaganj — 9:52 AM. Near Habiganj city. Popular boarding point.
8. Srimangal — 10:32 AM. Bangladesh’s tea capital. Gateway to tea estates and Lawachara.
9. Bhanugach — 10:54 AM. Moulvibazar district.
10. Kulaura Junction — 11:25 AM. Important rail junction. Trains to Fenchuganj branch off here.
11. Maijgaon — 11:55 AM. Final stop before Sylhet.12. Sylhet — 1:00 PM. Terminus.
Ticket Prices — 2026 Updated Fares
The Parabat Express offers more seat class options than most trains on the network — five in total, from basic budget seating to fully air-conditioned sleeping berths. Fares below reflect the December 2025 Eastern Zone revision. A ৳ 20 online service fee applies when booking through eticket.railway.gov.bd:
| Class | Fare | What You Get |
| Shovan (Economy) | ৳ 145 | Basic non-AC seating. No seat reservation in the traditional sense. |
| Shovan Chair | ৳ 215 | Reserved fan-cooled seat. The most popular class for budget-conscious travellers. |
| First Class Seat | ৳ 365 | Non-AC but more comfortable than Shovan Chair. Wider seats. |
| Snigdha (AC Chair) | ৳ 700 | Air-conditioned, cushioned reclining seat. Best value for comfort on this 6.5-hour journey. |
| AC Berth | ৳ 1,193 | Fully air-conditioned sleeping berth. Worth it for early morning or overnight variants. |
| Fare Notes All fares include the December 2025 Eastern Zone pontage charge revision. A ৳ 20 online service charge is added when booking at eticket.railway.gov.bd.Children under 3 travel free. Children aged 3 to 12 pay half the adult fare.Student concession cardholders get up to 50% off on most intercity classes. Apply at any Bangladesh Railway station with a valid student ID.It is one of the few trains on the network that still offers all five seat classes — including the rarely available First Class Seat. Worth knowing if you want comfort without full AC pricing. |
What the Journey Is Actually Like
Six and a half hours is a long time to sit anywhere. The Parabat Express is not the fastest train in Bangladesh — but it runs through some of the most remarkable countryside the country has to offer, and the journey itself is worth paying attention to.
| Dhaka to Brahmanbaria — The City Falling Away From Kamalapur, the train moves through Dhaka’s outer industrial suburbs — brick kilns, waterways, the sprawl thinning — and reaches Dhaka Airport station 23 minutes after departure. After that, the city releases its grip. By Bhairab Bazar, you are in open country with the Meghna running wide and flat to the south. Brahmanbaria — the second major stop — has a genuine town energy that is worth watching from the platform during the 3-minute halt. Azampur to Shaistaganj — River Country This middle section of the journey passes through the haor country of Habiganj district — seasonal wetlands that flood dramatically during the monsoon (June to September) and turn the landscape into an inland sea visible from the train. If you are travelling in this period and have a window seat, the view from Azampur onward can be genuinely extraordinary. In the dry season, the same land is paddy and sugarcane. Srimangal — The Stretch That Makes This Journey Famous From around 10 AM, as the train approaches Srimangal, the flat delta gives way to rolling hills. The tea bushes appear — first in patches, then in long flowing rows across hillsides that look impossibly green. This is the stretch that people who have done the journey remember. The light here is different, the air quality changes, and the landscape looks nothing like the Bangladesh visible from Dhaka’s windows. If you have been looking at your phone since Bhairab Bazar, this is when to put it down. Kulaura to Sylhet — The Final Run After Kulaura Junction — where a branch line diverges south — the train is deep in Sylhet division territory. The landscape becomes more layered and textured, with wider river valleys and the first hints of the urban fringe. The approach into Sylhet station is through the outer suburbs, and by the time the train stops, you have crossed from one Bangladesh into something distinctly different. |
A Note on Diaspora Travel — Why This Train Books Out Early
The Sylhet region has one of the highest rates of overseas emigration in Bangladesh — particularly to the United Kingdom, where the British Bangladeshi community is overwhelmingly of Sylheti origin. During UK school holidays in July, August, and December, thousands of diaspora families travel from Dhaka to Sylhet to visit relatives. This creates demand spikes on the Parabat Express that dwarf even the usual Eid-season rush. During these periods, seats can sell out the moment the 10-day booking window opens — sometimes within minutes.
If you are travelling to Sylhet during July, August, or December — or in the weeks around Eid — book on day one of the booking window. Set a phone reminder for 7:55 AM on the day the window opens (10 days before your journey date). Being 5 minutes late can mean no Snigdha seats left for your preferred date.
Booking Your Ticket
Online booking is done at eticket.railway.gov.bd. Select Dhaka as departure and Sylhet as destination (or the reverse). Enter your travel date and preferred class. The seat map shows availability in real time. Pay via bKash, Nagad, Rocket, or any Visa/Mastercard. Your e-ticket arrives by SMS and email instantly.
Booking window opens 10 days before travel at 8:00 AM. Snigdha and AC Berth seats on weekends and during peak diaspora travel periods sell out within the first 30 to 60 minutes. For Shovan Chair, you have a little more time — but not much on Fridays and Saturdays.
Tips Worth Knowing Before You Travel
Parabat Express vs Other Dhaka-Sylhet Trains
Three intercity trains run on the Dhaka-Sylhet corridor. Here is how the Parabat Express compares:
| Factor | Parabat (709/710) | Jayantika (719/720) | Kalni (773/774) |
| Dhaka departure | 6:30 AM — early morning | 12:00 PM — midday | 4:00 PM — afternoon |
| Arrives Sylhet | 1:00 PM | 7:45 PM | 11:30 PM |
| Off Day | Tuesday | Monday | Friday |
| Journey Time | ~6.5 hours | ~7.75 hours | ~7.5 hours |
| Best for | Full day in Sylhet | Can’t do mornings | Afternoon travellers |
| AC Berth | Yes | No | No |
| Running since | 1986 — oldest | More recent | More recent |
Simple verdict: the Parabat Express is the best option for almost every traveller heading to Sylhet. The early morning departure maximises your time there, AC Berth is exclusively available on this train among the three options, and its 40-year track record on this corridor is a form of reliability data that no other Dhaka-Sylhet train can match. The Jayantika is a solid second choice when Parabat is booked up, and Kalni serves travellers who genuinely cannot leave until afternoon — accepting the late-night arrival in exchange.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1: What is the Parabat Express schedule for 2026?
A: Train 709 (Dhaka to Sylhet): Departs Kamalapur at 6:30 AM, stops at Airport 6:53 AM, Bhairab Bazar 8:03 AM, Brahmanbaria 8:26 AM, Azampur 8:50 AM, Nayapara 9:30 AM, Shaistaganj 9:52 AM, Srimangal 10:32 AM, Bhanugach 10:54 AM, Kulaura 11:25 AM, Maijgaon 11:55 AM, arrives Sylhet at 1:00 PM. Train 710 (Sylhet to Dhaka): Departs Sylhet at 4:00 PM, arrives Dhaka Kamalapur at approximately 9:40 PM. Off day is Tuesday.
Q:2 What stations does the Parabat Express stop at?
A: The train stops at 10 intermediate stations between Dhaka and Sylhet: Airport (Biman Bandar), Bhairab Bazar, Brahmanbaria, Azampur, Nayapara, Shaistaganj, Srimangal, Bhanugach, Kulaura Junction, and Maijgaon. It is the most comprehensive stopping service among the three Dhaka-Sylhet intercity trains.
Q3: What is the Parabat Express ticket price in 2026?
A: Shovan ৳ 145, Shovan Chair ৳ 215, First Class Seat ৳ 365, Snigdha AC Chair ৳ 700, AC Berth ৳ 1,193. A ৳ 20 online service charge applies when booking at eticket.railway.gov.bd. Fares reflect the December 2025 Eastern Zone revision.
Q4: What is the off day for Parabat Express?
A: Tuesday is the weekly off day for both Train 709 and Train 710. The Parabat Express operates six days a week — Wednesday through Monday.
Q5: Can I board at Airport Station instead of Kamalapur?
A: Yes. Train 709 stops at Dhaka Airport (Biman Bandar) Railway Station at 6:53 AM — 23 minutes after the Kamalapur departure. If you are coming from Uttara, Gulshan, or the Airport Road area, boarding here is considerably more convenient. Book your ticket for Airport Station as your boarding point when purchasing online.
Q6: Does the Parabat Express stop at Srimangal?
A: Yes. Train 709 stops at Srimangal at 10:32 AM for 3 minutes. Train 710 stops at Srimangal at approximately 5:23 PM. Srimangal is a popular alighting point for travellers going to the tea estates, Lawachara National Park, or the famous seven-layer tea shops. Confirm with the ticket checker on board that the train will stop, as it occasionally operates as a request stop.
Q7: How old is the Parabat Express?
A: The Parabat Express made its inaugural run on 19 March 1986 — making it nearly 40 years old as of 2026. It is one of Bangladesh Railway’s oldest continuously operating intercity services and has been the flagship Dhaka-Sylhet train for four decades.
Forty Years on the Same Route
The Parabat Express has been making this journey since Bangladesh Railway’s intercity era began. Forty years of the same corridor, tens of millions of passengers, through Eid rushes and monsoon floods and decades of change in the two cities it connects. That kind of history is not just sentiment — it is evidence that the train does what it promises. It gets you to Sylhet.
Book at eticket.railway.gov.bd. Booking window opens 10 days before travel at 8:00 AM. Track live on travel day: ‘TR 709’ or ‘TR 710’ to 16318.
