Bangladesh Railway will operate eight pairs of special trains on different routes in a bid to ensure hassle-free journey for holidaymakers on the occasion of Eid-ul-Azha.

Railways Minister Nurul Islam Sujan came up with the information at a press briefing held at the Rail Bhaban on Tuesday.

The advance sale of train tickets will start from June 14.

According to the decision made in a meeting held on May 24, 100% of tickets will be sold online. Standing tickets will be issued at four counters, said the minister.

The train tickets for June 24, 25, 26, 27, and 28 will be available on June 14, 15, 16, 17 and 18 respectively.

The advance sale of return tickets for Eid journey will start on June 22.

Meanwhile, return tickets for July 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6 will be available on June 22, 23, 24, 25 and 26.

Apart from this, a total of 218 additional engines have been planned to be added. Of them, 116 will be used for the eastern region and 102 in the western region for Eid journey, said the minister 

Besides, train tickets will be sold in two shifts to prevent the railway server from going down due to the pressure of excess passengers. The tickets for all intercity trains plying in the western regions will be sold from 8am onwards while the tickets for all intercity trains running in the eastern regions will be sold from 12pm, he said. 

Railway Minister Nurul Islam Sujan said that a new pair of inter-city trains named Chilahati Express will run on the Dhaka-Chilahati route from June 4.

 He said Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will inaugurate this service.