Saidpur Railway Station, Saidpur

sohanurrahman (77)Friendin Steem Sri Lanka • 2 months ago

^{As-Salamu Alaykum (Peace Be Upon You)}

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Today, I’m going to talk about Saidpur Railway Station. Saidpur is the nearest city from our town, and I’ve visited there many times by train. So, let’s learn a bit about this station, which was established around 150 years ago

Location & Accessibility


^{Saidpur Railway Station}

Saidpur Railway Station is located in Saidpur Upazila of Nilphamari District under the Rangpur Division. The station is situated close to the Saidpur Railway Workshop. The road to the station is not in perfect condition, but it’s not too bad either. You can easily reach the station by auto-rickshaw, van, or car from any part of the town, although no buses operate on this route. Still, reaching the station is quite easy using other means of transport.

Station Structure & Environment


^{An auto rickshaw in front of the station}

From the current structure of the station, it’s clear that the modern design hasn’t been there for very long. The station wasn’t very developed before, but a few years ago, I was surprised to see how much it had changed after visiting again.

	^{Main entrance to the station}
	^{Exit way}

With the renovation, many new facilities have been added, improving the quality of passenger service. The station has two platforms, among them, Platform 1 is the most important. All passenger facilities such as the waiting room and resting area are located on Platform 1, equipped with fans and proper lighting.

	^{Middle place of the railway station}
	^{There are seating areas at the station}

However, Platform 2 lacks such amenities since fewer trains stop there. There’s an overbridge from which you can enjoy a nice view of the station. The platform is a bit narrow, and the shed isn’t quite perfect for rainy weather. The entry and exit gates are wide enough, which is a good thing overall.

Facilities & Services

Even though the station is small and has limited facilities, it still provides essential services for passengers. You can park cars in front of the station. There are two ticket counters, and I’ve never seen much crowd there. Interestingly, near the counter, there’s a sign that says “Slap the blackers at your own risk”, meaning this station does not tolerate ticket black marketeers.

	^{Ticket counter No.1}
	^{Ticket Counter No.2}
	^{Information center}

Next to the ticket counter is an information center. A signboard also explains how to purchase tickets through the online app. The station has two resting rooms, one for first-class and another for second-class passengers, both fairly comfortable. There’s also the Station Master’s office where you can get updates about train schedules.


^{Promotional signboard of Rail Sheba app}

Users can download the "Rail Sheba" app, select their desired service, choose a payment method, confirm payment, and receive their e-ticket. Users must use their own ID to purchase tickets and collect the physical ticket from a reserve counter before travel. Tickets are non-transferable and should not be purchased from computer shops or the black market. The system encourages a move to digital services.

	^{First class restroom/waiting room}
	^{Office of the Station Master on Duty}
	^{2nd class waiting room}

You’ll see “No Smoking” signs in various areas, a great initiative. In one corner of the station complex, there’s a Mother’s Milk Corner, a thoughtful addition that every station should have. The station even has a small library for passengers. There’s also a mosque for prayers, and near it, a few small bakeries where you can have snacks and tea.

	^{Smoking is prohibited here}
	^{Lactation room}
	^{A library in the station}

When hiring porters, passengers should be careful to choose only those wearing ID cards and uniforms. The porter charge list is displayed on a signboard, which I’ve included in my post below.

The chart of luggage porter rate:

Description of Luggage/Parcel	Quantity/Weight	Distance	Porter Charge Rate
1 Bag	Up to 28 kg	Train–Rickshaw/Van–Train	25 BDT per trip
Multiple Bags	Each up to 28 kg	Train–Rickshaw/Van–Train	25 BDT per bag
1 Bag	Up to 37 kg	Train–Rickshaw/Van–Train	40 BDT per trip
Multiple Bags	Each up to 37 kg	Train–Rickshaw/Van–Train	35 BDT per bag
1 Bag	Up to 56 kg	Train–Rickshaw/Van–Train	50 BDT per trip
Multiple Bags	Each up to 56 kg	Train–Rickshaw/Van–Train	40 BDT per bag
Trolley	Used by porter	Train–Rickshaw/Van–Train	50 BDT per trip
Trolley	Used by passenger	Train–Rickshaw/Van–Train	30 BDT per trip
Wheelchair/Stretcher	Used by porter	Train–Rickshaw/Van–Train	50 BDT per trip
Wheelchair/Stretcher	Used by passenger	Train–Rickshaw/Van–Train	30 BDT per trip

Train Services & Schedule

Only seven trains operate through Saidpur Station, six intercity and one local train. These connect Saidpur to major cities like Dhaka, Rajshahi, Khulna, Nilphamari, Chilahati, and Parbatipur. Passengers must collect tickets from the counter before boarding. Besides passenger trains, oil tankers and freight wagons also pass through this route. Below, I’ve shared the up and down train schedule for Saidpur Station.

	^{Train schedule}
	^{Oil tanker wagons}

Up Train Schedule

Train No.	Train Name	Arrives at Saidpur	Departs from Saidpur	Origin Station	Departure Time	Destination Station	Arrival Time
727	Rupsha Express	15:37	15:42	Khulna	07:15	Chilahati	17:05
731	Barendra Express	20:11	20:14	Rajshahi	15:00	Chilahati	21:35
733	Titumir Express	11:47	11:52	Rajshahi	06:20	Chilahati	13:00
747	Simanta Express	05:17	05:22	Khulna	21:15	Chilahati	06:45
765	Nilsagar Express	14:27	14:39	Dhaka	06:45	Chilahati	16:00
805	Chilahati Express	01:17	01:22	Dhaka	17:00	Chilahati	03:00

	^{Nilsagar express train}
	^{A passenger coach in the 2nd platform}

Down train schedule

Train No.	Train Name	Arrives at Saidpur	Departs from Saidpur	Destination	Destination Departure	Origin	Origin Arrival
728	Rupsha Express	09:30	09:35	Chilahati	08:30	Khulna	18:20
732	Barendra Express	06:04	06:08	Chilahati	05:00	Rajshahi	11:10
734	Titumir Express	16:05	16:19	Chilahati	15:00	Rajshahi	21:30
748	Simanta Express	19:29	19:34	Chilahati	18:45	Khulna	04:20
766	Nilsagar Express	20:59	21:04	Chilahati	20:00	Dhaka	05:30
806	Chilahati Express	06:59	07:04	Chilahati	06:00	Dhaka	14:50


^{A view of the end part of the No. 1 platform}	^{Two important railway lines of the station}

Staff Behavior & Management

There are offices for the Station Master and Ticket Checkers (TC). The Station Master behaves politely with passengers and provides necessary information about trains. Both ticket counters are active, and staff members are cooperative, if a ticket is unavailable, they inform passengers clearly.


^{Office of station master}	^{TC office}

Safety and Surrounding

The station and its surrounding areas feel fairly safe. It’s a busy area close to other railway offices, and security personnel are often seen around. CCTV cameras are also installed across the station premises. So overall, the surroundings are safe and convenient, though it’s still wise to keep an eye on your belongings and mobile phone.

Personal Experience

I have many memories connected to Saidpur Railway Station, as I’ve visited it numerous times. I’m quite familiar with its strengths and shortcomings.

What I Like:

All the main facilities are located in one place, which makes it very convenient.
There’s a mosque for prayers.
The station has a small library and bakery shops.
Instructions for online ticketing are clearly displayed.
Information about train schedules and porter fares are well posted.
There are a few small hotels nearby for snacks and breakfast.

What I Dislike:

The platform is not wide enough.
The second platform is barely functional.
Restrooms are small.
There’s limited shade for rainy weather.
No public toilet available for general passengers

Overall, Saidpur Railway Station plays an important role in passenger service. Many intercity trains stop here, benefiting people in and around this region. Personally, I enjoy my train journeys from this station

Suggestions for Improvement

In my opinion, more facilities should be added to Platform 2, and some trains should stop there to reduce the crowd on Platform 1. The resting rooms are quite small, they could be expanded into the open space nearby. There should also be separate washrooms for men and women.

Conclusion

Saidpur Railway Station is one of the most important stations in Northern Bangladesh. It has become quite modern compared to the past. Many passengers now travel safely and comfortably through this station. I believe that in the future, it will become even more modern and play a greater role in improving railway services.


^{Map of Bangladesh Railway Network}

Attribute	Details
Steem Atlas Location	[//]:# (!steematlas 25.78827 lat 88.892422 long Saidpur Railway Station d3scr)
Google Location	25.788270,88.892422, link
Country	Bangladesh
Status	Active
Features	Passenger train, Oil tanker wagons, Freight Train
Cleanliness	Good
Overall Rating	7/10