Metro rail night operation extended by 20 minutes from Sunday

The metro rail authority (DMTCL) has decided to extend train operation hours by 20 minutes from Sunday, June 7, increasing night-time services in both directions.

Currently, the first train departs from Uttara for Motijheel at 6:30 am daily. The last train from Motijheel to Uttara currently leaves at 10:10 pm. Under the new schedule, it will depart at 10:30 pm. The last train from Uttara to Motijheel currently leaves at 9:30 pm and will now depart at 9:50 pm.

The authority said a one-month trial run was conducted to extend the night-time service. From Sunday, a single additional trip will be added in each direction — one train towards Motijheel and one towards Uttara. As a result, the headway between the two trains will be 10 minutes.

DMTCL Director (Operation and Maintenance) Nazrul Islam told the media that all preparations are complete to extend night-time services in both directions. He expressed hope that services will be extended by 20 minutes in both directions from Sunday.

When asked whether the timing will be extended further, he said it will be done gradually, but a final decision will come from higher levels of government.

The metro rail was first launched in Dhaka on December 28, 2022, initially operating from Uttara to Agargaon. The number of stations was gradually increased, and passenger boarding and alighting at all stations up to Motijheel began on December 31, 2023.