"We are taking all necessary steps to start the service," said Biswas, who participated in a meeting of Indian officials who decided to expedite efforts to restore the rail link. Calcutta and Dhaka are currently connected by air and bus services.

The train services stopped in 1965 following a war between India and Pakistan. Bangladesh was then the eastern part of Pakistan and became independent in 1971.The slow train is expected to cover a distance of 215 miles between Dhaka and Calcutta in 12 hours.