An Indian delegation will arrive here on the train for talks during its two-day stay to finalise details of the service.

"We are hoping to start the train service by the end of this month, but it will depend on the outcome of the meetings," Bangladesh Railways Director General Belayet Hossain told The Daily Star last night.

Sources, however, said the Indian side also expects the train service to start by the end of this month and may be as early as the third week of July, which is Dhaka's target period after a number of false starts.

Indian media had earlier reported that the train service would open on April 14, but New Delhi retreated from its position, saying the logistics were incomplete.

In the talks, the two sides will seek to iron out differences over the number of seats and the frequency of the service. Dhaka wants the train to run every alternate day with a capacity of

700 passengers, while New Delhi, fearing infeasibility, wants once-a-week service for a 300-passenger train, sources said.

Belayet said all preparations on the Bangladeshi side are complete and he will be informed of India's progress when the team arrives here for the talks on July 9 and 10.

The Indian delegation, comprising officials from railways, home and foreign ministries, will sit with the members of the communications, home, and foreign ministries here.

Bangladesh has proposed draft one-way charges for the train service, with $8 for regular coach seat, $12 for AC chair and $20 for AC sleeping berth.

The non-stop train service will link Dhaka's Cantonment Station with Kolkata's Sealdah Station, with the Kamlapur Railway Station to take over from the Cantonment Station as the starting point in December.

All customs and immigrations services for the train service will be provided at Dhaka Cantonment Station and India's Gede Station.

Earlier, a passenger train service between the two cities was introduced towards the end of the Awami League government in July 2001. One passenger train had run on trial basis. But the service was cancelled after the BNP-led coalition came to power.

Meanwhile, the Indian authorities have decided to provide customs and immigration services at Gede, not at Sealdah.