India, Bangladesh Resume Train Services

印度和孟加拉国重启客运火车服务

　



India and Bangladesh have resumed passenger train service across their border after more than four decades. The services had been suspended following a war between India and Pakistan.

　

印度与孟加拉国重启中断了40多年的客运列车服务。该项服务在印度与巴基斯坦战争之后即告中止。

Thousands of enthusiastic people waved in the eastern Indian city of Kolkata as a flower-adorned train began its inaugural journey to Bangladesh's capital, Dhaka.

　

成千上万人聚集在印度东部城市加尔各答，欢送一辆由鲜花装饰的列车缓缓启动，驶往孟加拉的首都达卡，开始了其处女航。

The celebrations were equally joyous in Dhaka, as officials flagged off a decorated train in the opposite direction amid traditional singing and dancing.

　

达卡的通车典礼场面同样热闹。一辆装饰华丽的火车朝著相反方向驶出，并伴以传统歌舞表演。

The passenger train service between Dhaka and Kolkata has been named the "Moitree" or Friendship Express. It was started on the first day of the Bengali New Year.

　

达卡与加尔各答间的载客火车被命名为“Moitree”，意思是“友谊快车”。该车于孟加拉新年初一首发。

Officials on both sides called it an historic moment for both nations, and said it would strengthen bonds between the two countries.

　

双方官员皆称这是两国历史性的一刻，并将增强稳固两国关系。

Train services have been suspended in the region since 1965 when India and Pakistan fought a war. Bangladesh was then a part of Pakistan, but six years later it became an independent nation.

　

从1965年印度与巴基斯坦发生战争之后，火车服务便停止了。孟加拉当时是巴基斯坦的一部分，6年后成为独立国家。

People of Bangladesh and West Bengal in India share a common culture and language. Thousands of people have relatives on both sides of the border, but they have not been able to meet easily since 1947 when Bengal was divided between India and Pakistan.

　

孟加拉与印度的西孟加拉邦拥有相同文化跟语言。数千计的人们在边境的两侧都有亲人，但从1947年，孟加拉被印度与巴斯基坦分裂之后，他们便难以相见。

Enthusiastic and emotional passengers boarding the train in India said the service will help people on both sides restore links.

　

在印度登上火车的乘客激动的说，该项服务将能帮助双边的人们重建关系。

These passengers say brothers, sisters and relatives will be able to re-establish bonds that were severed. One of them said he felt like crying. They say politics kept them apart, but it will now be easier for them to re-unite.

　

这些乘客说，久被隔绝的兄弟姊妹、亲戚家人，将能因此团圆。其中一位表示，他激动得快要哭出来了。乘客们说，他们迫于政治原因而分离，但现在团聚起来要容易多了。

The two countries are also connected by more expensive air and bus services. The trains will initially run twice a week.

　

两国之间也有价格较昂贵的飞机航班以及公共巴士服务。在最初阶段，火车将维持一周两班。

Security concerns have delayed the roll-out of the service. India has insisted on the construction of a fence in the area where the train passes through a barely-populated region where smuggling and illegal migration take place.

　

出于安全考虑，客运列车服务曾被推迟。印度坚持在沿途一段偷渡与非法移民猖獗的人烟稀少的地带建筑围墙。

Security was tight on both sides as the service began. In India, a group representing Hindu refugees (All Bengal Citizens Committee) from Bangladesh briefly tried to obstruct the train because it opposes closer links between the two countries.

Relations between India and Bangladesh have been marred by suspicion and rivalry for many years even though India helped Bangladesh win its independence from Pakistan. But officials hope the train service will strengthen their relations. The service is expected to be popular with Bangladeshis visiting their larger neighbor for business or medical treatment.