Kolkata Suburban Railway


Kolkata Suburban Railway
An EMU train at station
Overview
Area served Kolkata metropolitan area
Locale Kolkata, West Bengal
Transit type Commuter Rail
Number of stations 348
Website Eastern Railways
South Eastern Railways
Operation
Began operation 15 August 1854
Operator(s) Eastern Railways
South Eastern Railways
Number of vehicles 1457 (Eastern Railways)
Technical
Track gauge 1,676 mm (5 ft 6 in) (broad gauge)

The Kolkata Suburban Railway is a suburban rail system serving the suburbs surrounding the city of Kolkata. Railways such as this are important and heavily used infrastructure in India. It is the largest suburban railway network in India by track length and number of stations.Introduced by the British in 1927/28, the electrified suburban railway of Kolkata had 2 parts viz Eastern section & BNR section.The Eastern Section Eastern Railway (ER), when introduced, ran from Howrah to Bardhhaman via Bandel as Main Line and via Kamarkundu as Chord Line. The BNR Section South Eastern Railway (SER) when introduced, ran from Howrah to Midnapore. Now Kolkata Sub-Urban Railway has 348 stations and a track length of 1,172 km.[1] The suburban railway operates 1450 EMU services and 159 MEMU services carrying 3.1 million (31.51 lakhs) people daily.[1] It runs from 4 a.m to 2 a.m in the night.

Currently the Sub-Urban railway services in Kolkata are operated by Eastern Railway (ER) and South Eastern Railway (SER). The Kolkata Metro (KMRCL) operates the underground Metro services in the city as well. There is a separate Circular Railway corridor in the city also operated by ER under Sealdah Division. The Howrah line of Eastern Railways has a rolling stock of 12 coach EMU made by Jessop and ICF. BEML emus have also been bought and they are in use. The Sealdah line has a rolling stock of 9, 10, 12 car EMU, also made by Jessop and ICF. 2 BEML EMU trains of 9 coaches are also operational. The South Eastern Railways (SER) uses both 9 and 12 coaches EMUs, also made by Jessop and ICF.

From Howrah Station

South-Eastern Railways

A Howrah bound EMU train

Operated by the South Eastern Railway, this section of the line serves the south western suburbs of Greater Kolkata. The destination stations lie :

Eastern Railways

Naihati railway station
Passengers on a EMU local train
A Howrah bound local train leaving Bandel railway station

Operated by the Howrah division of Eastern Railways, this line runs on the western bank of river Hooghly and serves the following areas:

  • The northern part of Howrah district - Liluah, Belur, Belur Math, Bally.
  • The eastern part of Hooghly district such as Uttarpara, Hindmotor, Konnagar, Rishra, Serampore, Sheoraphuli, Baidyabati, Bhadreswar, Mankundu, Chandannagar, Chuchura, Hooghly, Bandel Junction, Guptipara, Behula, Somra Bazar, Balagarh, Jirat, Khamargachi, Dumurdaha, Kuntighat, Tribeni, Bansberia, Adisaptagram, Magra, Talandu, Khanyan, Pandua, Simlagarh, Bainchigram, Bainchi, Debipur.
  • The central part of Hooghly district such as Tarakeswar, Loknath, Bahirkhanda, Kaikala, Haripal, Maliya, Nalikul, Kamarkundu, Singur, Nasibpur, Diara, Gurap, Hazigarh, Sibaichandi, Dhaniakhali, Belmuri, Porabazar, Chandanpur, Madhusudanpur, Balarambati, Mirzapur Bankipur, Baruipara, Begampur, Janai Road, Gobra, Dankuni.
  • The central part of Bardhaman district connecting the towns of Bardhaman, Gangpur, Saktigarh, Palsit, Rasulpur, Nimo, Memari, Bagila, Palla Road, Chanchai, Masagram, Nabagram, Jaugram, Jhapandanga. From Bardhaman, another suburban service connects the cities of Durgapur and Asansol, Bolpur, Rampurhat further to the west & north.
  • The eastern part of Bardhaman district such as Katwa, Dainhat, Sahebtala, Agradwip, Patuli, Belerhat, Lakshmipur, Mertala Phaleya, Purbasthali, Bhandartikuri, Bishnupriya, Nabadwip Dham, Kalinagar, Samudragarh, Dhatrigram, Baghnapara, Ambika Kalna.

Howrah to Bardhaman is reached by two corridors popularly known as the Main Line and the Chord Line. The main Line runs through the towns of Serampore, Chandernagore, Chinsurah and Bandel. The Chord Line runs through the towns of Dankuni, Baruipara, Kamarkundu and Masagram.

Howrah South Eastern Section

Route map and details
Howrah-Kharagpur line
Santragachi-Amta Branch Line

Howrah, Tikiapara, Dasnagar, Ramrajatala, Santragachi

At Santragachi, the line splits up into three sections :

  1. Shalimar Section
  2. Amta Section
  3. Panskura Section

Amta Section

Santragachi, Bankra Nayabaz, Baltikuri, Kona, Dansi, Jhalurber, Makardah, Domjur Road, Domjur, Dakshinbari, Bargachia, Patihal, Munsirhat, Mahendralalnagar, Maju, Jalalsi, Harishdadpur, Amta

Panskura Section

Santragachhi, Uluberia, Bagnan, Mecheda, Panskura.Major station of panskura section

At Panskura, the line further divides into:

  1. Midnapore Section
  2. Haldia Section

Midnapur Section

Kharagpur railway station

Panskura, Khirai, Haur, Radhamohanpur, Duan, Balichak, Shyamchak, Madpur, Jakpur, Kharagpur, Giri Maidan, Gokulpur, Cossye, Midnapur

Jhargram Section

Kharagpur, Nimpura, Kalaikunda, Khemashuli, Sardiha, Banstala, Jhargram

Haldia Section

Panskura, Raghunathbari, Rajgoda, Shaheed Matangini, Tamluk, Keshabpur, Satish Samanta, Mahishadal, Barda, |Basulya Sutahata, Durgachak, Durgachak Town, Silpaprabesh, Bandar, Haldia.

Digha Section

Tamluk Junction, Nandakumar, Laban Satyagraha Smarak, Deshapran, Heria, Nachinda, Kanthi, Sitalpur, Sujalpur, Ashapurna Devi, Badalpur, Ramnagar, Tikra, Digha.

Howrah Eastern Section

Route map and details
Howrah-Bardhaman Main Line
Howrah-Bardhaman Chord
Sheoraphuli-Tarakeswar Branch Line

Howrah, Liluah, Belur, Bally

However, at Liluah, the Belur Math branch line cuts off to serve the Belur Math station.

At Bally, the line splits into two sections:

  1. Barddhaman Chord Line Section (via Dankuni)
  2. Seoraphuli Section

Barddhaman Chord Line Section major station

Bally, Dankuni Jn., Baruipara, Kamarkundu Jn., Chandanpur, Gurap, Masagram Jn., Saktigarh, Bardhaman Jn.

Sheoraphuli Section

Vendor inside a train

Bally, Uttarpara, Hind Motor, Konnagar, Rishra, Serampore, Sheoraphuli

At Sheoraphuli, the line branches into:

  1. Tarakeshwar Section
  2. Bandel Section

Tarakeshwar Junction Section major station

Sheoraphuli, Singur, Kamarkundu, Haripal, Tarakeswar, Arambagh PC Sen, Goghat . Tarakeswar - Champadanga - Bargachhia section is planned

Bandel Section major station

Seoraphuli, Baidyabati, Bhadreswar, Mankundu, Chandannagar, Chuchura, Hooghly, Bandel

At Bandel, the line splits into:

  1. Barddhaman Main Line Section
  2. Katwa Section
  3. Katwa-Azimganj Section

Bandel-Bardhaman Main Line Section major station

Bandel Junction, Magra Junction, Pundooah, Boinchi, Memari, Saktigarh, Bardhaman

Bandel Jn.-Katwa Jn. Section major station

Bandel Junction, Bansberia, Tribeni, Kuntighat, Dumurdaha,Khamargachi Jirat, Balagarh, Somrabazar, Behula, Guptipara, Ambika Kalna, Baghnapara, Dhatrigram, Samudra Garh, Kalinagar, Nabadwip Dham, Bishnupriya, Bhandartikuri, Purbasthali, Martala Pahelya, Lakshmipur, Belerhat,Patuli, Agradeep, Sahebtala, Dinhat, Katwa Junction

Katwa Jn.-Azimganj Jn. Section major station

Salar, Bazarsau, Khagraghat Road (Berhampore), Azimganj Junction

From Sealdah Station

This line serves the northern suburbs on the eastern bank of Hooghly River and further east towards the very end of the international border between India and Bangladesh. The destinations facilitated by this line are:

Local Train in Agarpara Station

South Section

This line operates on the southern parts of the city and serves the southern suburbs of Kolkata and the entire South 24 Parganas district. The areas served are:

Sealdah Main Section

Route map and details
Sealdah-Ranaghat line
Lalgola and Gede Branch Lines
Sealdah-Hasnabad-Bangaon-Ranaghat line
Sealdah South lines

Within Greater Kolkata: Sealdah, Bidhannagar Road, Dum Dum Jn..

At Dum Dum, the line branches into: 1. Barasat section 2. Dankuni section 3. Naihati section

1. Sealdah Jn.- Barasat Jn. section major station

Dum Dum, Dum Dum Cantonment, Birati, Bisharpara, New Barrackpur, Madhyamgram, Barasat

At Barasat, the line branches into A. Bangaon section B. Hasnabad section

A. Bangaon section

Barasat, Bamangachhi, Duttapukur, Ashoknagar Road, Habra, Maslandapur, Gobardanga, Thakurnagar, Bangaon.

Two junction stations in Bangaon section

B. Hasnabad section

Barasat, Kazipara, Karea Kadamgachi, Bahira Kalibari, Sondalia, Beliaghata Road, Lebutala, Bhasila, Harua Road, Kankra Mirzanagar, Malatipur, Ghoraras Ghona Halt, Champapukur, Bhyabla, Basirhat, Matania Anantapur, Madhyampur, Nimdari, Taki, Hasnabad

2. Dankuni section

Starts from Dum Dum. Baranagar Road, Dakshineswar, Bally Ghat, Bally Halt, Rajchandrapur, Dankuni. Dakshineswar has the famous Kali Temple where Ramakrishna Paramhansa was a priest. Vivekananda Setu locally known as Bally Bridge over the Hooghly River connects Bally Ghat and Dakshineswar. Bally halt is used as an interchange with Howrah Main Section. Baranagar Road station is near Dunlop crossing in B.T. road being a place of interchange with bus routes. this total section is elevated via Vivekanda Bridge.

3. Naihati section

Dum Dum, Belghoria, Agarpara, Sodepur, Khardaha, Titagarh, Barrackpore, Ichhapur, Shyamnagar, Kankinara, Naihati This is the busiest part of Sealdah section.Barrackpore & Naihati are the most important stations in this line. there is a future plan to set up Barrackpore a s a terminal station for long distance trains as it has 5 platforms and the stretch work of Platform 1 is complete from where long distance train can depert. the main trains in this line are Sealdah-Barrackpore Local & Sealdah-Naihati Local

Rail line through Sodepur Station

At Naihati, the line splits into: 1. Bandel section 2. main section

Naihati-Bandel section

Naihati, Garifa, Hooghly Ghat, Bandel

Main section(Naihati)

Naihati, Kanchrapara, Kalyani

At Kalyani, the Kalyani Simanta line branches off forming two lines:

Kalyani, Kalyani Shilpanchal, Kalyani Ghoshpara, Kalyani Simanta. This line is for serving the planned township of Kalyani. this 4 stations covering a length of 5 km covers the Kalyani area. Sealdah-kalyani Simanta Locals serve this line.

Kalyani, Simurali, Chakdaha, Ranaghat Ranaghat is an important Junction in this line. Sealdah-Ranaghat Locals serve this line. At Ranaghat, the following three lines branch off: main line Gede line Bangon This Ranaghat-Bangon line joins Ranaghat & Bangon station by Ranaghat-Bangon locals. At Kalinarayanpur, a station next to ranaghat on the main line, the Shantipur line emerges.

Shantipur line

Ranaghat, Kalinarayanpur JN, Habibpur, Phulia, Bathna Krittibas, Shantipur Jn.. this line covers 20 km from Ranaghat to Shantipur. Sealdah-Shantipur Locals at regular interval serve this line. Also a few Ranaghat-Shantipur emu service is available in peak hours.

Shantipur Jn - Krishnanagar City Jn - Nabadwip Ghat Line

Shantipur Jn, Gobindapur, Dignagar, Krishnanagar City Jn, Mahestola, Nabadwip Ghat. From Shantipur Jn, a line emerges and connects to Nabadwip Ghat via Krishnanagar City Jn. This old section was 2 ft 6 in (762 mm) narrow gauge. It has recently been converted to 1,676 mm (5 ft 6 in). The work of Shantipur - Krishnanagar City Jn section is complete and EMU service has started. The work of gauge conversion is in progress between Krishnanagar City Jn - Nabadwip Ghat. Three couples of Shantipur-Krishnanagar EMU run daily on this line in both directions including Ranaghat Jn - Krishnanagar City Jn via Shantipur Jn EMU service.

Sealdah to Krishnanagar City Jn. Main line

Ranaghat, Kalinarayanpur Jn., Birnagar, Taherpur, Badkulla, Jalalkhali Halt, Krishnanagar City 26 km is the length of this section. Mainly Sealdah- Krishnanagar City Jn. EMU locals serve this section with a few Ranaghat Jn.-Krishnanagar City Jn. EMU service.

Krishnanagar-Lalgola line

The main railway stations in this section are Krishnanagar, Bethuadahari, Debagram, Plassey, Beldanga, Berhampore Court(Berhampore) Cossimbazar, Murshidabad, Jiaganj, Bhagwangola and Lalgola Mainly Sealdah-Lalgola passengers, Sealdah-Lalgola EMU locals and Sealdah-Lalgola MEMU passengers run through this line.There are three express trains Bhagirathi express Hazarduari express and Dhanodhanya express. Three pairs of Ranaghat jn-Lalgola EMU locals also available during peak hours.The track is doubled and electrified.It is a 126 km long stretch from Krishnanagar to Lalgola which is a small border town in Murshidabad district. Berhampore Court is the main railway station in this section.

Gede line

Ranaghat, Bankimnagar, Panchberia, Aranghata, Bahirgachi, Bhayna, Bagula, Mayurhat, Taraknagar, Majhdia, Banpur, Harisnagar, Gede. This section covers 43 km, mainly served by Sealdah-Gede and Ranaghat-Gede locals. Now the Indo-Bangladesh Maitree Express, an international train service between Kolkata & Dhaka runs through this section.

Sealdah South Section

Within Greater Kolkata: Sealdah, Park Circus, Ballygunge Junction.

At Ballygunge Junction, the line splits up into the 1) Other South Sections, and 2)Budge Budge Section

Budge Budge Section

Park Circus, Ballygunge Junction, Lake Gardens, Tollygunge, New Alipore, Majerhat, Brace Bridge, Santoshpur, Akra, Nangi, Budge Budge. Extension up to Pujali is planned.

Sonarpur Section

Ballygunge Junction, Dhakuria, Jadavpur, Baghajatin, New Garia, Garia, Narendrapur, Sonarpur Junction

At Sonarpur Junction, the line branches into the Canning section and the Baruipur section. The New Garia station is junction between Sealdah South Suburban Section & Kolkata Metro Railway (Kavi Subhash metro station).

Canning Section

Sonarpur Junction, Bidyadharpur, Kalikapur, Champahati, Piali, Gourdaha, Ghutiari Shariff, Beatberia Ghola, Taldi, Canning

Baruipur Section

Sonarpur Junction, Subhashgram, Mallikpur, Baruipur Junction

At Baruipur Junction, the line branches into the Diamond Harbour section and the Namkhana section.

Diamond Harbour Section

Within South 24 Parganas: Baruipur Junction, Kalyanpur, Dakshin Durgapur, Hotar, Dhamuah, Uttar Radhanagar, Magrahat, Bahirpuya, Sangrampur, Deula, Netra, Basuldanga, Gurudas Nagar, Diamond Harbour.

Namkhana Section

Within South 24 Parganas : Baruipur Junction, Shasan Road, Krishna Mohan, Dhapdhapi, Suriyapur, Gocharan, Hogla, Dakshin Barasat, Baharu, Jaynagar Majilpur, Mathurapur Road, Madhabpur, Lakshmikantapur, Udairampur, Kulpi, Karanjali, Nischindapur Market, Nischindapur, Madhabnagar, Kashinagar, Kakdwip. Ukilerhat, Namkhana. Extension up to Sagar Island & Bakkhali via Frazerganj is planned.

New Alipore (Kalighat) Falta Railway

This line used to connect the stations of Majerhat and New Alipore (Kalighat) with the southern port town of Falta. The line was closed down in 1957. See Kalighat Falta Railway for more details.

Ladies Special Suburban Trains

In 2009, the union minister for railways, Ms Mamata Baneerjee announced the introduction of Ladies Special local trains namely "matribhumi" (i.e. motherland)in the Kolkata suburban section. The ladies special trains run on the following routes.

Circular Railway

This line encircles the entire city of Kolkata. It starts from Dum Dum Junction in the north and passes through Chitpur, Bagbazar, B.B.D.Bag, Prinsep Ghat, Hastings, Kidderpore, Remount Road, Majherhat, Ballygunge, Park Circus, Sir Gurudas Banerjee Halt and Bidhanagar Road finally back to Dum Dum Junction. There is also a plan to build two more stations between Park Circus and Sir Gurudas Banerjee Halt named Tangra and Beliaghata Main Road respectively.

BBD Bagh Station

Circular Railway stations

Dum Dum, Patipukur, Kolkata, Tala, Bagbazar, Shobhabazar–Ahiritola, Burrabazar, B B D Bagh, Eden Gardens, Princep Ghat, Kidderpore, Remount Road, Majherhat, New Alipore (Cal), Tollygunge, Lake Gardens, Ballygunge, Park Circus, Sir Gurudas Banerjee Halt, Bidhannagar Road, Kalighat, Burrabazar.

See also

References

  1. 1 2 "Indian Railways Report" (PDF). 6 February 2014.

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