Ahmadpur–Katwa line

Ahmadpur–Katwa line
	Railcar No 10607 in March 2012
Overview
System	Single Line Diesel
Status	Operational
Locale	West Bengal
Termini	Ahmadpur; Katwa
Stations	16
Operation
Opened	29 September 1917 (NG) 24 May 2018 (BG)
Closed	14 January 2013 (NG)
Owner	Indian Railways
Operator(s)	1917-1966 McLeod's Light Railways 1966-present Eastern Railway
Technical
Line length	52 km (32 mi)
Track gauge	5 ft 6 in (1,676 mm) broad gauge
Old gauge	2 ft 6 in (762 mm)
Route map
	Sahibganj loop
	Sources: [1]

The Ahmadpur–Katwa line is a railway branch line connecting Ahmadpur Junction railway station in Birbhum district and Katwa in Purba Bardhaman district of the Indian state of West Bengal. It is under the jurisdiction of the Eastern Railway.[2]

History

McLeod's Light Railways

McLeod's Light Railways (MLR) consisted of four 2 ft 6 in (762 mm) narrow-gauge lines in West Bengal. The railways were built and owned by McLeod & Company, a subsidiary of a London company of managing agents, McLeod Russell & Co. Ltd.[3]

Ahmedpur–Katwa Railway connecting Ahmadpur (now Birbhum district) and Katwa (now Purba Bardhaman district), West Bengal opened on 29 September, 1917. The railway was built in 2 ft 6 in (762 mm) gauge and total length was 52 kilometres (32 mi).[4]

The engines chugged along at a maximum speed of 30 km per hour.[5][6]

In 1966, ownership of the AKR, together with its sister line, the Burdwan–Katwa Railway, was transferred to the Eastern Railway zone of Indian Railways.[7]

Gauge conversion

This 52 km-long railway section was converted to 1,676 mm (5 ft 6 in) broad gauge, work for which began on January 14, 2013. The line was opened to the public on May 24, 2018.[8][9]

References

"Howrah Division System Map". ER Railway.
Chakraborty, Snehamoy (14 January 2013). "Emotions pasted – One last run". The Telegraph. Retrieved 2 May 2013.
"McLeod's Light Railways". Retrieved 22 August 2009.
"Ahmedpur-Katwa Railway". Retrieved 22 August 2009.
"Narrow gauge gets a new lease of life". The Statesman, 14 October 2004. Retrieved 22 August 2009.
Manning, Ian. "The Katwa Railways". From Bengal Towards Nagpur. Indian Railway Fan Club. Retrieved 22 August 2009.
"Ahmadpur-Katwa Railway". FIBIS Wiki. Retrieved 22 August 2009.
"First train starts running on newly constructed Ahmedpur Katwa broadgauge line" (in Bengali). Anandabazar Patrika. Retrieved 25 August 2018.
"Passenger train to start on newly constructed Ahmedpur Katwa broadgauge line". Indian Railways. Retrieved 25 August 2018.

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[1] "Howrah Division System Map". ER Railway.

[2] Chakraborty, Snehamoy (14 January 2013). "Emotions pasted – One last run". The Telegraph. Retrieved 2 May 2013.

[3] "McLeod's Light Railways". Retrieved 22 August 2009.

[4] "Ahmedpur-Katwa Railway". Retrieved 22 August 2009.

[5] "Narrow gauge gets a new lease of life". The Statesman, 14 October 2004. Retrieved 22 August 2009.

[6] Manning, Ian. "The Katwa Railways". From Bengal Towards Nagpur. Indian Railway Fan Club. Retrieved 22 August 2009.

[7] "Ahmadpur-Katwa Railway". FIBIS Wiki. Retrieved 22 August 2009.

[8] "First train starts running on newly constructed Ahmedpur Katwa broadgauge line" (in Bengali). Anandabazar Patrika. Retrieved 25 August 2018.

[9] "Passenger train to start on newly constructed Ahmedpur Katwa broadgauge line". Indian Railways. Retrieved 25 August 2018.