Kolkata Suburban Railway
Kolkata Suburban Railway | |
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File:Kolkata subarban railway.jpg | |
Overview | |
Locale | Kolkata, India |
Number of lines | Circular, Eastern and South Eastern |
Number of stations | Howrah Sealdah and Kolkata |
Operation | |
Began operation | 1854 |
Operator(s) | Eastern Railway (India) and South Eastern Railway (India) |
Technical | |
Track gauge | 1676 mm (5 ft 6 in) (broad gauge) |
The Kolkata Suburban Railway is the rail system for the suburbs surrounding the city of Kolkata (Calcutta). Railways such as this are important and heavily-used infrastructure in India. The Indian Railways (IR) has several divisions of which the Eastern Railway and the South Eastern Railway are headquartered in Kolkata. There are two major railway stations in Kolkata- Howrah and Sealdah. Another major terminal has been built at Chitpur.This new terminal has been named 'Kolkata'. Recently another terminal at Shalimar near Howrah started operating. Some intercity express trains start from there too. Kolkata and its neighbouring districts have an extensive (but crowded) suburban railway system. Most of the trains are EMUs (Electric Multiple Units). The extensive rail network stretches into the districts of North 24 Parganas, South 24 Parganas, Nadia, Howrah, Hooghly, Bardhaman, Purba Medinipur and Paschim Medinipur The Suburban railway system can be categorized as follows:
Zones and corridors
The suburban railway services in Kolkata are operated by Eastern Railway (ER) and South Eastern Railway (SER). The Kolkata Metro Railway operates the underground Metro services in the city as well. There is a separate Circular Railway corridor in the city also operated by ER.
From Howrah Station
South Eastern Railways
Operated by the South Eastern Railway, this section of the line serves the south western suburbs of Greater Kolkata. The destination stations lie :
- In the south western part of Howrah district like Santragachi, Andul, Amta
- In the East Midnapore district like Digha, Tamluk, Haldia.
- In the eastern and southern part of West Midnapore district like Panskura, Kharagpur and Midnapore.
Eastern Railways
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, Bally.
- The eastern part of Hooghly district such as Uttarpara, Hindmotor, Konnagar, Rishra Serampore, Seoraphuli, Baidyabati, Bhadreswar, Mankundu, Chandannagar, Chuchura, Hooghly, Bandel.
- The central part of Hooghly district such as Tarakeswar.
- The central part of Bardhaman district connecting the town of Bardhaman. From Bardhaman, another suburban service connects the cities of Durgapur and Asansol further to the west.
- The eastern part of Bardhaman district such as Katwa.
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 Massagram.
Howrah South Eastern Section
Howrah, Tikiapara, Dasnagar, Ramrajatala, Santragachi
At Santragachi, the line splits up into three sections :
- Shalimar Section
- Amta Section
- Panskura Section
Shalimar Section
Santragachi, Padmapukur, Shalimar.
From Shalimar, there are also DMU services to Digha.
Amta Section
Santragachi, Bankranayabaz, Baltikuri, Kona, Dansi, Jhalurberi, Makardaha, Domjur Road, Domjur, Dakshinbari, Bargachia, Pantihal, Munsirhat, Mahendralalnagar, Maju, Jalalsi, Harishdadpur, Amta
Panskura Section
Santragachi, Mourigram, Andul, Sankrail, Abada, Nalpur, Bauria Rail Station, Chengail, Phuleswar, Uluberia, Birshibpur, Kulgachia, Bagnan, Ghoraghata, Deulti, Kolaghat, Mecheda, Nandai Gajan, Bhogpur, Narain Pakuria Murail, Panskura
At Panskura, the line further divides into:
- Midnapore Section
- Haldia Section
Midnapur Section
Panskura, Khirai, Haur, Radhamohanpur, Duan, Balichak, Shyamchak, Madpur, Jakpur, Kharagpur, Giri Maidan, Gokulpur, Cossye, Midnapur, Krishnanagar
Haldia Section
Panskura, Raghunathbari, Rajgoda, Shahid Matangini, Tamluk, Keshabpur, Satish Samanta, Mahishadal, Barda, Basulya Sutahata, Durgachak, Durgachak Town, Shilpaprabesh, Bandar, Haldia
Digha Section
Tamluk, Nandakumar, Lavan Satyagraha, Deshapran, Heria, Nachinda, Kanthi, Sitalpur, Sujalpur, Badalpur, Ramnagar, Tikra, Digha
Howrah Eastern Section
However, at Liluah, the Belur Math branch line cuts off to serve the Belur Math station.
At Bally, the line splits into two sections:
- Barddhaman Chord Line Section (via Dankuni)
- Seoraphuli Section
Barddhaman Chord Line Section
Bally, Belanagar, Dankuni, Gobra, Janai Road, Begampur, Baruipara, Mirzapur Bankipur, Balarambati, Kamarkundu, Madhusudanpur, Chandanpur, Porabazar, Belmuri, Dhaniakhali, Sibaichandi, Hazigarh, Gurap, Jhapandanga, Jaugram, Nabagram, Masagram, Chanchai, Palla Road, Saktigarh, Gangpur, Bardhaman
Seoraphuli Section
Bally, Uttarpara, Hind Motor, Konnagar, Rishra, Serampore, Seoraphuli
At Seoraphuli, the line branches into:
- Tarakeshwar Section
- Bandel Section
Tarakeshwar Section
Seoraphuli, Diara, Nasibpur, Singur, Kamarkundu, Nalikul, Maliya, Haripal, Kaikala, Bahirkhanda, Loknath, Tarakeshwar
Bandel Section
Seoraphuli, Baidyabati, Bhadreswar, Mankundu, Chandannagar, Chunchura, Hooghly, Bandel
At Bandel, the line splits into:
- Barddhaman Main Line Section
- Katwa Section
Bardhaman Main Line Section
Bandel, Adi Saptagram, Magra, Talandu, Khanyan, Pundooah, Simlagarh, Bainchigram, Bainchi, Debipur, Bagila, Memari, Nimo, Rasulpur, Palsit, Saktigarh, Gangpur, Bardhaman
Katwa Section
Bandel, Bansberia, Tribeni, Kuntighat, Dumurdaha, Khamargachi, Jirat, Balagarh, Somra Bazar, Behula, Guptipara, Ambika Kalna, Baghnapara, Dhatrigram, Samundragarh, Nabadwip Dham, Bishnupriya, Bhandartikuri, Purbasthali, Mertala Phaleya, Lakshmipur, Belerhatsituated at the village Ukhura under Nimdah Gram Panchayat], Patuli, Agradwip, Sahebtala, Dainhat, Katwa
From Sealdah Station
Main Section
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:
- In North 24 Parganas district along the banks of the Hooghly like Dum Dum, Barrackpore, Naihati.
- In North 24 Parganas district towards the north east and towards the Bangladesh border like Bongaon, Basirhat, Hasnabad.
- In Nadia district like Kalyani, Ranaghat, Shantipur Krishnagar and Gede
South Section
This line operates on the southern parts of the city and serves the southern suburbs of Calcutta and the entire South 24 Parganas district. The areas served are:
- The southern suburbs like like Ballygunge, Jadavpur, Garia, Budge Budge, Sonarpur.
- In the South 24 Parganas district like Port Canning, Diamond Harbour, Lakshmikantapur, Namkhana.
Sealdah Main Section
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
Barasat section
Dum Dum, Dum Dum Cantonment, Durganagar, Birati, Bisharpara Kodalia, New Barrackpur, Madhyamgram, Hridaypur, Barasat Junction
However, at Dum Dum Cantonment, the Airport line cuts off to serve the following stations: Dum Dum Cantonment, Jessore road, Biman Bandar.
At Barasat, the line splits into: 1. Bongaon line 2. Hasnabad line
Bongaon line
Barasat, Bamangachi, Duttapukur, Bira, Guma, Ashoknagar Road, Habra, Sanhati, Machlandapur, Gobardanga, Thakurnagar, Chandpara, Bibhuti Bhushan, Bongaon.
Hasnabad line
Barasat, Kazipara, Karea Kadambagachhi, Bahira Kalibari, Sondalia, Beliaghata Road, Labutala, Bhasila, Harua Road, Kankra Mirzanagar, Malatipur, Ghoraras Ghona, Champapukur, Bhyabla, Basirhat, Matania Anantapur, Madhyampur, Nimdanri, Taki Road, Hasnabad.
Dankuni section
Starts from Dum Dum. , Baranagar Road, Dakshineswar, Bally Ghat, Bally Halt, Rajchandrapur, Dankuni.
Naihati section
Dum Dum, Belgharia, Agarpara, Sodepur, Khardaha, Titagarh, Barrackpore, Palta, Ichhapur,
, West Bengal|Shyamnagar]], Jagaddal, Kakinara, Naihati
At Naihati, the line splits into: 1. Bandel section 2. main section
Bandel section
Naihati, Garifa, Hooghly Ghat, Bandel
Main section
Naihati, Halishahar, Kanchrapara, Kalyani
At Kalyani, the Kalyani Simanta line branches off forming two line:
Kalyani, Kalyani Shilpanchal, Kalyani Ghoshpara, Kalyani Simanta
Kalyani, Madanpur, Simurali, Palpara, Chakdaha, Payradanga, Ranaghat
At Ranaghat, the following two lines branch off: main line Gede line
At Kalinarayanpur, a station next to ranaghat on the main line, the Shantipur line emerges.
Shantipur line
Ranaghat, Kalinarayanpur, Habibpur, Phulia, Bathna Krittibas, Shantipur.
Krishnanagar line
Ranaghat, Kalinarayanpur, Birnagar, Taherpur, Badkulla, Jalalkhali, Krishnanagar City
Gede line
Ranaghat, Bankimnagar, Panchberia, Aranghata, Bahirgachhi, Bhayna, Bagula, Mayurhaat, Taraknagar, Majhdia, Banpur, Harisnagar, Gede.
Sealdah South Section
Within Greater Kolkata: Sealdah, Park Circus, Ballygunge
At Ballygunge, the line splits up into the 1) Other South Section, and 2)Budge Budge Section
Budge Budge section
Ballygunge, Lake Gardens, Tollygunge, New Alipore, Majherhat, Brace Bridge, Santoshpur, Akra, Nungi, Budge Budge
Other South section
Sonarpur Section
Ballygunge, Dhakuria, Jadavpur, Bagha Jatin, Garia, Narendrapur, Sonarpur
The Canning branch splits from Sonarpur to Canning line and Baruipur section.
Canning line
Sonarpur, Bidyadharpur, Kalikapur, Champahati, Piali, Gourdaha, Ghutiari Shariff, Beathberia Ghola, Taldi, Canning
Baruipur section
Sonarpur, Subhasgram, Mallikpur, Baruipur
At Baruipur, the line branches into the Diamond Harbour section and the Kakdwip section.
Diamond Harbour line
Within South 24 Parganas: Baruipur, Kalyanpur, Dakshin Durgapur, Hotar, Dhamuah, Uttar Radhanagar, Magra Hat, Bahirpuya, Sangrampur, Deula, Netra, Basuldanga, Gurudas Nagar, Diamond Harbour.
Kakdwip line
Within South 24 : Baruipur, Sashan Road, Krishna Mohan, Dhapdhapi, Suryapur, Gocharan, Hogla, Dakshin Barasat, Baharu, Jaynagar Majilpur, Mathurapur Road, Madhabpur, Lakshmikantapur, Udairampur, Kulpi, Karanjali, Nischindapur Market, Nischindapur, Kashinagar, Kakdwip. This line has extended to Namkhana.
New Alipore (Kalighat) Falta Railway
This line used to connect the stations of Majherhat and New Alipore (Kalighat) with the southern port town of Falta. The line was closed down in 1957. If operational, it could have proved to be a boon for the people of the ex-South Suburban Municipal areas. 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.
- Howrah - Bandel
- Howrah - Kharagpur
- Sealdah - ranaghat
- Sealdah - Canning
- Sealdah - Bongaon
- sealdah - baruipur
the other ladies special trains propsed are:
- sealdah - krishnanagar
- sealdah - barasat
Circular Railway
This line encircles the entire city of Kolkata. It starts from Dum Dum Junction in the north and passes through Chitpur, Burrabazar, B.B.D.Bag, Prinsep Ghat, Hastings, Kidderpore, Remount Road, Majherhat, Ballygunge, Park Circus, Sir Gurudas Banerjee Halt and 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.
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, Dum Dum
External links