Suvarna Garge (Editor)

Kolkata Suburban Railway

Updated on
Edit
Like
Comment
Share on FacebookTweet on TwitterShare on LinkedInShare on Reddit
Locale
  
Kolkata

Transit type
  
Commuter rail

Number of stations
  
348

Began operation
  
August 15, 1854

Kolkata Suburban Railway httpsuploadwikimediaorgwikipediacommonsthu

Track gauge
  
1,676 mm (5 ft 6 in) (broad gauge)

Operators
  
Eastern Railway zone, South Eastern Railway zone

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. It has 348 stations and a track length of 1,172 km. The suburban railway operates 1450 EMU services and 159 MEMU services carrying 3.1 million (31.51 lakhs) people daily. It runs from 4 a.m to 2 a.m in the night.

Contents

The suburban railway services in Kolkata are operated by Eastern Railway (ER) and South Eastern Railway (SER). The Kolkata Metro operates the underground Metro services in the city as well. There is a separate Circular Railway corridor in the city also operated by ER. 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 but they are not in use . The Sealdah line has a rolling stock of 9,10,12 car EMU made by Jessop and ICF. 2 BEML EMU trains of 9 coaches are also operational. The south eastern railways uses both 9 and 12 coaches emu made by Jessop and ICF.

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, Shalimar, Andul, Uluberia, Bagnan, Amta.
  • In the East Midnapore district like Digha, Tamluk, Haldia, Panskura, Kolaghat, Mecheda.
  • In the eastern and southern part of West Midnapore district like Balichak, Kharagpur, Midnapore and Jhargram.
  • 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, 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 further to the west.
  • 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

    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, Deulti, Kolaghat, Mecheda, Panskura.Major station of panskura section

    At Panskura, the line further divides into:

    1. Midnapore Section
    2. Haldia Section

    Midnapur Section

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

    Howrah Eastern Section

    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, Baruipara, Kamarkundu, Chandanpur, Gurap, Masagram, Saktigarh, Bardhaman

    Seoraphuli Section

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

    At Sheoraphuli, the line branches into:

    1. Tarakeshwar Section
    2. Bandel Section

    Tarakeshwar Section major staion

    Sheroaphuli, Singur, Kamarkundu, Haripal, Tarakeswar, Arambagh PC Sen.

    Bandel Section major station

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

    At Bandel, the line splits into:

    1. Barddhaman Main Line Section
    2. Katwa Section

    Bandel-Bardhaman Main Line Section major station

    Bandel, Pundooah, Boinchi, Memari, Saktigarh, Bardhaman

    Bandel-Katwa Section major staion

    Bandel, Jirat, Balagarh, Ambika Kalna, Nabadwip Dham, Purbasthali, Katwa

    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:

  • 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 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

    Sealdah-Bongaon section major station

    Dum Dum, Dum Dum Cantonment, Birati, Bisharpara, New Barrackpur, Madhyamgram, Barasat, Bamangachhi, Duttapukur, Ashoknagar Road, Habra, Maslandapur, Gobardanga, Thakurnagar, Bongaon. Two junction stations in Bongaon section Barasat junction & Bongaon junction, Barasat junction - Hasnabad, Bongaon junction - Ranaghat junction

    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.

    Naihati section

    Dum Dum, 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

    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 Cuty Jn. EMU service.

    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.

    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

    Park Circus, Ballygunge Jn, Lake Gardens, Tollygunge, New Alipore (Cal), Majerhat, Brace Bridge, Santoshpur, Akra, Nungi, Budge Budge

    Sonarpur Section

    Ballygunge JN, Dhakuria, Jadavpur, Baghajatin, New Garia, Garia, Narendrapur, Sonarpur JN Last stop of this Section

    The Canning branch splits from Sonarpur to Canning line and Baruipur section. The New Garia station is junction between Sealdah South Suburban section & Kolkata Metro Railway (Kabi Subhash Metro Station).

    Canning line

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

    Baruipur section

    Sonarpur JN, Subhashgram, Mallikpur, Baruipur JN

    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, Magrahat, Bahirpuya, Sangrampur, Deula, Netra, Basuldanga, Gurudas Nagar, Diamond Harbour.

    Namkhana line

    Within South 24 Parganas : Baruipur, Shasan Road, Krishna Mohan, Dhapdhapi, Suriyapur, Gocharan, Hogla, Dakshin Barasat, Baharu, Jaynagar Majilpur, Mathurapur Road, Madhabpur, Lakshmikantapur, Udairampur, Kulpi, Karanjali, Nischintapur Market, Nischintapur, Kashinagar, Kakdwip. Ukilerhat, 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. 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 - Bangaon
  • Sealdah - Baruipur
  • 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

    References

    Kolkata Suburban Railway Wikipedia