Sealdah–Bangaon line

The Sealdah–Bangaon line is a 78 km (48 mi) long broad gauge railway line that connects the Sealdah Main and North terminus of Kolkata with Bangaon of North 24 Parganas district of West Bengal, India. Once a part of the old Calcutta–Jessore–Khulna line, today it is a busy suburban section of the Kolkata Suburban Railway's Sealdah North section. It is under the jurisdiction of the Sealdah railway division of the Eastern Railway zone of the Indian Railways.^[1][2]

Sealdah–Bangaon line (incl. Barasat–Hasnabad & Ranaghat–Bangaon branch lines)
A Kolkata Suburban Railway EMU at the Hridaypur railway station
Overview
Status	Operational
Owner	Indian Railways
Locale	West Bengal
Termini	Sealdah Bangaon
Stations	52
Website	Eastern Railway
Service
Type	Commuter rail
System	Kolkata Suburban Railway
Services	Sealdah–Bangaon Barasat–Hasnabad Ranaghat–Bangaon
Operator(s)	Eastern Railway
Depot(s)	Barasat EMU Car Shed Ranaghat EMU Car Shed
History
Opened	1882; 142 years ago (1882)
Technical
Line length	Sealdah–Bangaon: 78 km (48 mi) Barasat–Hasnabad: 49 km (30 mi) Ranaghat–Bangaon: 28 km (17 mi)
Number of tracks	2
Character	At grade
Track gauge	1,676 mm (5 ft 6 in) broad gauge
Old gauge	Barasat–Basirhat Light Railway 762 mm (2 ft 6 in) narrow gauge
Electrification	25 kV overhead line
Operating speed	up to 100 km per hour
Route map Legend Sealdah–Bangaon line km km Jessore–Benapole section 86 Benapole ( Benapole land port ) Bagdah 26 Bangladesh India Chandabazar 12 82 Petrapole Chhoighoria 6 Naobhanga Khal Ichhamati river line planned 78 00 Bangaon Junction Ranaghat–Bangaon line 20 Poramaheshtala (planned) Satberia Halt 5 Gopalnagar 5 Akaipur Halt 10 Majhergram 13 Gangnapur 18 Naba Raynagar 23 Coopers Halt 25 Ranaghat EMU Carshed Ranaghat–Gede line Ranaghat–Lalgola line Churni Ghat 30 89 Hingalganj Ranaghat Junction 28 Katakhali river line planned Sealdah–Ranaghat line 72 Hasnabad 70 Taki Road 67 Nimdanri 66 Madhyampur Bibhutibhusan Halt 73 64 Matania Anantapur Chandpara 68 61 Basirhat Thakurnagar 64 60 Bhyabla Gobardanga 58 55 Champapukur Jamuna river 52 Ghora Ras Ghona (planned) Swarupnagar 70 Bidyadhari Khal Machhalandapur 55 50 Malatipur Sanhati 50 46 Kankra Mirzanagar Habra 45 42 Harua Road Ashoknagar Road 42 39 Bhasila Guma 38 37 Lebutala (planned) Chakla 47 Bidyadhari Khal Bira 35 34 Beliaghata Road Dattapukur 31 35 Sondalia Bamangachhi 27 33 Bahira Kalibari 29 Karea Kadambagachi Barasat EMU Carshed 26 Kazipara Barasat Junction 23 Barasat Hridaypur 21 Hridaypur Madhyamgram 19 Madhyamgram Noai Khal New Barrackpore New Barrackpur 17 Michael Nagar Bisharpara Kodaliya 16 Birati Birati 14 Biman Bandar Belghoria Expressway  KM Line 6  (u/c) Durganagar 13 Biman Bandar 15 Jessore Road 13 Jessore Road line dismantled Jessop & Co. factory siding Ordnance Factory siding Dum Dum Cantonment 11 Dum Dum Cantonment  KM Line 4  (u/c) Sealdah Main & North section  KM Line 1  Dum Dum Junction 08 Patipukur loop line (dismantled) Jessore Road Belgachia 00 10 Patipukur Chitpur Rail Yard Ultadanga Road 011 Lansdown mill siding Kolkata 012 Brown Blanket mill siding Kolkata Circular Railway  KM Line 1  Kestopur Canal Bidhan Nagar Road 5 Bidhannagar Road Press House siding Kankurgachi Road 2 Kankurgachi Road Junction Narkeldanga EMU Carshed 3 Sir Gurudas Banerjee Halt Circular Canal Kankurgachi Chord line Sealdah North 00 0 Sealdah Main Sealdah  KM Line 2  Sealdah South 00 Beliaghata Diesel Loco Shed 6 Kamardanga Halt Beruck & Comens Siding 3│7 Park Circus Sealdah South section km km Key Indian Railways broad gauge (1676 mm) Kolkata Metro (KM) broad gauge (1676 mm) Kolkata Metro (KM) standard gauge (1435 mm) in use   out of use, planned, or under construction (u/c)   tunnel Legend Barasat–Basirhat Light Railway mi Sealdah-Bangaon line 35 Barasat Junction to Patipukur 33 Kazipara 32 Bamanmura 30 Kadambagachi 28 Golabari to Barasat 44 Shyambazar (Belgachia) 43 Patipukur Sealdah South lines 41 Baguiati 40 Hatiara 39 Narainpur Colony 36 Rajarahat Bishnupur 35 Langalpota 33 Haroakhal 31 Kharibaria 29 Aminpur 26 Beliaghata Bridge 23 Deganga 21 Barchampa 18 Swarupnagar 16 Dhakuria G. Garden 16 Arbalia 14 Shikra Kulingram 12 Kholapota 10 Maitra Bagan 9 Basirhat 8 Basirhat Kutchery 6 Dandirhat 3 Sankchura 2 Taki Road 0 Hasnabad mi Key Broad gauge (1676 mm) Narrow gauge (762 mm) in use   out of use, planned, or under construction (u/c)   tunnel

The line has two branch lines. The 53 km (33 mi) long Barasat–Hasnabad branch line provides connectivity to much of the Basirhat subdivision of the North 24 Parganas district while the 28 km (17 mi) long Ranaghat–Bangaon branch line connects this line with the Ranaghat Junction on the Sealdah–Ranaghat section.^[1][2]

Services

The line was a part of the old Calcutta–Jessore–Khulna line with trains such as the Barisal Express running through it. Today however it is primarily a suburban section with a total of 138 daily and 112 Sunday EMU services serving the Sealdah–Bangaon section.^[3] A further 31 EMU services between Bangaon and Ranaghat junctions, and 2 EMU services, between Bangaon and Shantipur junctions, run via the Ranaghat–Bangaon branch line.^[3] The Barasat–Hasnabad branch line is served by a total of 46 daily and 38 Sunday EMU services.^[3] Majority of the services are provided by 9-car and 12-car EMU rakes from the Barasat EMU Carshed.^[4] Few services in the Ranaghat–Bangaon line are provided by 12-car EMU rakes from the Ranaghat EMU Carshed as well.^[4]

Petrapole railway station serves as a major international transit point for freight and, recently, passengers to Bangladesh with the Benapole railway station serving as its Bangladeshi counterpart.^[5][6] The Benapole land port, the largest land port of Bangladesh, is directly served by this line along with the roadways at the Benapole Border Crossing and accounts for more than 90% of the imported Indian goods into Bangladesh.^[7][8] Major freight commodities handled by this section are foodgrains, fuel, medical oxygen, stone and gypsum amongst others.^[6]

On 9 November 2017, a bi-weekly international service from Kolkata to Khulna called the Bandhan Express was started by the Indian and Bangladeshi governments.^[9] The train initially had stoppages only at Kolkata, Petrapole, Benapole and Khulna with Petrapole and Benapole serving as border checkpoints. However, due to popular demand a new three minute stoppage was added at Jessore Junction railway station on 7 March 2019.^[10]

The line has a major interchange station at Dum Dum for the Line 1 of the Kolkata Metro and the Sealdah Main and North section.^[11] Completion of construction and opening of the Line 4 of Kolkata Metro is expected provide four more interchange stations at Dum Dum Cantonment, Madhyamgram, Hridaypur and Barasat Junction.^[12][13][14]

History

Pre-partition (1882-1947)

Bengal Central Railway

The Bengal Central Railway company (reporting mark :BCR) was formed in 1881 to build and operate a 5 ft 6 in (1,676 mm) broad gauge railway line from Sealdah to Khulna via Jessore with a branch from Bangaon to Ranaghat.^[15][16]

It constructed the two broad gauge lines: one connecting Ranaghat and Bangaon (21 miles (34 km)) in 1882 and the other connecting Dum Dum with Khulna (now in Bangladesh), via Bangaon (108 miles (174 km)) which opened in stages and was completed in 1884. These lines were merged with Eastern Bengal Railway in 1904.^[16]

Eastern Bengal Railway

With the takeover of BCR, the Calcutta–Bangaon–Jessore–Khulna line became the main line of the Central section of Eastern Bengal Railway (reporting mark :EBR).^[17][18] The Patipukur Loop line from Dum Dum Cantonment to Patipukur was opened on 1904 as well.^[17] In 1942, EBR was merged with the Assam Bengal Railway (reporting mark :ABR) to form the Bengal and Assam Railway (reporting mark :B&AR).^[1]

Barasat–Basirhat Light Railway

See also: Barasat-Basirhat light railway

The Barasat–Basirhat Light Railway (reporting mark :BBLR) was a 26 miles (42 km) long 2 ft 6 in (762 mm) narrow gauge railway that was constructed by the Martin's Light Railways company in 1905 between Barasat and Basirhat. It was further extended via Taki to Hasnabad (Chingrighata) in 1909. A 16.62 miles (26.75 km) long extension was built from Beliaghata Bridge on the Barasat–Basirhat line to Patipukur in 1910. This was further extended to Belgachia in 1914 and was known as the Shyambazar Branch.^[18][19]

Post-partition (1947-)

Eastern Railway

See also: Eastern Railway zone

Following the partition of India in 1947, the Calcutta–Khulna line was divided into two parts and the Petrapole railway station became the terminus on the Indian side while the Benapole railway station became the terminus in the Bangladeshi side of the line. The Calcutta (now Sealdah)–Bangaon–Petrapole section came under the jurisdiction of the Sealdah division of the Eastern Railway zone of the Indian Railways while the Benapole–Jessore–Khulna section came under the jurisdiction of the Eastern Bengal Railway (renamed as Pakistan Eastern Railway on 1961^[20]) of the then East Pakistan.^[21]

The Barisal Express, launched in 1884, from Calcutta to Khulna continued post-partition until rail services between the two countries were suspended due to the Indo-Pakistani War of 1965.^[21] Following the liberation of Bangladesh, freight services between the two countries were restored for a brief period of two years in 1972 but closed again due to a lack of goods.^[22] India and Bangladesh signed an agreement in July 2000 to resume freight services and the first freight train ran across the link on 21 January 2001.^[22] The Bandhan Express, a weekly service, was introduced on this line in November 2017. It traces the old route of the Barisal Express except for having its terminus in the Kolkata railway station instead of Sealdah railway station.^[23]

The Barasat–Basirhat Light Railway (reporting mark :BBLR) closed down in 1955 due to continuous losses.^[24] The Barasat-Hasnabad section of the BBLR was converted into a 5 ft 6 in (1,676 mm) broad gauge and was built in a new alignment between 1957 and 1962 becoming the Barasat–Hasnabad branch line. The Shyambazar branch of the BBLR was abandoned.^[25][26]

The Dum Dum Cantonment–Biman Bandar branch line was built by the Eastern Railway and was inaugurated in July 2006. Due to losses and poor patronage owing to the location of the station and odd timings of the services, the services on the line were closed down in 2016. The line was further dismantled in 2020 to make way for the Line 4 of the Kolkata Metro.^[27]

Tracks and Electrification

The Sealdah–Barasat–Bangaon section is a double line section whereas the Ranaghat–Bangaon–Petrapole–Benapole section is a single line section.^[3] In the Barasat–Hasnabad branch line, the Barasat–Sondalia and Lebutala–Champapukur sections are double lined whereas the Champapukur–Hasnabad section is a single line section.^[3] The doubling of the Sondalia–Lebutala section of the line is currently under progress.^[28]

All the lines in the section are fully electrified with 25 kV AC overhead system. The Sealdah–Bangaon line was electrified in 1963–64, while the Barasat–Hasnabad branch line was electrified in 2002-03 ^[29]

EMU Car shed

The lines are primarily served by 9-car and 12-car EMU rakes from the Barasat EMU Carshed.^[4] Few services in the Ranaghat–Bangaon line are provided by 12-car EMU rakes from the Ranaghat EMU Carshed as well.^[4]

While the section was initially served by the Narkeldanga EMU carshed which opened on 1963, due to the increasing traffic requirements in the Sealdah–Bangaon section and the electrified Barasat–Hasnabad and Ranaghat–Bangaon sections led to the commissioning of the Barasat EMU Carshed in 1990.^[4] In 2018, three phase IGBT based 12-car EMU rakes were introduced in this carshed.^[4] As of January 2022, the shed contains 8 9-car EMU rakes and 25 12-car EMU rakes, 6 of which are three phase IGBT based.^[4]

Similar increase in traffic requirements in the Ranaghat–Gede, Ranaghat–Bangaon, Ranaghat–Shantipur–Krishnanagar City and Ranaghat–Lalgola sections led to the commissioning of the Ranaghat EMU carshed in 2007.^[4] As of January 2022, the car shed contains 15 12-car EMU rakes and 6 MEMU rakes of which one is an 8-car rake while the rest are 12-car rakes. Three of the 12-car MEMU rakes are three phase IGBT based rakes.^[4]

Routes and stations

Stations

Names in bold indicate that the station is a major stop or an important interchange/terminal station.

Sealdah–Barasat–Bangaon line

Sealdah–Barasat–Bangaon line
#	Distance from Sealdah Main and North (km)	Station Name	Station Code	Connections	Station Category^[30]
1	0	Sealdah Main and North	SDAH	Sealdah South section	NSG-1
2	2	Kankurgachi Road Junction	KGK	Circular line	HG-3
3	5	Bidhannagar Road	BNXR	–	SG-2
4	8	Dum Dum Junction	DDJ	Sealdah–Ranaghat–Gede line /Calcutta Chord link line / Kolkata Metro Line 1 (Dum Dum metro station)	SG-2
5	11	Dum Dum Cantonment	DDC	–	SG-3
6	13	Durganagar	DGNR	–	SG-3
7	14	Birati	BBT	–	SG-3
8	16	Bisharpara Kodaliya	BRPK	–	SG-3
9	17	New Barrackpur	NBE	–	SG-3
10	19	Madhyamgram	MMG	Kolkata Metro Line 4 (Madhyamgram metro station)	SG-2
11	21	Hridaypur	HHR	Kolkata Metro Line 4 (Hridaypur metro station)	SG-3
12	23	Barasat Junction	BT	Barasat–Hasnabad branch line /Kolkata Metro Line 4 (Barasat metro station)	SG-2
13	27	Bamangachhi	BMG	–	SG-3
14	31	Dattapukur	DTK	–	SG-3
15	35	Bira	BIRA	–	SG-3
16	38	Guma	GUMA	–	SG-3
17	42	Ashoknagar Road	ASKR	–	SG-3
18	45	Habra	HB	–	SG-2
19	50	Sanhati	SNHT	–	HG-3
20	55	Machhalandapur	MSL	–	SG-3
21	58	Gobardanga	GBG	–	SG-3
22	64	Thakurnagar	TKNR	–	SG-3
23	68	Chandpara	CDP	–	SG-3
24	73	Bibhutibhusan Halt	BNAA	–	HG-3
25	78	Bangaon Junction	BNJ	Ranaghat–Bangaon branch line	SG-3
↑↓ International passenger or freight traffic only
26	82	Petrapole	PTPL	Petrapole Land Port	HG-3

Barasat–Hasnabad branch line

Barasat–Hasnabad branch line
#	Distance from Barasat Junction (km)	Station Name	Station Code	Connections	Station Category^[31]
1	0	Barasat Junction	BT	Sealdah–Barasat–Bangaon line /Kolkata Metro Line 4 (Barasat metro station)	SG-2
2	3	Kazipara	KZPR	–	HG-3
3	6	Karea Kadambagachi	KBGH	–	HG-3
4	10	Bahira Kalibari	BHKA	–	HG-3
5	12	Sondalia	SXC	–	SG-3
6	15	Beliaghata Road	BGRD	–	HG-3
7	18	Lebutala	LBTL	–	HG-3
8	20	Bhasila	BSLA	–	SG-3
9	23	Harua Road	HRO	–	SG-3
10	27	Kankra Mirzanagar	KMZA	–	HG-3
11	31	Malatipur	MPE	–	SG-3
12	33	Ghora Ras Ghona	GGV	–	HG-3
13	36	Champapukur	CQR	–	SG-3
14	41	Bhyabla	BBLA	–	HG-3
15	42	Basirhat	BSHT	–	SG-3
16	45	Matania Anantapur	MNAP	–	HG-3
17	47	Madhyampur	MPN	–	HG-3
18	48	Nimdanri	NMDR	–	HG-3
19	51	Taki Road	TKF	–	SG-3
20	53	Hasnabad	HNB	–	SG-3

Ranaghat–Bangaon branch line

Ranaghat–Bangaon branch line
#	Distance from Ranaghat Junction (km)	Station Name	Station Code	Connections	Station Category^[31]
1	0	Ranaghat Junction	BT	Sealdah–Ranaghat–Gede line / Ranaghat–Krishnanagar City–Lalgola line	SG-2
2	3	Coopers Halt	CPHT	–	HG-3
3	5	Naba Raynagar	NBRN	–	HG-3
4	10	Gangnapur	GGP	–	SG-3
5	15	Majhergram	MAJ	–	SG-3
6	18	Akaipur Halt	AKIP	–	HG-3
7	18	Gopalnagar	GN	–	SG-3
8	23	Satberia Halt	STBB	–	HG-3
9	28	Bangaon Junction	BNJ	Sealdah–Bangaon branch line	SG-3
↑↓ International passenger or freight traffic only
10	32	Petrapole	PTPL	Petrapole Land Port	HG-3

Planned extensions

The Machhalandapur–Swarupnagar, Bira–Chakla, Bangaon–Chandabazar–Bagdah, Bangaon–Poramaheshtala and Hasnabad–Hingalganj new lines were sanctioned in the railway budgets between 2009 and 2012 under the tenure of Mamata Banerjee as the railway minister. None of the projects however could be started because of non-availability of land and hence the work has been kept under abeyance by the Railway Board.^[32][33][34]

In popular culture

The name and the setting of the Bengali social drama film, 8:08 Er Bongaon Local is based on the daily suburban EMU local which leaves the Sealdah station for Bangaon Junction at 8:08 a.m. IST.^[35][36]

Gallery

•  
  Main Entrance of the Sealdah railway station
•  
  Dum Dum Junction railway station platform board
•  
  Bird's eye view of Birati railway station
•  
  Platform of Madhyamgram railway station
•  
  Bird's eye view of Barasat Junction railway station
•  
  Main Entrance of Barasat Junction railway station
•  
  Habra railway station platform board
•  
  Platform of Gobardanga railway station
•  
  Thakurnagar railway station platform board
•  
  Platforms of Bangaon railway station
•  
  Chandpara railway station
•  
  Petrapole railway station

References

1. Brief Detail of Sealdah Division 2018-06-25 at the Wayback Machine, Eastern Railway
2. "Sealdah Division System Map" (PDF). Retrieved 11 November 2021.
3. "Details of Operating Department: Sealdah Division, Eastern Railway". Retrieved 30 November 2021.
4. "Highlights of TRS Organisation, Sealdah division, Eastern Railway". Retrieved 30 November 2021.
5. "Dhaka looks to unlock export potential thru' rail". The Business Standard. 27 December 2021. Retrieved 23 January 2022.
6. "Bangladesh Railway earns record revenue carrying freight at India-Bangladesh interchange points". NewsOnAIR. Retrieved 23 January 2022.
7. "Procurement Details". World Bank. Retrieved 28 June 2020.
8. Bose, Pratim Ranjan; Law, Abhishek (12 March 2018). "Customs wants better rail link thru Petrapole". The Hindu Business Line. Retrieved 8 February 2018.
9. "Prime Minister of India & Prime Minister of Bangladesh Jointly along with Chief Minister, West Bengal Flag off New Cross-Border Train between India & Bangladesh, "Kolkata–Khulna Bandhan Express"..." (Press release). Press Information Bureau, Ministry of Railways. 9 November 2017. Retrieved 10 November 2017.
10. ৫৪ বছর পরে যশোর থেকে কলকাতার ট্রেন. Anandabazar Patrika (in Bengali). Retrieved 15 March 2019.
11. "SEALDAH DIVISION – AN OVERVIEW". Eastern Railway. Retrieved 1 December 2021.
12. Chakraborty, Ajanta (3 February 2022). "Kolkata metro gets Rs 2,316 crore, Rs 53 crore up from last year". The Times of India. Retrieved 28 February 2022.
13. Gupta, Jayanta (24 March 2017). "Metro plans Madhyamgram link". The Times of India. Retrieved 28 February 2022.
14. "Airport-Barasat metro line back to life". www.telegraphindia.com. Retrieved 28 February 2022.
15. Minutes of preliminary proceedings, IOR/L/AG/46/4/1, Records of the Bengal Central Railway Company, India Office Records and Private Papers, 1881, British Library
16. Sweeney, Stuart (6 October 2015). Financing India's Imperial Railways, 1875–1914. Routledge. ISBN 978-1-317-32376-1.
17. "Administration Report on Railways 1918". Retrieved 28 November 2021.
18. "History Of Indian Railways, constructed and in progress', 31 March 1937 by 'The Government of India - Railway Department'". Retrieved 28 November 2021.
19. "" Administration Report on the Railways in India – corrected up to 31st March 1918"; Superintendent of Government Printing, Calcutta; page 212". Retrieved 5 October 2021.
20. Rao, M.A. (1988). Indian Railways, New Delhi: National Book Trust, p.39
21. "Thapliyal, Sangeeta. "India-Bangladesh Transportation Links: A Move for Closer Cooperation". Institute for Defence Studies and Analyses". Retrieved 5 October 2021.
22. "India, Bangladesh reintroduce rail link". The Hindu. Retrieved 5 October 2021.
23. "Prime Minister of India & Prime Minister of Bangladesh Jointly along with Chief Minister, West Bengal Flag off New Cross-Border Train between India & Bangladesh, "Kolkata-Khulna Bandhan Express" from Kolkata through Video Confencing. Two Rail Bridges in Bangladesh and International Rail Passenger Terminus at Kolkata Station also Inaugurated". Retrieved 5 October 2021.
24. . railindia. Archived from the original on 16 March 2008. Retrieved 10 February 2012.
25. Moonis Raza & Yash Aggarwal (1986). Transport Geography of India: Commodity Flow and the Regional Structure of Indian Economy. Concept Publishing Company, A-15/16 Commercial Block, Mohan Garden, New Delhi – 110059. ISBN 81-7022-089-0. Retrieved 2 May 2013. {{cite book}}: |work= ignored (help)
26. "Non-IR Railways in India". IRFCA. Retrieved 10 February 2012.
27. "Defunct Circular Rail track dismantled". The Times of India. Retrieved 5 October 2021.
28. "ONGOING PROJECTS ON NEW LINES, GAUGE CONVERSION AND DOUBLING" (PDF). Indian Express. Retrieved 28 January 2022.
29. "History of Electrification". IRFCA. Retrieved 4 May 2013.
30. "Category of stations - Eastern Railway" (PDF). Retrieved 24 December 2021.
31. "Category of stations - Eastern Railway" (PDF). Retrieved 24 December 2021.
32. "ONGOING PROJECTS ON NEW LINES, GAUGE CONVERSION AND DOUBLING" (PDF). Indian Express. Retrieved 28 January 2022.
33. "Project Summary". www.cspm.gov.in. Retrieved 3 March 2022.
34. "Nusrat Jahan demands railway line extension in her constituency, says it will boost tourism, livelihood". ANI News. Retrieved 3 March 2022.
35. Bandyopadhyay, Debaditya (27 April 2012), 8:08 Er Bongaon Local (Drama), retrieved 3 March 2022
36. 8:08 er Bonga Local Movie Review {3.5/5}: Critic Review of 8:08 er Bonga Local by Times of India, retrieved 3 March 2022

External links

•   Kolkata/Northern fringes travel guide from Wikivoyage