Kolkata-Howrah Suburban, Kolkata Circular, West Bengal Railways

[Bombay2Calcutta]

http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/...cle3616731.ece
Kolkata, July 8:

A total of 146 local trains running via Dum Dum route will remain suspended between Sunday evening and Monday early morning for track conversion. This is likely to impact the movement of a large number of suburban passengers commuting to and from Sealdah station. Usually, 413 local trains run via this route on a Sunday. According to a Eastern Railway release, there will be a 20-hour traffic and power block at the Dum Dum station due to the conversion of existing point and crossing on line No. 4 to accommodate 12-coach electric trains. The cancelled trains include: Barrackpore Local, Naihati Local, Kalyani Simanta Local, Dankuni Local, Hasnabad Local, Habra Local, Up and Down Barasat Local, Duttapukur Local, Up and Down Bongaon Local, Gobordanga Local, Thakurnagar Local and a few trains running through the Circular Railway

[Bombay2Calcutta]

Board Shatabdi, reach N Bengal in eight hours
TNN | Jul 10, 2012, 03.30AM IST

KOLKATA: Those who frequently travel from the city to North Bengal or vice versa, now have a reason to cheer. Frequent travellers from North Bengal to Kolkata and tourists from the city have reason to cheer.

Come Thursday, Howrah and New Jalpaiguri will be connected by a Shatabdi Express from Thursday. This will be the fastest train till date between the two important locations in the state, covering the 570-odd km in only eight hours. Both the Darjeeling Mail and the Padatik Express - the two most popular trains between Sealdah and New Jalpaiguri - take over 10 hours to cover the distance. More importantly, it won't be an overnight journey.

Chief minister Mamata Banerjee, who will visiting during her trip to North Bengal on Wednesday, will flag-off the train from Siliguri. This train will run at 'open fast timing'. Scheduled services for the 12041 Howrah-New Jalpaiguri Shatabdi Express will start from Howrah on Thursday. The train will start from Howrah at 2.15pm and reach New Jalpaiguri at 10.20pm. The 12042 New Jalpaiguri-Howrah Shatabdi Express will start from NJP at 5.35am to reach Howrah at 1.35 pm. The trains, in both directions will have seven AC chair car coaches and one executive car, apart from a generator car and an SLR bogie. On both directions, the trains will stop at Kishanganj, Malda Town and Bolpur and will run six days a week barring Sunday. The train will run six days a week (except Sunday).

"There was a long-standing demand for a Shatabdi Express between North Bengal and Kolkata. There is a huge rush of traders from North Bengal who travel to Kolkata on business

. Most of them are not keen to waste a couple of nights for a few hours work in the city.

Till now, they preferred to travel by the Darjeeling Mail or Padatik Express which starts from NJP in the evenings and reaches Sealdah early in the morning. They would be forced to spend the whole day and part of the evening in Kolkata before taking the Darjeeling Mail or Padatik Express back to NJP. These traders can now start from NJP early in the morning, reach Kolkata in the afternoon, finish their work in a few hours and take the overnight train back home. In this way, they need to spend barely 24 hours," an Eastern Railway official said.

There are also many tourists from Kolkata - particularly those with children -who find it difficult to travel to places like Darjeeling or Sikkim immediately after reaching NJP early in the morning. In most cases, they reach their final destinations late in the afternoon, too tired to go sightseeing. With Shatabdi Express reaching NJP at 10.20pm, the tourists could spend the night at a hotel and start for Darjeeling or Sikkim early in the morning, reaching their destinations by noon.

"There is always a huge rush in trains between Kolkata and NJP. This train will help to ease the situation, particularly during vacations," the official said.

[sidney_jec]

average speed of more than 70 km an hour? Not bad, not bad at all.

[Cosmicbliss]

Originally Posted by sidney_jec

average speed of more than 70 km an hour? Not bad, not bad at all.

Can easily be 100 km an hour.

[Ashis Mitra]

PRESENT STATUS OF NEW LINES IN JULY 2012 –

1) Shantipur – Krishnanagar: - This is the only new suburban line (actually converted from NG) which has opened recently, and is a substitute route between Kalinarayanpur & Krishnanagar. Currently 2 local trains are going via this line, one between Shantipur & Krishnanagar, another between Ranaghat & Krishnanagar. I’ll visit this line on August. A new Krishnanagar local was planned to run from Shialdaha after opening this line, but I don’t know why this train has finally cancelled. I hope more train will serve this line in future, because in NG era there were 3 NG DMU trains on this line.
2) Krishnanagar – Nabadwip Ghat: - In greater sence this is an extendied programme of Shantipur – Krishnanagar GC. I heard in last December that it will open in July 2012, but it has now postponed. When the totally independent running Shantipur – Krishnanagar GC has lated one year, it is natural that remaining branch will be more lated, because this section is just like a roadside reserved track tram line, often encroached by illegal parking and inhibitants. So land acquisition was a problem because it was not possible to relay BG tracks on the exact place of former NG tracks just simply like Shantipur branch, it will require new lands, away from former alignment. So it is delaying. Earlier it was planned to open in 2012, but now it is planned to open in 2014, after that it will be extended to connect with Bandel – Katwa line at Nabadwip Dham.
3) Barddhaman – Katwa: - This line is also under guage conversion, and is an important link line. I went to Barddhaman recenty and saw the work has completed. Former NG platform was dismantled, and a new BG platform was constructed. Electrification has completed recently up to Balgona, and CRS officers also checked this line, but I don’t know why this line still has not opened for EMU service. There is a plan to open this section before 31/12/12, but I’m not sure, also not sure when the entire line will be converted from NG to BG.
4) Mashagram – Roynagar: - This line is very important for linking between ER & SER. I went to Shaktigarh recently and saw the earth work was going on. The remaining section between Mathnasipur & Mashagram is now under construction. I heard work is going on full pace and it is planned to open in 2013. A Bankurha – Mathnasipur DMU passenger has already planned to extend towards Mashagram. At first it will be served by DMU trains, but finally it will be served by EMU trains upto Roynagar after future electrification.
5) Tarakeshwar – Bishnupur: - This will be another important line for linking between ER & SER. Construction had started from both ends due to work fast. The first section was opened between Tarakeshwar & Talpur at one end, and between Bishnupur & Gokulnagar-Jaypur at another end. I travelled upto Talpur from Haorha in August 2010. Recently 2 DMU trains has started running upto Arambag from Tarakeshwar, but after electrification, I think those will be cancelled, and presently running 4 Talpur locals will be extended upto Arambag. On the other side, electrification upto Maynapur has completed, but I don’t know why the presently running Bankurha – Gokulnagar MEMU passenger has not extended upto Maynapur. However, I heard work is going on full pace and the entire line is planned to open in 2015.
6) Deshapran – Nandigram:- This line was a gift of former Rail Minister to the martyrs & strugglers of Nandigram. It was one of the priority lines of SER, but later construction became slower due to political unrest. I heard land acquisition has completed, and work is going on. The entire line is planned to open in 2013.
7) Murshidabad – Azimganj (NON SUBURBAN):- This line will be a very important link line, but the current status is mysterious. In 2010, this line got most importance. The main obstacle was the large bridge on River Bhagirathi, which has completed almost one year ago. A DMU passenger train between Krishnanagar & New Farakka via Azimganj was also planned for strart running. I went to Azimganj in last August and saw work is going very slow. 2 new platforms has constructed at Azimganj, the bridge on river Bhagirathi has completed, earth work has finished, but now the track laying is very slow and casual. The future is unknown. This link is urgently needed.There was a plan to open this line before 31/3/12, but now it has targeted in 2013, which is not sure.
8) Rampurhat – Dumka (JHARHKHAND) (NON SUBURBAN):- This line is under construction. I heard this line between Rampurhat & Pinargarhia has completed, and CRS officers also checked this line, but I don’t know why this line still has not opened for public. The entire line is planned to open in 2015.
9) New Mal – Chyangrhabandha (NON SUBURBAN):- This was actually an MG line, which was reopened after a long gap of 30 years since heavy flood in seventies. Now it is under BG conversion. Work is going on in full pace, many stations has completed reconstruction. The entire line is planned to open in 2013.
10) New Mainagurhi – New Chyangrhabandha – New Kochbihar (NON SUBURBAN):- This line will be a substitute route between New Mainagurhi & New Kochbihar avoiding Falakata. A small link between Chyangrhabandha & New Chyangrhabandha is also a part of this project for further bypassing. Work is going on and this line is planned to open in 2014.
11) New Kochbihar – Golakganj (ASSAM) (NON SUBURBAN):- - This is the only new non-suburban line which has opened recently. And is a substitute route between New Kochbihar & Golakganj avoiding Shamuktala Road & Fakiragram. New Jalpaigurhi – Alipurduar Jn. Express has now extended to Dhubrhi, via this line, but surprisingly, there is not a single ordinary passenger train. I’ve never heard about subh a line which has no passenger train, but has express train!!! Really amazing. Due to this I have cancelled to travel this line, until it’ll get any passenger train, or direct train from Kolkata area.

[Cosmicbliss]

Originally Posted by Ashis Mitra

PRESENT STATUS OF NEW LINES IN JULY 2012 –

1) Shantipur – Krishnanagar: - This is the only new suburban line (actually converted from NG) which has opened recently, and is a substitute route between Kalinarayanpur & Krishnanagar. Currently 2 local trains are going via this line, one between Shantipur & Krishnanagar, another between Ranaghat & Krishnanagar. I’ll visit this line on August. A new Krishnanagar local was planned to run from Shialdaha after opening this line, but I don’t know why this train has finally cancelled. I hope more train will serve this line in future, because in NG era there were 3 NG DMU trains on this line.
2) Krishnanagar – Nabadwip Ghat: - In greater sence this is an extendied programme of Shantipur – Krishnanagar GC. I heard in last December that it will open in July 2012, but it has now postponed. When the totally independent running Shantipur – Krishnanagar GC has lated one year, it is natural that remaining branch will be more lated, because this section is just like a roadside reserved track tram line, often encroached by illegal parking and inhibitants. So land acquisition was a problem because it was not possible to relay BG tracks on the exact place of former NG tracks just simply like Shantipur branch, it will require new lands, away from former alignment. So it is delaying. Earlier it was planned to open in 2012, but now it is planned to open in 2014, after that it will be extended to connect with Bandel – Katwa line at Nabadwip Dham.
3) Barddhaman – Katwa: - This line is also under guage conversion, and is an important link line. I went to Barddhaman recenty and saw the work has completed. Former NG platform was dismantled, and a new BG platform was constructed. Electrification has completed recently up to Balgona, and CRS officers also checked this line, but I don’t know why this line still has not opened for EMU service. There is a plan to open this section before 31/12/12, but I’m not sure, also not sure when the entire line will be converted from NG to BG.
4) Mashagram – Roynagar: - This line is very important for linking between ER & SER. I went to Shaktigarh recently and saw the earth work was going on. The remaining section between Mathnasipur & Mashagram is now under construction. I heard work is going on full pace and it is planned to open in 2013. A Bankurha – Mathnasipur DMU passenger has already planned to extend towards Mashagram. At first it will be served by DMU trains, but finally it will be served by EMU trains upto Roynagar after future electrification.
5) Tarakeshwar – Bishnupur: - This will be another important line for linking between ER & SER. Construction had started from both ends due to work fast. The first section was opened between Tarakeshwar & Talpur at one end, and between Bishnupur & Gokulnagar-Jaypur at another end. I travelled upto Talpur from Haorha in August 2010. Recently 2 DMU trains has started running upto Arambag from Tarakeshwar, but after electrification, I think those will be cancelled, and presently running 4 Talpur locals will be extended upto Arambag. On the other side, electrification upto Maynapur has completed, but I don’t know why the presently running Bankurha – Gokulnagar MEMU passenger has not extended upto Maynapur. However, I heard work is going on full pace and the entire line is planned to open in 2015.
6) Deshapran – Nandigram:- This line was a gift of former Rail Minister to the martyrs & strugglers of Nandigram. It was one of the priority lines of SER, but later construction became slower due to political unrest. I heard land acquisition has completed, and work is going on. The entire line is planned to open in 2013.
7) Murshidabad – Azimganj (NON SUBURBAN):- This line will be a very important link line, but the current status is mysterious. In 2010, this line got most importance. The main obstacle was the large bridge on River Bhagirathi, which has completed almost one year ago. A DMU passenger train between Krishnanagar & New Farakka via Azimganj was also planned for strart running. I went to Azimganj in last August and saw work is going very slow. 2 new platforms has constructed at Azimganj, the bridge on river Bhagirathi has completed, earth work has finished, but now the track laying is very slow and casual. The future is unknown. This link is urgently needed.There was a plan to open this line before 31/3/12, but now it has targeted in 2013, which is not sure.
8) Rampurhat – Dumka (JHARHKHAND) (NON SUBURBAN):- This line is under construction. I heard this line between Rampurhat & Pinargarhia has completed, and CRS officers also checked this line, but I don’t know why this line still has not opened for public. The entire line is planned to open in 2015.
9) New Mal – Chyangrhabandha (NON SUBURBAN):- This was actually an MG line, which was reopened after a long gap of 30 years since heavy flood in seventies. Now it is under BG conversion. Work is going on in full pace, many stations has completed reconstruction. The entire line is planned to open in 2013.
10) New Mainagurhi – New Chyangrhabandha – New Kochbihar (NON SUBURBAN):- This line will be a substitute route between New Mainagurhi & New Kochbihar avoiding Falakata. A small link between Chyangrhabandha & New Chyangrhabandha is also a part of this project for further bypassing. Work is going on and this line is planned to open in 2014.
11) New Kochbihar – Golakganj (ASSAM) (NON SUBURBAN):- - This is the only new non-suburban line which has opened recently. And is a substitute route between New Kochbihar & Golakganj avoiding Shamuktala Road & Fakiragram. New Jalpaigurhi – Alipurduar Jn. Express has now extended to Dhubrhi, via this line, but surprisingly, there is not a single ordinary passenger train. I’ve never heard about subh a line which has no passenger train, but has express train!!! Really amazing. Due to this I have cancelled to travel this line, until it’ll get any passenger train, or direct train from Kolkata area.

Ashish, is it fair to say that railway projects are gathering pace in WB since TMC took charge at both centre and state?

[Bombay2Calcutta]

Driver spots rail fracture and stops train
TNN | Jul 11, 2012, 03.12AM IST

KOLKATA: A day after a Budge Budge-Sealdah local derailed near the Ballygunge station on Sunday, passengers on the Sealdah-Rampurhat Maa Tara Express had a narrow shave on Tuesday morning after the driver applied emergency brakes on spotting a fracture on the track between the Bidhannagar Road and Dum Dum Junction stations. The train was detained at the spot for nearly 30 minutes while repairs were carried out. Several local trains were also detained.

The incident occurred soon after the express train left Sealdah at 7.25am. It was yet to gather speed, when the alert driver spotted the rail fracture near the Dakshindari level crossing. He immediately brought the train to a stop and alerted the control room around 7.40am.

"Our engineers and trackmen reached the spot within minutes and began repairs. Track fractures are quite common during temperature variations. There was no foul play or negligence involved. The steel rails contract in the night due to a dip in temperature. As the sun rises and it gets warmer, the metal expands and cracks develop wherever there is any weak spot. Such weak spots can't be spotted with the naked eye. Loco pilots and their assistants are asked to maintain a lookout for such cracks, particularly during seasonal variations," an Eastern Railway official said. The repairs were completed at 8.10am.

Some people, however, claimed that track fractures do lead to accidents. In May this year, eight coaches of the Mumbai-bound Punjab Mail derailed near Rohtak in Haryana, injuring 29 passengers. According to an official, if all vacancies for the post of trackmen are filled up, rail fractures can be detected before the trains pass.

[anamitra]

Originally Posted by Ashis Mitra

PRESENT STATUS OF NEW LINES IN JULY 2012 –


3) Barddhaman – Katwa: - This line is also under guage conversion, and is an important link line. I went to Barddhaman recenty and saw the work has completed. Former NG platform was dismantled, and a new BG platform was constructed. Electrification has completed recently up to Balgona, and CRS officers also checked this line, but I don’t know why this line still has not opened for EMU service. There is a plan to open this section before 31/12/12, but I’m not sure, also not sure when the entire line will be converted from NG to BG.

The gauge conversion and electrification will definitely be extended since a new Thermal Power Plant is being planned at Katwa. This plant will need 2-3 coal rakes daily, plied behind electric locomotives. As a freebie, EMU locals will also be introduced.

Originally Posted by Ashis Mitra

4) Mashagram – Roynagar: - This line is very important for linking between ER & SER. I went to Shaktigarh recently and saw the earth work was going on. The remaining section between Mathnasipur & Mashagram is now under construction. I heard work is going on full pace and it is planned to open in 2013. A Bankurha – Mathnasipur DMU passenger has already planned to extend towards Mashagram. At first it will be served by DMU trains, but finally it will be served by EMU trains upto Roynagar after future electrification.

The proposal of electrification has been sent to the railway board but it has not been approved yet. This route has every possibility of getting electrified as a missing link, but seems it is going to take time. Let them complete the section and introduce DEMUs first.

Originally Posted by Ashis Mitra

7) Murshidabad – Azimganj (NON SUBURBAN):- This line will be a very important link line, but the current status is mysterious. In 2010, this line got most importance. The main obstacle was the large bridge on River Bhagirathi, which has completed almost one year ago. A DMU passenger train between Krishnanagar & New Farakka via Azimganj was also planned for strart running. I went to Azimganj in last August and saw work is going very slow. 2 new platforms has constructed at Azimganj, the bridge on river Bhagirathi has completed, earth work has finished, but now the track laying is very slow and casual. The future is unknown. This link is urgently needed.There was a plan to open this line before 31/3/12, but now it has targeted in 2013, which is not sure.

That area falls right in the heart land of Pranab Mukherjee and Adhir Chaudhury's constituencies. Until the political issues are ironed out between Congress and Trinamool, it does not look like this line is ever going to see the daylight. Unfortunately, people's interest is being held as ransom for cheap political ego plays!

[NiladriG]

http://www.expressindia.com/latest-n...raffic/974355/

Eastern Railway witnessed growth in its freight and passenger traffic and earnings during the period from April to June 2012.
Freight loading of Eastern Railway in the first quarter was 15.739 million tonne against the proportionate target of 14.63 million tonne, registering a growth of 16.34 per cent on a year-on-year basis. Freight earning was Rs 1153.69 crore compared to Rs 861.89 crore on year-on-year basis.

Among the total loading in the same period, coal loading alone amounted to 10.779 million tonne, surpassing the proportionate target of 9.660 million tonne. General goods loaded by Eastern Railway amounted to 4.960 million tonne this year as against 4.645 million tonne last year.

In case of passenger traffic, Eastern Railway carried 29.31 crore passengers in this period, earning Rs 412.71 crore as against 28.23 crore passengers carried during the period from April to June 2011, generating revenue of Rs 372.24 crore.

[Ashis Mitra]

In the current suburban timetable, the following new trains have added:-

31713 Naihati – Ranaghat local
31571 Ranaghat – Krishnanagar local (actually it will be the extension of the 31713)
31783 Ranaghat - Shantipur local
31631 Shialdaha – Ranaghat local
33367 Barasat – Bangaon local
33323 Shialdaha – Hasnabad local
31755 Ranaghat – Gede local
33737 Ranaghat – Bangaon local
37785 Bandel - Barddhaman local (now have started running)
37291 Haorha – Bandel local (now have started running)
37411 Haorha – Tarakeshwar local
37413 Haorha – Tarakeshwar local
37857 Bandel – Naihati local (now have started running)
38305 Santragachhi – Mecheda local (now have started running, actually is the extension of the 68685)
68685 Mecheda – Digha local (first time, EMU trains started running outside suburban area, beyond Kanthi)
68691 Haorha – Haldia local (now have started running, will go directly towards Raghunathbarhi)
68633 Haorha – Kharhgapur local (now have started running)
38255 Santragachhi – Bagnan local (going to reintroducing after many years)
68607 Santragachhi – Amta local

** This year, Introduction of new EMU trains is comparatively lower than previous year. Not a single train has introduced/planned for Shialdaha South Section. Significantly, on SER there are much new trains comparing previous years, also note; like Damdam, Baliganj and Bali, Santragachhi is now also in intermediate terminus of suburban train.

[Ashis Mitra]

Originally Posted by Cosmicbliss

Ashish, is it fair to say that railway projects are gathering pace in WB since TMC took charge at both centre and state?

Not very much, but better than before 2009, and after applying own land acquisition act of IR to acquire land for faster construction of new lines.

[Ashis Mitra]

http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=1404966

This international thread was created by me. All can post as much as possible about Kolkata’s rail transport, for informing the world about our great systems, and for improving & surviving. THIS IS A GREAT CHANCE.

[anamitra]

There was a proposal of extending 13103/13104 Sealdah Asansol Intercity Express (via Naihati, Bandel) to Purulia. Has anyone heard of any progress on that front?

The original plan was to extend the service upto PRR by creating an early morning departure from PRR at about 5:00 AM and on return, reaching PRR by 22:30 PM by sticking to the existing time slot between Sealdah and Asansol.

This could help people from Purulia/Anara/Burnpur area to head to Durgapur/Barddhaman/Bandel/Naihati/Barrackpore/Sealdah without making a change. Also, this extension will not need another rake or locomotive. The present rake can very well take care of this extra need.

Warm regards,
Anamitra

[Ashis Mitra]

Never heard about it

[Ashis Mitra]

Originally Posted by Suncity

Kalyani Station
photo copyright Debasis

This is Kalyani Jn. The middle two tracks are for express & goods train, tracks towards Kalyani Simanta, turns left, are out of the photo.

[Ashis Mitra]

Originally Posted by todscreen

Kolkata International Station(Chitpur)-the sparkling clean white station

Entry(very environmental friendly-welcome to Modern Kolkata....love it)









from flickr

These area, now turned to approach road, were goods rail line before the station made.

[Suncity]

8th July..

Crowds!

Due to derailment of up Budge Budge local at Ballygunge,EMU service of Sealdah south section has been completely collapsed,since there's no overhead current in between Ballygunge and Sonarpur about that accident,this oldy BGA shunter playing the role of crisis manager.

Video of derailed EMU

[Suncity]

Not suburban - but this is the FIRST LHB Shatabdi Express from Howrah. It is the NJP Howrah Shatabdi.

[anamitra]

[anamitra]

Ahmedpur Katwa is up for Gauge Conversion: