Bardhaman–Asansol section

The Bardhaman–Asansol section is a railway line connecting Bardhaman and Asansol. This 106 kilometres (66 mi) track is part of the Howrah–Delhi main line, Howrah–Gaya–Delhi line and Howrah–Allahabad–Mumbai line. It is under the jurisdiction of Eastern Railway, and is connected to the South Eastern Railway through Asansol–Adra line at Asansol Jn and Kalipahari–Damodar connector at Kalipahari (this line is only used by freight trains).

Bardhaman–Asansol section
Khana Junction is an important railway station on Bardhaman–Asansol section
Overview
Status	Operational
Owner	Indian Railways
Locale	West Bengal
Termini	Bardhaman Asansol
Stations	16
Service
System	Electrified
Operator(s)	Eastern Railway
History
Opened	1855–1863
Technical
Line length	106 km (66 mi)
Number of tracks	4 (2 up and 2 dn)
Track gauge	1,676 mm (5 ft 6 in) broad gauge
Electrification	25 kV AC overhead in 1960−66
Operating speed	up to 160 km/h (99 mph)
Route map km Asansol–Adra line 111 Burnpur Asansol–Gaya section & Asansol–Patna section 106 Asansol Junction Grand Trunk Road Mohishila Freight Bypass to Damodar 101 Kalipahari Nunia River 92 Nimcha Halt Nimcha Colliery Siding 88 Raniganj Damodar River Mejia Thermal Power Station 83 Baktarnagar Halt Andal–Sitarampur branch line Andal–Sainthia branch line 80 Andal Andal Marshalling Yard 74 Pinjrapol Halt Durgapur Thermal Power Station Durgapur Steel Plant 72 Waria Alloy Steels Plant Raturia Angadpur industrial area Durgapur Projects Limited 64 Durgapur Jai Balaji Industries Indian Oil Corporation depot 56 Rajbandh 48 Panagarh NH 19 (Grand Trunk Road) 38 Mankar 29 Paraj 23 Galsi 20 Ishan Chandi Halt Sahibganj loop 13 Khana to Bankura–Masagram line (under construction) 8 Talit Bardhaman–Katwa line 0 Barddhaman Junction Howrah–Bardhaman main line & Howrah–Bardhaman chord km Sources: [1] [2] [3] [4] [5]

History

Beginning of railways in Eastern India

The Howrah–Delhi railway line was planned via Rajmahal, using the level plains on the banks of the Ganges. During the middle of the nineteenth century coal mining had started in the Raniganj Coalfield. The coal was being mined by Carr, Tagore and Company owned primarily by Prince Dwarakanath Tagore, and was transported in boats and barges on the Damodar River from Narayankuri ghat. The fluctuating levels of water in the Damodar was an impediment for the smooth transportation of coal.[6][7][8]

Amongst the Indian merchants, in Mumbai and Kolkata, who took an active interest in the development of the railways, the most prominent name was that of Dwarakanath. M/s Carr, Tagore and Company is reported to have offered in 1844, to raise some capital for the construction of a railway line beyond Bardhaman to the Raniganj Coalfield. However, after Dwarakanath's premature death the conception, promotion and launching of India's railways were all British.[7] After the first run of a train in Eastern India from Howrah to Hooghly in 1854, East Indian Railway Company extended the tracks to Raniganj, beyond the plans of the route to Delhi, and on 1 February 1855, the first train ran from Hooghly to Raniganj.[6] The railways were extended to Asansol in July 1863.[9]

Bengal Nagpur Railway extended its tracks to the Asansol coal belt in 1887, thus connecting Asansol with Adra, 37 kilometres (23 mi) away . What was then the BNR mainline from Nagpur to Asansol was opened for goods traffic in 1891.[6]

The "main line"

The first rail track between Howrah and Delhi was via what was later named as Sahibganj loop and the first train on the route was run in 1864. A "shorter main line" connecting Raniganj and Kiul Junction was in position in 1871 and the opening of the Grand Chord in 1907 shortened the distance from Howrah to Delhi even further.[6]

The Andal–Sainthia branch line was built in 1913.[6] The 73 kilometres (45 mi) branch line linked the north-eastern part of Raniganj coalfield and the western part of Birbhum district to the main railway tracks.

MEMU service

The first MEMU service on the Bardhaman–Asansol section was started on 11 July 1994.[10]

Electrification

The Bardhaman–Mankar sector was electrified in 1964–65, the Mankar–Waria sector in 1965–66 and the Waria–Asansol sector in 1960−61.[11]

Loco sheds

There are diesel loco sheds at Bardhaman and Andal. Bardhaman diesel loco shed has WDG-3A, WDM-6, WDM-2 and WDM-3A locos. EMUs are also parked here. Andal diesel loco shed has WDS-6, WDM-2, WDM-3A and WDG-3A locos. Asansol had the oldest electric loco shed of Indian Railways. It presently has WAG-5 and WAM-4 locos.[12]

Andal Yard

The Andal Yard is the largest goods yard in the Asansol Division of Eastern Railway. Wagons are marshaled in the yard with the assistance of a hump fitted with mechanical retarders. Located in the Raniganj Coalfield, the yard handles about 1,300 coal wagons daily and another 4,400 wagons with other materials. Apart from coal, it handles steel, petroleum products and a large parcel traffic.[13]

Speed limits

Most of the Bardhaman–Asansol section is classified as ‘A’ class line where trains can run up to 160 km per hour but in certain sections speeds may be limited to 120–130 km per hour. The Howrah Rajdhani (between Howrah and New Delhi) travels at an average speed of 85.8 km per hour and the Sealdah Rajdhani (between Sealdah and New Delhi) travels at an average speed of 84.70 km per hour.[14][15]

Busy section

It is one of the busiest sections of Indian Railways with Asansol handling over 50 trains in a day.[15]

Railway reorganisation

In 1952, Eastern Railway, Northern Railway and North Eastern Railway were formed. Eastern Railway was formed with a portion of East Indian Railway Company, east of Mughalsarai and Bengal Nagpur Railway. Northern Railway was formed with a portion of East Indian Railway Company west of Mughalsarai, Jodhpur Railway, Bikaner Railway and Eastern Punjab Railway. North Eastern Railway was formed with Oudh and Tirhut Railway, Assam Railway and a portion of Bombay, Baroda and Central India Railway.[16] East Central Railway was created in 1996–97.[17]

References

1. "Bardhaman-Asansol MEMU 63505". India Rail Info.
2. "Asansol Division System Map". Eastern Railway. Archived from the original on 26 April 2016.
3. "South Eastern Railway Pink Book 2017-18" (PDF). Indian Railways Pink Book.
4. "Asansol Division Railway Map". Eastern Railway.
5. "Adra Division Railway Map". South Eastern Railway.
6. Saxena, R. P. "Indian Railway History Time line". Irse.bravehost.com. Archived from the original on 29 February 2012. Retrieved 3 January 2014.
7. "History of Indian Railways". Rail India. Archived from the original on 25 November 2012. Retrieved 20 November 2011.
8. "Asansol". Rail India. Archived from the original on 7 May 2017. Retrieved 20 November 2011.
9. "Asansol". Rail India. Archived from the original on 7 May 2017. Retrieved 12 November 2011.
10. "IR history Part V (1970–1995)". IRFCA. Retrieved 2 March 2014.
11. "History of Electrification". IRFCA. Retrieved 16 April 2013.
12. "Sheds and Workshops". IRFCA. Retrieved 18 April 2013.
13. "Indian Railways". Archived from the original on 25 April 2012. Retrieved 20 November 2011.
14. "Permanent Way". Track Classifications. Retrieved 15 January 2012.
15. "Trivia". Highest speed sections of track. Retrieved 15 January 2012.
16. "Geography – Railway Zones". IRFCA. Retrieved 28 March 2014.
17. "East Central Railway". ECR. Retrieved 28 March 2014.

|