Howrah–Bardhaman chord

The Howrah–Bardhaman chord is a broad-gauge rail line connecting Howrah and Bardhaman. The 95-kilometre-long (59 mi) railway line operates in Howrah, Hooghly and Purba Bardhaman districts in the state of West Bengal. It is part of the Howrah–Gaya–Delhi line, Howrah–Allahabad–Mumbai line and the Kolkata Suburban Railway system.

Howrah–Bardhaman chord
Overview
Status	Operational
Owner	Indian Railways
Locale	West Bengal
Termini	Howrah Bardhaman
Stations	27
Service
System	Commuter rail
Operator(s)	Eastern Railway
History
Opened	1917
Technical
Line length	95 km (59 mi)
Track gauge	1,676 mm (5 ft 6 in) Broad gauge
Electrification	1964–65
Operating speed	up to 160 km/ h
Route map km Bardhaman–Asansol section Bardhaman–Katwa line 95 Bardhaman 88 Gangpur 83 Saktigarh Howrah–Bardhaman main line National Highway 19 78 Palla Road 75 Chanchai Bankura–Masagram line 72 Masagram State Highway 15 (Memari–Tarakeswar Road) 69 Nabagram 65 Jaugram 62 Jhapandanga 58 Gurap 56 Hajigarh 54 Cheragram 52 Sibaichandi to Mogra on Howrah–Bardhaman main line Sheoraphuli–Bishnupur branch line to Tarakeswar 49 Dhaniakhali 47 Belmuri 45 Porabazar 41 Chandanpur 36 Madhusudanpur State Highway 2 33 Kamarkundu Sheoraphuli–Bishnupur line 32 Balarambati 30 Mirzapur–Bankipur 27 Baruipara 23 Begampur Sheoraphuli–Bishnupur branch line to Furfura Sharif (planned) 21 Janai Road Jongolpara 16 Gobra 15 Dankuni Dankuni Locomotive Factory National Highway 19 National Highway 16 12 Belanagar 7 Bally Howrah–Bardhaman main line Santragachi–Amta branch line Rajchandrapur Bally Halt Sealdah–Ranaghat line Belur Math 5 Liluah Howrah–Kharagpur line 0 Howrah km

History

The Howrah–Bardhaman chord, a shorter link to Bardhaman from Howrah than the Howrah–Bardhaman main line, was constructed in 1917.[1]

In 1932, the Calcutta chord line was built over the then Willingdon Bridge (now Vivekananda Setu) joining Dum Dum with Dankuni.

Dhaniakhali station on the Howrah–Bardhaman chord line was added in December 2003.[2]

Electrification

Howrah–Bardhaman chord was electrified in 1964–66.[3]

Double Decker train at Howrah Station after a trial run.

Overview

India's first air-conditioned double-decker train, running between Howrah and Dhanbad was introduced in 2011. The train will run at a permissible speed of 110 km per hour on the Howrah–Bardhaman chord line.[4]

Earlier, nine rake EMU coaches were used in local trains but twelve coach EMU trains have been introduced in the chord line in 2011, for which the platforms have been extended.[5][6]

The 117 kilometres (73 mi) long Bankura–Masagram line connects to the Howrah–Bardhaman chord near Masagram. The 231 kilometres (144 mi) distance for Bankura–Howrah travelling via Kharagpur has been reduced to about 185 kilometres (115 mi).[7][8]

The railway track was extended to Belur Math in 2003.[9]

Tracks

There are 5 tracks between Howrah and Belur. There are three tracks between Bally and Saktigarh, and four tracks between Saktigarh and Khana. Howrah Tarakeswar line goes over the Kamarkundu station.[10]

Loco and car sheds

Howrah has a diesel and an electric loco shed. The diesel loco shed houses WDM-2, WDM-3A, WDS-6 locos. The electric loco shed houses WAP-4 loco. Commissioned in 2001, it is one of the largest WAP-4 sheds in Indian Railways. It has facilities for stabling 70+ locos. There is a diesel loco shed at Bamangachi with WDM-2, WDS-4 and WDS-6. Bardhaman has a diesel loco shed with WDG-3A, WDM-6, WDM-2 and WDM-3A locos. There is a diesel loco shed at Liluah and an EMU car shed at Howrah. Liluah Carriage & Wagon Workshop maintains coaches and freight wagons.[11]

Tikiapara Coaching Depot maintains 22 primary base trains and 6 round trip trains. Total coach holding capacity is 744 coaches. It handles prestigious trains like Rajdhani Express and Duronto Exptress. The Coaching Depot is under Howrah Division, Eastern Railway. Bardhaman Coaching & Wagon Depot can maintain four passenger trains, including one DEMU rake. It has a capacity of holding 71 coaches.[12]

Speed limits

Most of the Howrah–Bardhaman chord 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 Kolkata 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. The Howrah Ranchi Shatabdi Express and Howrah New Jalpaiguri Shatabdi Express runs at a top speed of 130 km/h in some sections of this line.[13][14]

References

1. "The Chronology of Railway development in Eastern Indian". Rail India. Archived from the original on 16 March 2008. Retrieved 17 November 2011.
2. "After fog, frenzy stalls trains – Mob blocks rail tracks with halt demand, schedules thrown awry". The Telegraph. Calcutta. 9 January 2004. Retrieved 18 November 2011.
3. "History of Electrification". IRFCA. Retrieved 18 November 2011.
4. "India's first double-decker train is fully AC". Jagran Post. Retrieved 18 November 2011.
5. "Local trains to stop twice at Kamarkundu". Times of India. 17 February 2011. Retrieved 18 November 2011.
6. "Electric Multiple Units". IRFCA. Retrieved 18 November 2011.
7. Mandal, Sanjay (12 September 2005). "Train to Bankura". The Telegraph. Calcutta. Retrieved 18 November 2011.
8. "Before swearing-in, Didi's rail sops on track". Business Standard. 18 May 2011. Retrieved 19 March 2012.
9. "New rail link to Belur Math from August 16". The Times of India. 13 August 2003. Retrieved 18 November 2011.
10. "Howrah Division Operating Department". Eastern Railway. Retrieved 10 April 2013.
11. "Sheds and Workshops". IRFCA. Retrieved 10 April 2013.
12. "Carriage and Wagon / Howrah Division" (PDF). Indian Railways. Retrieved 11 April 2013.
13. "Permanent Way". Track Classifications. Retrieved 15 January 2012.
14. "Trivia". Highest speed sections of track. Retrieved 15 January 2012.

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