Howrah–Bardhaman chord

Howrah–Bardhaman chord
Overview
System Commuter rail
Status Operational
Locale West Bengal
Termini Howrah
Bardhaman
Stations 27
Operation
Opened 1917
Owner Indian Railway
Operator(s) Eastern Railway
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

Howrah–Bardhaman Chord

Legend
 km
Up arrowto Bardhaman-Asansol section
 95 Bardhaman
 88 Gangpur
 83 Saktigarh
Right arrowto Howrah–Bardhaman main line
National Highway 2
 78 Palla Road
 75 Chanchai
Left arrowto Bankura-Masagram line
 72 Masagram
SH 15 Memari-Tarakeswar Road
 69 Nabagram
 65 Jaugram
 62 Jhapandanga
 58 Gurap
 56 Hajigarh
 52 Shibai Chandi
 49 Dhaniakhali
 47 Belmuri
 45 Porabazar
 41 Chandanpur
 36 Madhusudanpur
State Highway 2
33 Kamarkundu

Left arrowSheoraphuli-Bishnupur line Right arrow
32 Balarambati
 30 Mirzapur-Bankipur
 27 Baruipara
 23 Begampur
 21 Janai Road
 16 Gobra
 15 Dankuni
National Highway 2
National Highway 6
12 Belanagar
7 Bally
Right arrowto Howrah–Bardhaman main line
Left arrowto Howrah-Kharagpur line
Rajbaridanga
Right arrowto Sealdah-Ranaghat line
Belur Math
 5 Liluah

UpperLeft arrowto Howrah-Kharagpur line
0 Howrah

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 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.

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 Willingdon Bridge(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 two tracks between Belur and Dankuni, three tracks between Dankuni and Saktigarh, and four tracks between Shaktigarh and Khana.[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 a EMU car shed at Howrah. Liluah Carriage & Wagon Workshop maintains coaches and freight wagons.[11]

Tikiapara Coaching Depot maintains 22 primary base trains an 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 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.[13][14]

References

  1. ↑ "The Chronology of Railway development in Eastern Indian". railindia. Retrieved 2011-11-17.
  2. ↑ "After fog, frenzy stalls trains – Mob blocks rail tracks with halt demand, schedules thrown awry". Calcutta, India: The Telegraph, 9 January 2004. 2004-01-09. Retrieved 2011-11-18.
  3. ↑ "History of Electrification". IRFCA. Retrieved 2011-11-18.
  4. ↑ "India's first double-decker train is fully AC". Jagran Post. Retrieved 2011-11-18.
  5. ↑ "Local trains to stop twice at Kamarkundu". Times of India, 17 February 2011. 2011-02-17. Retrieved 2011-11-18.
  6. ↑ "Electric Multiple Units". IRFCA. Retrieved 2011-11-18.
  7. ↑ Mandal, Sanjay (2005-09-12). "Train to Bankura". Calcutta, India: The Telegraph, 12 September 2005. Retrieved 2011-11-18.
  8. ↑ "Before swearing-in, Didi's rail sops on track". Business Standard, 18 May 2011. Retrieved 2012-03-19.
  9. ↑ "New rail link to Belur Math from August 16". The Times of India, 13 August 2003. 2003-08-13. Retrieved 2011-11-18.
  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 2012-01-15.
  14. ↑ "Trivia". Highest speed sections of track. Retrieved 2012-01-15.
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