Janamkatha at 23:57, 23 February 2026

2026-02-23T23:57:57Z

>Vatsmaxed at 11:57, 5 June 2021

2021-06-05T11:57:56Z

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{{short description|Mail/express train in India}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2016}}
{{Use Indian English|date=January 2016}}
{{Infobox rail service
| name = Darjeeling Mail
| image = Darjeeling_mail_1.jpg
| type = [[Mail trains in India|Mail]]
| locale =
| operator = [[Eastern Railways]]
| ridership =
| first = {{start date and age|1 January 1878}}
| last =
| start = [[Sealdah]] ('''SDAH''')
| stops = 4(16 during Pre 1947 era)
| end = {{rws|New Jalpaiguri Junction}} ('''NJP''')({{rws|Siliguri Junction}} during Pre 1947 era)
| distance = {{convert|573|km|mi}}({{convert|548|km|mi}} during Pre 1947 era)
| frequency = Daily
| trainnumber = 12343 / 12344(43 Up / 44 Dn during Pre 1947 era)
| class = AC 1st (1), AC 2nd (2), AC 3rd (7), Sleeper (9), General (2), Military(1)
| coaches = 24
| catering = No pantry car available
| stock = [[LHB coaches]]
| gauge = {{track gauge|1676mm}}
| speed = {{convert|120|kph|mph}} maximum; {{convert|57|kph|mph}} average; {{convert|51|kph|mph}} during Pre 1947 era.
| map = [[File:Darjeeling Mail (Sealdah - New Jalpaiguri) route map.png|290px|Darjeeling Mail (Sealdah–New Jalpaiguri) route map]]
| map_state =
}}
{{Darjeeling Mail route|collapse=y}}
The '''Darjeeling Mail''' is one of the legendary trains in the eastern region of India that has been running from pre-independence days and is still in operation. It connects to the [[Darjeeling Himalayan Railway]] at [[New Jalpaiguri]] in [[Siliguri]]. This is a major train for [[Kolkata]]–[[Siliguri]] route. It is also the first train to run with AC electric loco Wap-7 in Sealdah to New-Jalpaiguri stretch.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://indiarailinfo.com/train/-train-darjeeling-mail-12343/367/325/444|title=12343/Darjeeling Mail (PT) - Sealdah to New Jalpaiguri ER/Eastern Zone - Railway Enquiry|last=PATRANABIS|first=SREERUP|website=India Rail Info|access-date=2020-01-09}}</ref>

==History==

===Run via East Bengal===
During the [[British Raj|British period]] all connections to [[North Bengal]] were through [[East Bengal]].

From 1878, the railway route from [[Kolkata]], then called Calcutta, to [[Siliguri]] was in two laps. The first lap was a {{convert|184.9|km|mi}} long journey along the [[Eastern Bengal Railway|Eastern Bengal State Railway]] from Calcutta Station (later renamed Sealdah) to Damookdeah Ghat on the southern bank of the [[Padma River]]. The passengers would then avail a ferry across the river. The second lap of the journey was a {{convert|363.1|km|mi}} metre-gauge line of the North Bengal Railway that linked Saraghat on the northern bank of the Padma to Siliguri.<ref name=njp>{{cite web| url = http://www.irfca.org/docs/rinbad-siliguri.html|title = India: the complex history of the junctions at Siliguri and New Jalpaiguri | publisher= IRFCA|accessdate = 2011-11-12 }}</ref>

Later the {{convert|1.8|km|ft}} long [[Hardinge Bridge]] across the Padma came up in 1912.<ref>{{cite book |last=Chowdhury |first=Sifatul Quader |year=2012 |chapter=Hardinge Bridge |chapter-url=http://en.banglapedia.org/index.php?title=Hardinge_Bridge |editor1-last=Islam |editor1-first=Sirajul |editor1-link=Sirajul Islam |editor2-last=Jamal |editor2-first=Ahmed A. |title=Banglapedia: National Encyclopedia of Bangladesh |edition=Second |publisher=[[Asiatic Society of Bangladesh]]}}</ref> In 1916 the metre-gauge section north of the bridge was converted to broad gauge, and so the entire Calcutta – Siliguri route became broad-gauge.<ref name=njp/> The route thus roughly ran: [[Sealdah]]–[[Ranaghat]]–[[Bheramara Upazila|Bheramara]]–[[Hardinge Bridge]]–[[Iswardi]]–[[Santahar]]–{{stnlnk|Hili}}–[[Parbatipur Upazila|Parabtipur]]–[[Nilphamari Sadar Upazila|Nilphamari]]–[[Haldibari, India|Haldibari]]–[[Jalpaiguri]]–[[Siliguri]].

The Darjeeling Mail ran on this route in pre-partition days. Even after the [[partition of India]] it ran on this route for some years.<ref>{{cite web| url = http://www.irfca.org/articles/isrs/fnrm3-fame-name.html|title = Trains of Fame and Locos with a Name, part 2 |last=Joydeep Dutta and Harsh Vardhan|first= | publisher= [[IRFCA]]| accessdate = 2012-02-22 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web| url = http://www.irfca.org/faq/faq-inter.html |title = Geography – International |last=|first= | publisher=[[IRFCA]] | accessdate = 2012-02-22 }}</ref>

Timings were:- [[Sealdah]] d 17.45 hrs; [[Ranaghat]] d 19.06 hrs; [[Iswardi]] d 21.40 hrs; [[Parbatipur Upazila|Parabtipur]] d 01.35 hrs;
[[Haldibari, India|Haldibari]] d 03.10; [[Siliguri]] a 04.30 as 43 Up. In return, [[Siliguri]] d 19.15; [[Haldibari, India|Haldibari]] d 20.30; [[Parbatipur Upazila|Parabtipur]] d 22.10 hrs; [[Iswardi]] d 02.05 hrs; [[Ranaghat]] d 04.41 hrs; [[Sealdah]] a 06.00 hrs as 44 Dn. The journey of {{convert|548|km|mi}} was covered in 10 hrs 45 mins at speed of {{convert|51|kph|mph}}

===Ferry across Ganges (Post-partition)===
With the partition of India in 1947, the major hurdle in connecting Kolkata and Siliguri was that there was no bridge across the Ganges in West Bengal or Bihar. A generally acceptable route to Siliguri was via [[Sahibganj loop]] to {{stnlnk|Rajmahal}}, then across the Ganges by ferry to [[Manihari]] Ghat on the other side, then to [[Kishanganj]] via [[Manihari]], [[Katihar]] and [[Barsoi]] and finally through narrow gauge to Siliguri.<ref>{{cite web| url = http://goethals1907-2007.blogspot.com/2007_10_01_archive.html |title = my school i wish |work = Madhyamgram Re-visited after 15 years | publisher = |accessdate = 2011-01-23 }}</ref> In 1949 Kishanganj–Siliguri section too was converted to metre gauge, thus making the entire route an uni-gauge one.<ref name=njp/>

===Run via Farakka Barrage===
In the early 1965s, when [[Farakka Barrage]] was being constructed, a more radical change was made. Indian Railways created a new broad-gauge rail link from Kolkata, and on a greenfield site south of Siliguri Town built an entirely new broad-gauge junction, {{stnlnk|New Jalpaiguri}}.<ref name=njp/>

The {{convert|2256.25|m|ft}} long [[Farakka Barrage]] carries a rail-cum-road bridge across the [[Ganges]]. The rail bridge was thrown open to the public in 1971, thereby linking the [[Barharwa–Azimganj–Katwa loop]] to {{stnlnk|Malda Town}}, [[Barsoi]], [[Kishanganj]], {{stnlnk|New Jalpaiguri}} and other railway stations in North Bengal.<ref>{{cite book|last1=Salman|first1=Salman M. A.|last2=Uprety|first2=Kishor|title=Conflict and cooperation on South Asia's international rivers: a legal perspective |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=8GEr4fyDbqgC&pg=PA135|accessdate= 2011-07-05| year=2002| publisher=World Bank Publications|isbn=978-0-8213-5352-3|pages=135–136}}</ref><ref name=timeline>{{cite web| url = http://irse.bravehost.com/IRHTML.htm| title = Indian Railway History timeline|first=R. P.|last=Saxena| accessdate = 2011-11-20| archive-url = https://archive.is/20120714085533/http://irse.bravehost.com/IRHTML.htm| archive-date = 14 July 2012| url-status = dead}}</ref> Since then Darjeeling Mail has been using the [[Howrah–New Jalpaiguri line]].

According to a report, a plan has been made to run the Darjeeling Mail via a new route, which is: Sealdah- Barrackpore- Ranaghat- Krishnanagar- Plassey- Murshidabad- Azimganj- Malda Town to New Jalpaiguri. This is to facilitate the passengers of Nadia and Murshidabad districts who had to travel all the way to Sealdah to catch a train to North Bengal. Moreover the current route is congested and lengthy, resulting in delays. A bridge over the Bhagirathi river has been built and tracks have been laid connecting Murshidabad and Azimganj stations. Once this connection is ready, operating the train through this route will bring down the distance as well as running time.

Another report says that the Darjeeling Mail is planned to be run through the now revived Haldibari- Chilahati cross-border railway link, thus retracing the old route on which the train used to ply.

== Route and halts ==

The important halts of the train are:

* {{stnlnk|Sealdah}} (Starts)
* {{stnlnk|Barddhaman Junction}} (3 minutes)
* {{stnlnk|Bolpur Shantiniketan}} (3 minutes)
* {{stnlnk|Malda Town}} (10 minutes)
* {{stnlnk|Kishanganj}} (2 minutes)
* {{stnlnk|New Jalpaiguri Junction}} (Ends)

== Operation ==

12343 – Starts from {{stnlnk|Sealdah}} Daily at 22:05 Hrs IST from Platform 9B and reaches Platform 1 or 3 of {{stnlnk|New Jalpaiguri Junction}} next day at 8:15 Hrs IST. In return, 12344 – Starts form New Jalpaiguri Junction at 20:00 Hrs IST and reach Sealdah at 6:00 Hrs IST.

{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Train Number !! Station Code !! Departure Station !! Departure Time !! Departure Day !! Station Code !!Arrival Station !! Arrival Time !! Arrival Day
|-
| 12343 || SDAH || [[Sealdah]] || 22.05 Hrs. || Daily || NJP || {{rws|New Jalpaiguri Junction}} || 08:15 Hrs. || Daily
|-
| 12344 || NJP || {{rws|New Jalpaiguri Junction}} || 20.00 Hrs. || Daily || SDAH || [[Sealdah]] || 06:00 Hrs. || Daily
|}

== Coach composition ==
This train has 24 LHB coaches<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://indiarailinfo.com/train/-train-darjeeling-mail-12343/367/325/444|title=12343/Darjeeling Mail (PT) - Sealdah to New Jalpaiguri ER/Eastern Zone - Railway Enquiry|last=PATRANABIS|first=SREERUP|website=India Rail Info|access-date=2020-01-09}}</ref>{{Indian Railways coach composition legend}}
'''Sealdah to New Jalpaiguri'''
{| class="wikitable plainrowheaders unsortable" style="text-align:center"
! rowspan="1" scope="col" style="background:yellow;" |Loco
! rowspan="1" scope="col" style="background:yellow;" |1
! rowspan="1" scope="col" style="background:orange;" |2
! rowspan="1" scope="col" style="background:lightskyblue;" |3
! rowspan="1" scope="col" style="background:lightskyblue;" |4
! rowspan="1" scope="col" style="background:lightskyblue;" |5
! rowspan="1" scope="col" style="background:lightskyblue;" |6
! rowspan="1" scope="col" style="background:lightskyblue;" |7
! rowspan="1" scope="col" style="background:lightskyblue;" |8
! rowspan="1" scope="col" style="background:lightskyblue;" |9
! rowspan="1" scope="col" style="background:lightskyblue;" |10
! rowspan="1" scope="col" style="background:lightskyblue;" |11
! rowspan="1" scope="col" style="background:lightskyblue;" |12
! rowspan="1" scope="col" style="background:orange;" |13
! rowspan="1" scope="col" style="background:orange;" |14
! rowspan="1" scope="col" style="background:orange;" |15
! rowspan="1" scope="col" style="background:orange;" |16
! rowspan="1" scope="col" style="background:orange;" |17
! rowspan="1" scope="col" style="background:orange;" |18
! rowspan="1" scope="col" style="background:orange;" |19
! rowspan="1" scope="col" style="background:orange;" |20
! rowspan="1" scope="col" style="background:orange;" |21
! rowspan="1" scope="col" style="background:orange;" |22
! rowspan="1" scope="col" style="background:yellow;" |23
! rowspan="1" scope="col" style="background:yellow;" |24
|-
|[[File:BSicon_LDER.svg|25x25px]]
|SLR
|S1
|B1
|A1
|A2
|B2
|B3
|B4
|B5
|B6
|B7
|H1
|S2
|S3
|S4
|S5
|S6
|S7
|S8
|S9
|GEN
|GEN
|MIL
|SLR
|}
'''New Jalpaiguri to Sealdah'''
{| class="wikitable plainrowheaders unsortable" style="text-align:center"
! rowspan="1" scope="col" style="background:yellow;" |Loco
! rowspan="1" scope="col" style="background:yellow;" |1
! rowspan="1" scope="col" style="background:yellow;" |2
! rowspan="1" scope="col" style="background:orange;" |3
! rowspan="1" scope="col" style="background:orange;" |4
! rowspan="1" scope="col" style="background:orange;" |5
! rowspan="1" scope="col" style="background:orange;" |6
! rowspan="1" scope="col" style="background:orange;" |7
! rowspan="1" scope="col" style="background:orange;" |8
! rowspan="1" scope="col" style="background:orange;" |9
! rowspan="1" scope="col" style="background:orange;" |10
! rowspan="1" scope="col" style="background:orange;" |11
! rowspan="1" scope="col" style="background:orange;" |12
! rowspan="1" scope="col" style="background:lightskyblue;" |13
! rowspan="1" scope="col" style="background:lightskyblue;" |14
! rowspan="1" scope="col" style="background:lightskyblue;" |15
! rowspan="1" scope="col" style="background:lightskyblue;" |16
! rowspan="1" scope="col" style="background:lightskyblue;" |17
! rowspan="1" scope="col" style="background:lightskyblue;" |18
! rowspan="1" scope="col" style="background:lightskyblue;" |19
! rowspan="1" scope="col" style="background:lightskyblue;" |20
! rowspan="1" scope="col" style="background:lightskyblue;" |21
! rowspan="1" scope="col" style="background:lightskyblue;" |22
! rowspan="1" scope="col" style="background:orange;" |23
! rowspan="1" scope="col" style="background:yellow;" |24
|-
|[[File:BSicon_LDER.svg|25x25px]]
|SLR
|MIL
|GEN
|GEN
|S9
|S8
|S7
|S6
|S5
|S4
|S3
|S2
|H1
|B7
|B6
|B5
|B4
|B3
|B2
|A1
|A2
|B1
|S1
|SLR
|}

== Gallery ==
<gallery>
File:Darjeeling Mail - AC 3 tier.jpg|Darjeeling Mail – AC 3 tier
File:Darjeeling Mail - Sleeper Class.jpg|Darjeeling Mail – Sleeper Class
</gallery>

==See also==
*[[Sealdah railway station]]
*[[New Jalpaiguri Junction railway station]]
*[[Darjeeling Himalayan Railway]]

==Other trains on the Kolkata–New Jalpaiguri sector==
* 12041/42 [[New Jalpaiguri–Howrah Shatabdi Express]]
* 22309/10 [[Howrah–New Jalpaiguri AC Express]]
* 12377/78 [[Padatik Express]]
* 12343/44 [[Darjeeling Mail]]
* 15959/60 [[Kamrup Express]]
* 13175/76 [[Kanchenjunga Express]]
* 12345/46 [[Saraighat Express]]
* 15721/22 [[Paharia Express|New Jalpaiguri–Digha Express]]
* 12517/18 [[Kolkata–Guwahati Garib Rath Express]]
* 12525/26 [[Dibrugarh–Kolkata Superfast Express]]
* 13141/42 [[Teesta Torsha Express]]
* 13147/48 [[Uttar Banga Express]]
* 12503/04 [[Bangalore Cantonment–Agartala Humsafar Express]]
* 13181/82 [[Kaziranga]] Express
* 22511/12 [[Lokmanya Tilak Terminus–Kamakhya Karmabhoomi Express]]
* 15643/44 [[Puri–Kamakhya Weekly Express (via Howrah)]]
* 12363/64 [[Kolkata–Haldibari Intercity Express]]
* 12509/10 [[Guwahati–Bengaluru Cantt. Superfast Express]]
* 12507/08 [[Thiruvananthapuram–Silchar Superfast Express]]
* 12513/14 [[Guwahati–Secunderabad Express]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
{{external media
| align=right
| video1= [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ViSXdiujV5M Darjeeling Mail-WDP4 magic with 8 AC coaches]
| video2= [http://video.hmongclip.com/?w=V7pT8FTHWwY&title=Darjeeling-Mail Darjeeling Mail at Kamarkundu Junction]
}}
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20140408180437/http://www.indianrail.gov.in/ Railway Website]

{{Historical trains in India}}
|{{Railways in Eastern India}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Darjeeling Mail}}
[[Category:Transport in Kolkata]]
[[Category:Rail transport in West Bengal]]
[[Category:Transport in Jalpaiguri]]
[[Category:Mail trains in India]]

Darjeeling Mail - Revision history

Janamkatha at 23:57, 23 February 2026

>Vatsmaxed at 11:57, 5 June 2021