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{{Short description|Railway route in West Bengal, India}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2016}}
{{Use Indian English|date=January 2016}}
{{Infobox rail line
| box_width = 28em
| name = Howrah–Barddhaman main line
| color =
| logo = 
| logo_width = 100 px
| image = Konnagar Railway Station.jpg
| image_width =
| caption = Konnagar is an important station in the route.
| type =
| system = [[Commuter rail]]
| status = Operational
| locale = [[West Bengal]]
| start = [[Howrah railway station|Howrah]]
| end = [[Barddhaman Junction railway station|Barddhaman]]
| stations = 34
| routes =
| daily_ridership =
| open = 1854
| close =
| owner = [[Indian Railways]]
| operator = [[Eastern Railway zone|Eastern Railway]]
| character =
| depot =
| stock =
| linelength = {{convert|108|km|mi|0|abbr=on}}
| tracklength =
| tracks = 4
| gauge = {{Track gauge|5ft6in|lk=on}} [[broad gauge]]
| old_gauge =
| minradius =
| racksystem =
| electrification = 1958 with 25 kV AC
| speed = up to 130 km/ h
| elevation =
| website =
| map = {{Howrah–Barddhaman main line|inline=y}}
| map_state = collapsed
}}

The '''Howrah–Barddhaman main line''' is a broad-gauge railway line connecting [[Howrah station|Howrah]] and [[Barddhaman Junction railway station|Barddhaman]] via [[Bandel railway station|Bandel]]. The {{convert|107|km}} railway line operates in [[Howrah district|Howrah]], [[Hooghly district|Hooghly]] and [[Purba Bardhaman district|Purba Barddhaman]] districts in the Indian state of [[West Bengal]]. It is part of the [[Howrah–Delhi main line]] and the [[Kolkata Suburban Railway]] system.

==History==
The [[East Indian Railway Company]] which was formed on 1 June 1845, planned to construct a line from Howrah to Delhi. After surveys, construction began in 1851.

Howrah station was a tin shed and to reach it from Kolkata one had to cross the [[Hooghly River]] in a ferry. On 15 August 1854, the first passenger train in the eastern section was operated up to [[Hooghly railway station]], {{convert|39|km}} away. On 1 February 1855 the first train ran from Howrah to [[Raniganj railway station|Raniganj]], {{convert|195|km}} from Howrah.

===Access to Howrah station===
A pontoon bridge was built across the [[Hooghly River]] in 1874 to provide easy access to Howrah Station, and in 1943 the cantilever [[Howrah Bridge]], later renamed Rabindra Setu, was built.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.howrahbridgekolkata.gov.in/ | title = Bridge Highlights | access-date = 2011-11-12 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20111118055642/http://www.howrahbridgekolkata.gov.in/ | archive-date = 18 November 2011 | url-status = dead }}</ref>

[[File:First Train of East Indian Railway-1854.jpg|thumb|left|350px|First train of the East Indian Railway, 1854]]
[[File:EMU at Bandel.jpg|thumb|right|250px|A Howrah-bound EMU train leaving Bandel Jn.]]

===Other routes===
The [[Sheoraphuli–Tarakeswar branch line]] was constructed in 1885, and the [[Howrah–Bardhaman chord|Howrah–Barddhaman chord line]], a shorter link to Barddhaman, was constructed in 1917.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.irfca.org/~mrinal/chronology.html | title = The Chronology of Railway development in Eastern Indian | publisher=Rail India | access-date = 2011-11-17 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080316015721/http://www.irfca.org/~mrinal/chronology.html | archive-date = 16 March 2008 | url-status = dead }}</ref> (See route diagram for Sheoraphuli-Tarakeswar Line with this page also).

With the construction of the [[Jubilee Bridge (India)|Jubilee Bridge]] in 1887 across the [[Hooghly River|Hooghly]], railway lines on the eastern side of the Hooghly were linked to the main line at [[Bandel]]. In 1932, the Calcutta chord line was built over the [[Vivekananda Setu|Willingdon Bridge]] joining [[Dum Dum]] with [[Dankuni]].

In 1913, the Hooghly–Katwa Railway constructed a line from [[Bandel railway station|Bandel]] to Katwa, and the Barharwa–Azimganj–Katwa Railway constructed the [[Barharwa–Azimganj–Katwa loop]].(See route diagram for the Bandel–Katwa line with this page).

The railway track was extended to [[Belur Math]] in 2003.<ref>{{cite news | url= http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2003-08-13/kolkata/27209535_1_rail-link-belur-math-rail-service | archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20130616180532/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2003-08-13/kolkata/27209535_1_rail-link-belur-math-rail-service | url-status= dead | archive-date= 2013-06-16 | title= New rail link to Belur Math from August 16| access-date=2011-11-18 | work= [[The Times of India]] | date=2003-08-13}}</ref>

In 2021, Prime Minister [[Narendra Modi]] inaugurated the third line between Rasulpur and Magra of this route to reduce the congestion of the trains in this route.

==Electrification==
The line was electrified in 1957 using [[3000 V DC]] traction. It was later converted to [[25 kV AC railway electrification|25 kV AC]] traction in 1968.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-05-16 |title=The Local Train Service Serving Millions Of Passengers Daily: Kolkata Suburban Railway - Metro Rail News |url=https://metrorailnews.in/the-local-train-service-serving-millions-of-passengers-daily-kolkata-suburban-railway/ |access-date=2025-11-14 |website=metrorailnews.in |language=en-US}}</ref>

==Tracks==
There are 5 tracks between [[Howrah railway station|Howrah]] and [[Bally, Howrah|Bally]], 3 tracks between Bally and [[Serampore]], 4 tracks between [[Serampore]] and {{stnlnk|Seoraphuli Junction}}, 3 tracks between Seoraphuli Junction and {{stnlnk|Bandel Junction}} and 3 tracks between {{stnlnk|Bandel Junction}} and {{stnlnk|Saktigarh}} and from [[Saktigarh railway station|Saktigarh]] up to [[Barddhaman]] Junction 4 tracks.
This line uses automatic block signalling <ref>{{cite web| url = http://www.er.indianrailways.gov.in/view_section.jsp?lang=0&id=0,6,441,721,733,755 |title = Howrah Division Operating Department| publisher= Eastern Railway| access-date = 10 April 2013}}</ref>

==Loco and car sheds==
Howrah has a diesel and an electric loco shed. Both of them rank among the largest in India. The diesel loco shed houses WDM-2, WDM-3(A, B and D), WDP-4D and WDS-6 locos. Some WDS-4 are also occasionally seen shunting alongside the regular WDS-6 ones. The electric loco shed houses WAP-4 and WAP-7 locos. Commissioned in 2001, it is one of the largest WAP-4 sheds in Indian Railways. There used to be a time when, 60% of the shed was occupied by WAP-4 alone. It is also growing in stature as it can also now handle large no. of locos of one of the premier passenger WORKHORSE locos of India...i.e.WAP-7.it currently holds ownership of more than 30+ WAP-7 locos. It has facilities for handling 100+ locos. Some of these, like WAM-4 and WAG-5 are borrowed in temporarily from the Asansol electric loco shed, The main hub for handling WAM and WAG types (except WAG-9., whose ownership resides with Howrah shed ). The Howrah electric loco shed has a very detailed planning of the infrastructure that allows it to hold and maintain its own locos as well as locos from other sheds. There is a diesel loco shed at Bamangachi with WDM-2(not more than 7 generally ), WDS-4 and WDS-6(some of them being diesel hydraulic shunters). Barddhaman has a diesel loco shed with WDG-3(A and B), WDM-6(generally a couple of them), WDM-2 and WDM-3(A, B, D) locos. It can handle 35+ locos. There is a diesel loco shed at Liluah and an [[Electrical multiple unit]] (EMU) car shed at Howrah and [[Bandel]]. Liluah Carriage & Wagon Workshop maintains coaches and freight wagons.<ref>{{cite web| url = http://www.irfca.org/faq/faq-shed.html |title = Sheds and Workshops| publisher= IRFCA| access-date = 10 April 2013}}</ref>

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 Express. The Coaching Depot is under Howrah Division, Eastern Railway. Barddhaman Coaching & Wagon Depot can maintain four passenger trains, including one DEMU rake. It has a capacity of holding 71 coaches.<ref>{{cite web| url = http://www.er.indianrailways.gov.in/cris//uploads/files/1336385288075-C&W%20HWH%20OVER%20VIEW%20MAY%2712.pdf |title = Carriage and Wagon / Howrah Division| publisher = Indian Railways| access-date = 11 April 2013 }}</ref>

==Speed limits==
The Howrah–Barddhaman main line is classified as 'B' class line where trains can run at up to 130 km per hour .<ref>{{cite news |url= http://www.irfca.org/faq/faq-pway.html |title=Permanent Way| work= Track Classifications|access-date=2012-01-15 }}</ref>

==References==
{{reflist|30em}}

{{Railways in Eastern India}}
{{Howrah topics}}
{{Hooghly topics}}
{{Purba Bardhaman topics}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Howrah - Barddhaman main line}}
[[Category:5 ft 6 in gauge railways in India]]
[[Category:Main railway lines of India]]
[[Category:Howrah railway division|*]]
[[Category:Transport in Purba Bardhaman district]]

Howrah–Barddhaman main line - Revision history

KennyReveley866: Added Some Entry W/ Sources!