>Vatsmaxed: /* top */updated template, replaced: Broad gauge → {{Track gauge|5ft6in|lk=on}} broad gauge

2021-06-24T10:30:10Z

top: updated template, replaced: Broad gauge → {{Track gauge|5ft6in|lk=on}} broad gauge

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{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2016}}
{{Use Indian English|date=January 2016}}
{{Infobox rail line
| box_width = 28em
| name = Howrah–Bardhaman chord
| color =
| logo = 
| logo_width = 100 px
| image =
| image_width =
| caption =
| type =
| system = [[Commuter rail]]
| status = Operational
| locale = [[West Bengal]]
| start = [[Howrah railway station|Howrah]]
| end = [[Bardhaman railway station|Bardhaman]]
| stations = 27
| routes =
| daily_ridership =
| open = 1917
| close =
| owner = [[Indian Railways]]
| operator = [[Eastern Railway zone|Eastern Railway]]
| character =
| depot =
| stock =
| linelength = {{convert|95|km|mi|0|abbr=on}}
| tracklength =
| tracks =
| gauge = {{Track gauge|5ft6in|lk=on}} [[broad gauge]]
| old_gauge =
| minradius =
| racksystem =
| electrification = 1964–65
| speed = up to 160 km/ h
| elevation =
| website =
| map = {{Howrah–Bardhaman Chord}}
| map_state = collapsed
}}
The '''Howrah–Bardhaman chord''' is a broad-gauge rail line connecting [[Howrah station|Howrah]] and [[Bardhaman railway station|Bardhaman]]. The {{convert|95|km|mi|adj=mid|-long}} railway line operates in [[Howrah district|Howrah]], [[Hooghly district|Hooghly]] and [[Purba Bardhaman district|Purba Bardhaman]] districts in the [[States and territories of India|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.<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>

In 1932, the [[Chord link line (Kolkata Suburban Railway)|Calcutta chord line]] was built over the [[Vivekananda Setu|then Willingdon Bridge (now Vivekananda Setu)]] joining Dum Dum with [[Dankuni railway station|Dankuni]].

Dhaniakhali station on the Howrah–Bardhaman chord line was added in December 2003.<ref>{{cite news | url= http://www.telegraphindia.com/1040109/asp/calcutta/story_2765623.asp | title= After fog, frenzy stalls trains – Mob blocks rail tracks with halt demand, schedules thrown awry | work=The Telegraph| access-date=2011-11-18 | location=Calcutta| date=2004-01-09}}</ref>

==Electrification==
Howrah–Bardhaman chord was electrified in 1964–66.<ref>{{cite web| url = http://www.irfca.org/docs/electrification-history.html |title =History of Electrification | publisher= IRFCA| access-date = 2011-11-18 }}</ref>

[[File:Indian Rail Double Decker.JPG|thumb|left|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.<ref>{{cite web| url = http://post.jagran.com/indias-first-doubledecker-train-22-new-trains-flagged-off-1317493185 |title = India's first double-decker train is fully AC | work=Jagran Post | access-date = 2011-11-18 }}</ref>

Earlier, nine rake [[Electric multiple units|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.<ref>{{cite news | url=http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2011-02-17/kolkata/28554143_1_local-trains-platforms-rakes | archive-url=https://archive.today/20120712144703/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2011-02-17/kolkata/28554143_1_local-trains-platforms-rakes | url-status=dead | archive-date=2012-07-12 | title= Local trains to stop twice at Kamarkundu| access-date=2011-11-18| work=[[The Times of India]] | date=2011-02-17}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url= http://www.irfca.org/faq/faq-mu.html| title= Electric Multiple Units | publisher=IRFCA| access-date=2011-11-18}}</ref>

The {{convert|117|km}} long [[Bankura–Masagram line]] connects to the Howrah–Bardhaman chord near Masagram. The {{convert|231|km}} distance for Bankura–Howrah travelling via Kharagpur has been reduced to about {{convert|185|km}}.<ref>{{cite news | url= http://www.telegraphindia.com/1050912/asp/bengal/story_5227660.asp | title= Train to Bankura| work=The Telegraph|access-date=2011-11-18 | location=Calcutta| first=Sanjay | last=Mandal | date=2005-09-12}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.business-standard.com/india/news/before-swearing-in-didi%5Cs-rail-sopstrack/435927/ | title = Before swearing-in, Didi's rail sops on track | access-date = 2012-03-19 | work=Business Standard|date=18 May 2011}}</ref>

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>

==Tracks==
There are 5 tracks between [[Howrah railway station|Howrah]] and [[Belur, West Bengal|Belur]]. There are three tracks between [[Bally, Howrah|Bally]] and [[Saktigarh railway station|Saktigarh]], and four tracks between [[Saktigarh railway station|Saktigarh]] and [[Khana Junction railway station|Khana]]. Howrah Tarakeswar line goes over the [[Kamarkundu railway station|Kamarkundu]] station.<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. 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 [[Electric multiple unit|EMU]] car shed at Howrah. 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 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.<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==
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|Howrah Ranchi Shatabdi Express]] and [[New Jalpaiguri–Howrah Shatabdi Express|Howrah New Jalpaiguri Shatabdi Express]] runs at a top speed of 130 km/h in some sections of this line.<ref>{{cite news |url= http://www.irfca.org/faq/faq-pway.html |title=Permanent Way| work= Track Classifications|access-date=2012-01-15 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url= http://www.irfca.org/faq/faq-trivia.html#fasttrack |title=Trivia| work= Highest speed sections of track|access-date=2012-01-15 }}</ref>

==References==
{{reflist}}

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

{{DEFAULTSORT:Howrah - Bardhaman chord}}
[[Category:5 ft 6 in gauge railways in India]]
[[Category:Railway lines opened in 1917]]
[[Category:Rail transport in West Bengal]]
[[Category:Howrah railway division|*]]
[[Category:Transport in Purba Bardhaman district]]
[[Category:Rail transport in Howrah]]

Howrah–Bardhaman chord - Revision history

>Vatsmaxed: /* top */updated template, replaced: Broad gauge → {{Track gauge|5ft6in|lk=on}} broad gauge