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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 main line (including Bandel–Katwa branch line)
| 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 = 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–Bardhaman main line}}
| map_state = collapsed
}}

The '''Howrah–Bardhaman main line''' is a broad-gauge railway line connecting [[Howrah station|Howrah]] and [[Bardhaman railway station|Bardhaman]] via [[Bandel railway station|Bandel]]. The {{convert|108|km}} railway line operates in [[Howrah district|Howrah]], [[Hooghly district|Hooghly]] and [[Purba Bardhaman district|Purba Bardhaman]] 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]], a shorter link to Bardhaman, 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>

==Electrification==
Electrification of the Howrah–Bardhaman main line was initiated up to Bandel in 1957, with the 3000 v DC system, and the entire Howrah–Bardhaman route completed with AC system, along with conversion of earlier DC portions to 25 kV AC, in 1958.

==Tracks==
There are 5 tracks between [[Howrah railway station|Howrah]] and [[Bally, Howrah|Bally]]. There are 3 tracks between Bally and [[Serampore]], 4 tracks between [[Serampore]] and {{stnlnk|Seoraphuli Junction}}, 3 tracks between Seoraphuli Junction and {{stnlnk|Bandel Junction}} and 2 tracks between Bandel Junction and {{stnlnk|Saktigarh}} and from [[Saktigarh railway station|Saktigarh]] up to [[Barddhaman]] Junction 5 tracks.<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>
Third track is operational from October, 2018 between Khanyan and Debipur in the Bandel–Bardhaman section.

==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). Bardhaman 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. 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==
The Howrah–Bardhaman main line is classified as 'B' class line where trains can run 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 - Bardhaman main line}}
[[Category:5 ft 6 in gauge railways in India]]
[[Category:Rail transport in West Bengal]]
[[Category:Howrah railway division|*]]
[[Category:Transport in Purba Bardhaman district]]
[[Category:Rail transport in Howrah]]

Howrah–Bardhaman main line - Revision history

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