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{{Short description|Railway route in West Bengal, India}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2022}}
{{Use Indian English|date=January 2022}}
{{Infobox rail line
| box_width = 28em
| name = Sealdah–Naihati–Gede line <br/> {{small|including Naihati–Bandel and Kalyani–Kalyani Simanta branch lines}}
| color =
| logo =
| logo_width =
| image = Halisahar railway station in North 24 Parganas.jpg
| image_width =
| caption = Halisahar railway station
| type = Suburban Railway
| system = [[Kolkata Suburban Railway]]
| status = Operational
| locale = [[West Bengal]]
| start = {{rws|Sealdah}}
| end = {{rws|Gede}}
| stations = 45
| routes =
| daily_ridership = 1 Million
| open = {{Start date and age|1862}}
| close =
| owner = [[Indian Railways|Indian Railway]]
| operator = [[Eastern Railway Zone (India)|Eastern Railway]]
| character = At grade
| depot = Narkeldanga EMU Carshed<br>Ranaghat EMU Carshed
| stock =
| linelength = {{convert|117|km|mi|0|abbr=on}}
| tracklength =
| tracks = Quadruple line: Sealdah–Naihati<br/>

Triple Line: Naihati–Kalyani<br/>

Double line: Naihati–Bandel, Kalyani–Ranaghat–Gede

Single line: Kalyani–Kalyani Simanta
| gauge = {{Track gauge|5ft6in|lk=on}} [[broad gauge]]
| old_gauge =
| minradius =
| racksystem =
| electrification = 25 kV overhead line
| speed = up to {{convert|100|km/h|mph|abbr=on}}
| elevation =
| website = {{url|http://www.er.indianrailways.gov.in|Eastern Railway}}
| map = {{Sealdah–Ranaghat–Gede line|inline=yes|collapsed=yes}}
| map_state = collapsed
}}

The '''Sealdah–Ranaghat–Gede line''' connects the [[Sealdah|Sealdah Main and North terminus]] of [[Kolkata]] and [[Gede, Nadia|Gede]] of [[Nadia district]] of [[West Bengal]], [[India]], with Naihati and Ranaghat serving as major junction points. Once a part of the old Calcutta–Siliguri main line, today it is a busy suburban section of the [[Kolkata Suburban Railway|Kolkata Suburban Railway's]] [[Sealdah Main and North section|Sealdah North section]] connecting the [[North 24 Parganas]] and [[Nadia district|Nadia]] districts with Kolkata. It is under the jurisdiction of the [[Sealdah railway division]] of the [[Eastern Railway zone]] of the [[Indian Railways]].<ref name=":0">[http://www.er.indianrailways.gov.in/view_section.jsp?lang=0&id=0,6,442,452 Brief Detail of Sealdah Division] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180625120205/http://er.indianrailways.gov.in/view_section.jsp?lang=0&id=0,6,442,452|date=2018-06-25}}, ''Eastern Railway''</ref><ref name=":1">{{Cite web|title=Sealdah Division System Map|url=https://er.indianrailways.gov.in/uploads/files/1597667046291-Sys%20Map%20SDAH%202020.pdf|access-date=11 November 2021}}</ref>

The Naihati Jn –Bandel Jn branch line connects this line with the [[Howrah–Bardhaman main line]] and [[Bandel–Katwa line]] through the [[Sampreeti Bridge]], and previously the [[Jubilee Bridge (India)|Jubilee Bridge]], over the [[Hooghly River|Hooghly river]]. The Kalyani–Kalyani Simanta branch line caters to the [[Kalyani, West Bengal|Kalyani town and industrial area]] of the Nadia district.<ref name=":1" />

== Services ==
Once a part of the old Calcutta–Siliguri main line with prestigious trains such as [[Darjeeling Mail]], [[East Bengal Express]] and [[East Bengal Mail]] running through it, today the section is primarily a suburban section with a total of 231 daily and 187 Sunday EMU services serving the Sealdah–Ranaghat section.<ref name=":142">{{Cite web|title=Details of Operating Department: Sealdah Division, Eastern Railway|url=https://er.indianrailways.gov.in/view_section.jsp?lang=0&id=0,6,442,462,471|access-date=30 November 2021}}</ref> A further 40 EMU services also run between [[Sealdah railway station|Sealdah]] and [[Gede railway station|Gede]] via [[Ranaghat Junction railway station|Ranaghat junction]].<ref name=":142"/> A majority of the services are served by 9-car [[Electric multiple unit|EMU]] rakes from the Narkeldanga EMU Carshed.<ref name=":62">{{Cite web |title=Highlights of TRS Organisation, Sealdah division, Eastern Railway |url=https://er.indianrailways.gov.in/view_section.jsp?lang=0&id=0,6,442,462,2269 |access-date=30 November 2021}}</ref> They are also served with a few 12-car EMU rakes from the Ranaghat EMU Carshed as well.<ref name=":62"/>

[[Gede railway station]] serves as a major international transit point for freight and passengers to [[Bangladesh]] with the [[Darshana railway station|Darsana railway station]] serving as its [[Bangladesh–India border|Bangladeshi counterpart]].<ref>{{Cite web|title=Dhaka looks to unlock export potential thru' rail|url=https://www.tbsnews.net/economy/dhaka-looks-unlock-export-potential-thru-rail-349228|access-date=23 January 2022|website=The Business Standard}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Bangladesh Railway earns record revenue carrying freight at India-Bangladesh interchange points|url=https://newsonair.com/2021/08/04/bangladesh-railway-earns-record-revenue-carrying-freight-at-india-bangladesh-interchange-points/|access-date=23 January 2022|website=NewsOnAIR}}</ref> [[Maitree Express]], the direct international service connecting [[Kolkata railway station|Kolkata]] with the [[Kamalapur railway station|Kamalapur station]] of [[Dhaka]], the capital of [[Bangladesh]], stops at Gede which previously served as an immigration checkpoint before crossing over to Darsana in Bangladesh.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Excitement mounts over train link|url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/7338284.stm|access-date=23 January 2022|website=BBC}}</ref>

[[Gunny bag|Gunny bales]], a major freight export commodity handled in this section, are loaded in [[Titagarh]] and [[Naihati]], two historically important centres for jute mills in the area.<ref name=":142"/> Containers for export are loaded at the Cossipore Road Goods Shed which is connected to the line via the [[Kolkata Circular Railway]].<ref name=":142" /> The major import commodities handled by this line are cement, fertilizer, food grains, containers, POL and coal for thermal power plants.<ref name=":142" /> Transportation and heavy engineering equipment are other major export commodities handled by this line with companies such as [[Electrosteel Castings]], [[Titagarh Wagons]] and [[Texmaco Rail & Engineering]] having sidings along the line.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2019-11-01|title=Operative Goods Sheds and Sidings over Eastern Railway as on 01.11.2019|url=https://er.indianrailways.gov.in/cris//uploads/files/1574855802354-Actvegood.pdf|access-date=2022-02-24|website=Eastern Railway}}</ref> The primary manufacturing unit of the [[Titagarh Wagons]] company is also located in [[Titagarh]] and has a capacity to produce 4100 wagons per year.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Rolling Stock Suppliers {{!}} Railway Wagon Manufacturers Italy & India {{!}} Titagarh Wagons|url=https://titagarh.in/service/railway-freight|access-date=2022-02-24|website=titagarh.in|language=en}}</ref>

The Naihati–Bandel branch line connects [[Sealdah railway station|Sealdah]] with the west bank of the [[Hooghly River|Hooghly]] and thus the rest of the country and acts as a transit route for major long-distance trains such as the [[Tirhut Express]], [[Mithilanchal Express]] and [[Purvanchal Express]] bound to and from [[Sealdah railway station|Sealdah]] and [[Kolkata railway station|Kolkata]] railway stations.<ref name=":1" /><ref>{{Cite web|title=IndiaRailInfo - Naihati Junction - Departures|url=https://indiarailinfo.com/departures/naihati-junction-nh/958?tt=6|access-date=25 January 2022|website=IndiaRailInfo}}</ref> The branch line is also served by 38 Daily EMU services between [[Naihati Junction railway station|Naihati]] and [[Bandel Junction railway station|Bandel junctions]].<ref name=":142"/>

==History==

=== Eastern Bengal Railway ===
{{See also|Eastern Bengal Railway}}
The [[Eastern Bengal Railway]] {{Reporting mark|:EBR}} company was formed in 1857 for the construction and working of a line from [[Calcutta]] to [[Dacca]], with a branch to [[Jessore]].<ref>"Money Market and City Intelligence", ''The Times'', Wednesday, 15 June 1859, #23333, 7a.</ref> The construction of the {{Convert|112|mi|km|abbr=on|adj=on}} long [[5 ft 6 in gauge railway|broad gauge]] line began in 1859 and was completed in stages up to [[Kushtia]] by 1864 but the planned branch to [[Jessore]] was not built.<ref name=":3">{{Cite web|title=Administration Report on Railways 1918|url=https://archive.org/stream/BombayBarodaAndCentralIndiaRailwaySystem/Bombay_Baroda_And_Central_India_Railway_System#page/n55mode/1up|access-date=28 November 2021}}</ref><ref name=":4">[https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/228649/8330.pdf H.M. Government “Statute Law Repeals: Nineteenth Report : Draft Statute Law (Repeals) Bill; April 2012"; pages 127-8, paragraphs 3.51 - 3.55] Retrieved on 2 Jun 2016</ref>
The Calcutta terminus of the line was initially constructed as a tin roof shed in [[Sealdah]], a neighbourhood of [[Kolkata|Calcutta]] in 1862.<ref name="timeline">{{cite web|author=R.P. Saxena|title=Indian Railway History timeline|url=http://irse.bravehost.com/IRHTML.htm|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120714085533/http://irse.bravehost.com/IRHTML.htm|archive-date=14 July 2012|access-date=2012-02-10|publisher=[[IRFCA]]|df=dmy-all}}</ref> In 1869 the original station building at Sealdah, designed by Walter Granville was built and opened.<ref name="timeline" />

The company also acquired a steam vessel service operating between [[Kushtia]] and [[Dhaka|Dacca]] on the [[Padma River|Padma river]].<ref name=":4" /> In 1871 the line was extended from Poradaha to a new ferry terminal at [[Goalundo|Goalundo Ghat]], about {{Convert|45|mi|km|abbr=on|adj=on}} east of [[Kushtia]] and reducing the river trip to [[Dacca]]. and becoming the [[Main line (railway)|main line]] of the Eastern section of EBR.<ref name=":3" /><ref name=":2">{{Cite web|title=History Of Indian Railways, constructed and in progress', 31 March 1937 by 'The Government of India - Railway Department'|url=https://ia801605.us.archive.org/30/items/in.ernet.dli.2015.36650/2015.36650.India-Railway-Board-History-Of-Indian-Railways-Constructed-And-In-Progress.pdf|access-date=28 November 2021}}</ref> With the successful construction and opening of the [[Hardinge Bridge]] in 1915 and gauge conversion of the [[Chilahati–Parbatipur–Santahar–Darshana line|Santahar–Parbatipur–Siliguri line]] from 1924 to 1926, the Calcutta–Siliguri broad gauge line was completed and became the main line of the Eastern section of EBR.<ref name=":3" /><ref name=":2" />

The Eastern Bengal Railway, which operated east of the [[Hooghly River|Hooghly]], was linked with the [[East Indian Railway Company|East Indian Railway]], which operated west of the river, when [[Jubilee Bridge (India)|Jubilee Bridge]], linking [[Bandel]] and [[Naihati]] was opened in 1887 as part of the Naihati Branch railway of the [[East Indian Railway Company|East Indian Railway]].<ref name=":3" /><ref name=":2" /> In 1932 a shorter route to [[Barddhaman Junction railway station|Barddhaman]] from [[Sealdah railway station|Calcutta]] was realised through the construction of the [[Calcutta Chord link line]] via the [[Vivekananda Setu|Willingdon Bridge]] (now renamed as Vivekananda Setu) over the [[Hooghly River|Hooghly river]].<ref name=":2" /><ref name=":12">{{Cite web|title=Vivekananda Setu in Bally|url=https://www.ballyonline.in/city-guide/vivekananda-setu-in-bally|access-date=12 November 2021|archive-date=12 November 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211112044417/https://www.ballyonline.in/city-guide/vivekananda-setu-in-bally|url-status=dead}}</ref>

A vivid description of the railway system of the [[Nadia district]], including the Sealdah–Gede line is provided in the Bengal District Gazetteer of 1910 as follows:<ref>{{Cite web|date=1910|title=Bengal District Gazetteers - Nadia|url=https://archive.org/details/in.ernet.dli.2015.228155/page/n111/mode/2up|access-date=27 January 2022|website=Internet Archive|page=100}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=J.H.E.Garrett|title=Nadia, Bengal District Gazetteers (1910)|url=http://irfca.org/docs/history/nadia.html|access-date=2012-02-10|publisher=[[IRFCA]]}}</ref><blockquote>"The district is now (1909) very well served with railways. About 170 miles of the Eastern Bengal State Railway, all broad gauge, lie within its borders. The main line from Calcutta to Siliguri passes through the district, roughly from south to north; the distance from Kanchrapara on the southern boundary to Damukdia on the Padma is about 92 miles, and this section has 21 stations. The Lal Gola branch takes off from Ranaghat junction; it passes in a north-westerly direction; the portion within the district is about 48 miles in length, and there are 8 stations upon it. This branch traverses the Kalantar, which is the tract that is most liable to famine in the district and generally contains the lowest stock of food grains. In the 1896-97 famine the supply of food suddenly gave out in this tract, and, in the absence of the railway, which had not then been constructed, the greatest difficulty was experienced in importing enough grain to prevent deaths from starvation. If another famine should unfortunately occur, this line will save the District Officer much of the anxiety which his predecessors had to bear. The central branch of the Eastern Bengal State Railway also takes off from Ranaghat junction; only about nine miles of it (with two stations) lies within the boundaries of the district; it passes in an easterly direction through the Ranaghat subdivision into the Bangaon subdivision of the Jessore district. The Goalundo branch takes off from Poradah"</blockquote>With the establishment of the first jute mill in India, the [[Acland Mill]] in [[Rishra]] in 1855 to having around 38 companies operating 30,685 looms, exporting a billion yards of cloth and over 450 million bags by 1910, the growth of the jute trade and industry around [[Kolkata]] was rapid. As a result, numerous jute mill sidings popped up around the line. By 1939, there were 68,377 looms, concentrated mainly on the areas near the [[Hooghly River|Hooghly]] like [[Titagarh]], [[Bhadreswar, Hooghly|Bhadreswar]], [[Bauria railway station|Bauria]], [[Kankinara railway station|Kankinara]], [[Naihati]], [[Shyamnagar, West Bengal|Shyamnagar]], [[Jagatdal|Jagaddal]] and [[Budge Budge]] and these mills alone proved able to supply the world demand.<ref name=":10">{{Cite web|title=History of Jute Industry|url=http://www.worldjute.com/about_jute/juthist.html#:~:text=The%20first%20jute%20mill%20was,were%20operating%20with%20950%20looms.|access-date=2022-02-24|website=www.worldjute.com}}</ref><ref name=":11">{{Cite web|date=2021-06-14|title=History of Jute industry development|url=https://divulgejute.com/history-of-jute-industry-development/|access-date=2022-02-24|website=Divulge Jute|language=en-US}}</ref>

The [[Kanchrapara Railway Workshop]] was established by EBR in 1863. It was developed as an integrated shop to carry out periodic repairs and overhauls to steam locomotives, wooden body carriage and wagons.<ref name=":5">{{Cite web|title=History of Kanchrapara Workshop|url=https://er.indianrailways.gov.in/view_section.jsp?lang=0&id=0,1,265,446,2053|access-date=27 January 2022|website=Eastern Railway}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Imperial Gazetteer of India, v. 14, p. 373.|url=http://dsal.uchicago.edu/reference/gazetteer/pager.html?objectid=DS405.1.I34_V14_379.gif|access-date=27 January 2022|website=Digital South Asia Library}}</ref>

In 1942, EBR was merged with the [[Assam Bengal Railway]] {{Reporting mark|:ABR}} to form the Bengal and Assam Railway {{Reporting mark|:B&AR}}.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":7">{{Cite web|title=Railway|url=https://en.banglapedia.org/index.php?title=Railway|access-date=27 January 2022|website=Banglapedia – National Encyclopaedia of Bangladesh}}</ref> In 1947, with the [[partition of India]], B&AR was divided into three parts with the {{Track gauge|5ft 6in}} broad gauge lines in [[West Bengal]] being transferred to the [[East Indian Railway Company|East Indian Railway]] under the [[Sealdah railway division]].<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":7"/> [[Gede railway station]] became the terminus of the line on the Indian side whereas [[Darshana railway station|Darsana railway station]] became the terminus on the East Pakistani side.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":7"/>

The Calcutta terminus was renamed as the [[Sealdah railway station]] post the independence of India in 1947.<ref name="timeline" />

=== Eastern Railway ===
[[File:Sealdah–Ranaghat–Gede line map.svg|thumb|right|Sealdah–Ranaghat–Gede line map]]
{{See also|Eastern Railway zone}}On 14 April 1952, with the reorganisation of the various railway zones under [[Indian Railways]], the [[Eastern Railway zone]] was formed with the [[Sealdah railway division|Sealdah division]] coming under its jurisdiction.<ref name=":0" />

With the electrification of the line, starting from 1962, the [[Kanchrapara Railway Workshop]] was remodeled for Periodic Overhauling (POH) of electric locomotives and suburban EMU trains, with the first of such overhauled locomotive & EMU units being turned out at 1965.<ref name=":5" />

Post the partition of India the jute industry suffered a major setback as most of the jute fields for producing raw jute was located in East Pakistan whereas most of the jute mills for processing the raw jute were located near Kolkata in India thus leading to the slow decline of the jute mills of the area.<ref name=":10" /><ref name=":11" />

Even after partition, two rail services namely the [[East Bengal Express]], from [[Sealdah railway station|Sealdah]] to [[Goalundo Ghat]] and [[East Bengal Mail]] from [[Sealdah railway station|Sealdah]] to [[Parbatipur Junction railway station|Parbatipur Junction]], carrying both freight and passengers continued, with Gede and Darsana serving as custom check points, till 1965 when the services were snapped following the [[Indo-Pakistani War of 1965]].<ref name=":8">{{Cite web|title=Thapliyal, Sangeeta. "India-Bangladesh Transportation Links: A Move for Closer Cooperation". Institute for Defence Studies and Analyses|url=http://www.idsa-india.org/an-mar9-8.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20001012050222/http://idsa-india.org/an-mar9-8.html|url-status=usurped|archive-date=12 October 2000|access-date=5 October 2021}}</ref><ref name=":02">{{Cite web|title=India, Bangladesh reintroduce rail link|website=[[The Hindu]] |url=https://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-miscellaneous/tp-others/india-bangladesh-reintroduce-rail-link/article27912008.ece|access-date=5 October 2021}}</ref>

While freight services were briefly restored for a period of 2 years from 1972 following the [[liberation of Bangladesh]], passenger services were not restored.<ref name=":8" /><ref name=":02" />

In 1979, the Chandmari Halt railway station was renamed as the [[Kalyani railway station]] and the Kalyani–Kalyani Simanta branch line was opened for traffic.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Indian Railways Budget Speech 1979-80|url=http://www.indianrailways.gov.in/railwayboard/uploads/directorate/finance_budget/Previous%20Budget%20Speeches/1979-80.pdf|access-date=May 20, 2019}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|date=January 13, 2015|title=সামরিক শহরের স্মৃতি নিয়ে বেড়ে উঠেছে কল্যাণী|url=http://www.anandabazar.com/district/nodia-murshidabbad/%E0%A6%B8-%E0%A6%AE%E0%A6%B0-%E0%A6%95-%E0%A6%B6%E0%A6%B9%E0%A6%B0-%E0%A6%B0-%E0%A6%B8-%E0%A6%AE-%E0%A6%A4-%E0%A6%A8-%E0%A7%9F-%E0%A6%AC-%E0%A7%9C-%E0%A6%89%E0%A6%A0-%E0%A6%9B-%E0%A6%95%E0%A6%B2-%E0%A6%AF-%E0%A6%A3-1.104947|access-date=June 14, 2017|website=Anandabazar Patrika|language=bn}}</ref>

To offset the heavy traffic of long-distance trains bound to Sealdah, the Chitpur railway station, a part of the [[Kolkata Circular Railway]], was remodeled and merged with the Ultadanga Road railway station to build the [[Kolkata railway station]]. It was opened for traffic on 30 January 2006.<ref name=":0" /><ref>{{Cite web|title=Railway Stations in Kolkata|url=https://www.trainspread.com/india/stations-in-kolkata/|access-date=27 January 2022|website=Trains Spread}}</ref>

As a result of talks that were held between the Indian and Bangladeshi governments to revive passenger service between the two countries via the Gede–Darsana route since 2001, the [[Maitree Express]] service between [[Kolkata railway station|Kolkata]] and [[Kamalapur railway station|Dhaka]] was started on the occasion of the [[Bengali New Year]] ({{langx|bn|পয়লা বৈশাখ}}) on 14 April 2008.<ref>{{cite news|title=A Report from Dhaka to Kolkata on the first operation day|publisher=BBC News, watching available by Windows Media Player|url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/media/avdb/news/world/video/166000/bb/166080_16x9_bb.asx?ad=1&ct=50|access-date=20 April 2008}}</ref>

==Tracks==
The Sealdah–Naihati section of the line is a quadruple line section, the Naihati-Kalyani sections is a triple line section, where as the Naihati–Bandel and Ranaghat–Gede sections are double line sections respectively. The Kalyani–Kalyani Simanta branch line is a single line section. The Kalyani–Ranaghat section is planned to be upgraded to a triple line section.<ref name=":142"/><ref>{{cite web| url = http://thestatesman.co.in/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=316619&catid=42&show=archive&year=2010&month=1&day=8&Itemid=66 |title = Mamata flags off railway project at Ranaghat | publisher= The Statesman, 8 January 2011| access-date = 2012-02-10 }}</ref>

The Sealdah–Ranaghat–Gede track is classified as a C-class track, which is not a speed classification but one used for suburban sections of metropolitan areas.<ref>{{Cite web|title=CHAPTER II MODES OF INVESTIGATION OF RAILWAY PROJECTS|url=https://indianrailways.gov.in/railwayboard/uploads/codesmanual/EngCode/chapter-ii.htm|access-date=27 January 2022|website=Indian Railways Code for the Engineering Department}}</ref><ref>{{cite web| url =http://www.irfca.org/faq/faq-pway.html |title =Permanent Way – Track Classification| publisher=[[IRFCA]] | access-date = 2012-02-10 }}</ref>

==Electrification==
The Sealdah–Ranaghat section of the line was electrified by October 1963. The Bandel–Naihati section was electrified in 1965.<ref name="history">{{cite web|title=The Chronology of Railway development in Eastern Indian|url=http://www.irfca.org/~mrinal/chronology.html|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120802133149/http://www.irfca.org/~mrinal/chronology.html|archive-date=2012-08-02|access-date=2012-02-10|publisher=railindia}}</ref><ref name=":9">{{cite web| url = http://www.irfca.org/docs/electrification-history.html |title = History of Electrification| publisher= [[IRFCA]]| access-date = 2012-02-10 }}</ref> The Kalyani–Kalyani Simanta branch line was electrified right away after construction in 1979–80.<ref name=":9" /> The Ranaghat–Gede section of the line was electrified in 1997-98 beginning EMU services on the line.<ref>{{cite web|title=Railway Electrification|url=http://www.ireeindia.org/RE%20Booklet.pdf|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150624142745/http://www.ireeindia.org/RE%20Booklet.pdf|archive-date=24 June 2015|access-date=2012-02-10|publisher=ireeindia}}</ref>

== EMU Carshed ==
The Sealdah–Ranaghat section of the line is primarily served by 9-car [[Electric multiple unit|EMU]] rakes from the Narkeldanga EMU Carshed.<ref name=":62"/> They are also served with some few 12-car EMU rakes from Ranaghat EMU Carshed especially in the Ranaghat–Gede section.<ref name=":62" />

While the section was initially served by the Narkeldanga EMU carshed which opened on 1963, due to the increasing traffic requirements in the Ranaghat–Gede, [[Ranaghat–Bangaon line|Ranaghat–Bangaon]], [[Lalgola and Gede branch lines|Ranaghat–Shantipur–Krishnanagar City]] and [[Ranaghat–Lalgola line|Ranaghat–Lalgola]] sections the Ranaghat EMU carshed was commissioned in 2007.<ref name=":62" />

As of January 2024, the Narkeldanga carshed had 28 9-car EMU rakes, a few of which served the [[Sealdah South section]] mostly via the [[Kolkata Circular Railway|Circular line]], while rest served the [[Sealdah Main and North section|Sealdah North section]] lines. The Ranaghat EMU carshed, as of January 2022 contains 1 9-car EMU rake, 16 12-car EMU rakes (of which 1 is a 3 phase EMU) and 8 12-car [[MEMU]] rakes. Four of the 12-car MEMU rakes are ICF three phase [[IGBT]] based rakes while the rest are the RCF conventional rakes.<ref name=":62" />

Now conventional and 3 phase Emu rakes of Ranaghat, Barasat and Narkeldanga Carshed served this section.

317** series :- Ranaghat Gede Local (UP and DN)
319** series :- Sealdah Gede Local (UP and DN)

== Routes and stations ==
===Stations===
:''Names in '''bold''' indicate that the station is a major stop or an important interchange/terminal station.''

==== Sealdah–Ranaghat–Gede main line ====
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center; width:50%;"
! colspan="6" |'''Sealdah–Ranaghat–Gede main line'''
|-
! style="max-width:1%;" |#
! style="max-width:1%;" |Distance from Sealdah Main and North (km)
! style="max-width:5%;" |Station Name
! style="max-width:1%;" |Station Code
! style="max-width:1%;" |Connections
![[Categorization of Indian Railway stations by commercial importance|Station Category]]<ref name=":15">{{Cite web|title=Category of stations - Eastern Railway|url=https://er.indianrailways.gov.in/cris//uploads/files/1624521405374-.4%20Category_wise%20Stations%20ZZZ.pdf|access-date=24 December 2021}}</ref>
|-
|1
|0
|'''{{rws|Sealdah|3=Sealdah Main and North}}'''
|SDAH
|[[Sealdah South section]]
|NSG-1
|-
|2
|2
|Kankurgachi Road Junction
|KGK
|[[Kolkata Circular Railway|Circular line]]
|HG-3
|-
|3
|5
|'''{{rws|Bidhannagar Road}}'''
|BNXR
|–
|SG-2
|-
|4
|8
|'''{{rws|Dum Dum Junction}}'''
|DDJ
|[[Sealdah–Bangaon line]] / [[Calcutta Chord link line]] / [[Kolkata Metro Blue Line]] ([[Dum Dum metro station]])
|SG-2
|-
|5
|13
|{{rws|Belgharia}}
|BLH
|–
|SG-2
|-
|6
|15
|{{rws|Agarpara}}
|AGP
|–
|SG-3
|-
|7
|17
|{{rws|Sodpur}}
|SEP
|–
|SG-2
|-
|8
|20
|{{rws|Khardaha}}
|KDH
|–
|SG-2
|-
|9
|22
|{{rws|Titagarh}}
|TGH
|–
|SG-3
|-
|10
|24
|'''{{rws|Barrackpore}}'''
|BP
|–
|SG-2
|-
|11
|26
|{{rws|Palta}}
|PTF
|–
|SG-3
|-
|12
|28
|{{rws|Ichhapur}}
|IP
|–
|SG-3
|-
|13
|31
|'''{{rws|Shyamnagar}}'''
|SNR
|–
|SG-2
|-
|14
|34
|{{rws|Jagaddal}}
|JGDL
|–
|SG-3
|-
|15
|36
|{{rws|Kankinara}}
|KNR
|–
|SG-3
|-
|16
|39
|'''{{rws|Naihati Junction}}'''
|NH
|Naihati–Bandel branch line
|NSG-2
|-
|17
|43
|{{rws|Halisahar}}
|HLR
|Naihati–Bandel branch line
|SG-3
|-
|18
|45
|{{rws|Kanchrapara Workshop Gate}}
|KPAW
|–
|HG-3
|-
|19
|46
|{{rws|Kanchrapara}}
|KPA
|–
|SG-3
|-
|20
|49
|'''{{rws|Kalyani}}'''
|KYI
|Kalyani–Kalyani Simanta branch line
|SG-3
|-
|21
|54
|{{rws|Madanpur}}
|MPJ
|–
|SG-3
|-
|22
|58
|{{rws|Simurali}}
|SMX
|–
|SG-3
|-
|23
|61
|{{rws|Palpara}}
|PXR
|–
|SG-3
|-
|24
|63
|'''{{rws|Chakdaha}}'''
|CDH
|–
|SG-2
|-
|25
|69
|{{rws|Payradanga}}
|PDX
|–
|SG-3
|-
|26
|74
|'''{{rws|Ranaghat Junction}}'''
|RHA
|[[Ranaghat–Bangaon line]] / [[Lalgola and Gede branch lines|Ranaghat–Krishnanagar City–Lalgola line]]
|SG-2
|-
|27
|78
|{{rws|Bankim Nagar|3=Bankimnagar Halt}}
|BNKA
|–
|HG-3
|-
|28
|80
|Panchberia Halt
|PNCB
|–
|HG-3
|-
|29
|83
|{{rws|Aranghata}}
|AG
|–
|SG-3
|-
|30
|87
|{{rws|Bahirgachhi Halt}}
|BHGH
|–
|HG-3
|-
|31
|89
|{{rws|Shantinagar Halt}}
|SNTR
|–
|HG-3
|-
|32
|91
|{{rws|Bhayna|3=Bhayna Halt}}
|BHNA
|–
|HG-3
|-
|33
|94
|{{rws|Bagula}}
|BGL
|–
|SG-3
|-
|34
|97
|{{rws|Mayurhat|3=Mayurhat Halt}}
|MYHT
|–
|HG-3
|-
|35
|100
|{{rws|Taraknagar|3=Tarak Nagar Halt}}
|TNX
|–
|HG-3
|-
|36
|106
|{{rws|Majhdia}}
|MIJ
|–
|SG-3
|-
|37
|112
|{{rws|Banpur}}
|BPN
|–
|SG-3
|-
|38
|114
|{{rws|Harish Nagar Halt}}
|HRSR
|–
|HG-3
|-
|39
|117
|'''{{rws|Gede}}'''
|GEDE
|–
|SG-3
|}

==== Naihati–Bandel branch line ====
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center; width:50%;"
! colspan="6" |'''Naihati–Bandel branch line'''
|-
! style="max-width:1%;" |#
! style="max-width:1%;" |Distance from Naihati (km)
! style="max-width:5%;" |Station Name
! style="max-width:1%;" |Station Code
! style="max-width:1%;" |Connections
![[Categorization of Indian Railway stations by commercial importance|Station Category]]<ref name=":15" />
|-
|1
|0
|'''{{rws|Naihati Junction}}'''
|NH
|Sealdah–Ranaghat–Gede main line
|NSG-2
|-
|2
|3
|{{rws|Garifa}}
|GFAE
|–
|SG-3
|-
|3
|4
|{{rws|Hooghly Ghat}}
|HYG
|–
|SG-3
|-
|4
|8
|'''{{rws|Bandel Junction}}'''
|BDC
|[[Howrah–Bardhaman main line]] / [[Bandel–Katwa line]]
|NSG-3
|}

==== Kalyani–Kalyani Simanta branch line ====
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center; width:50%;"
! colspan="6" |'''Kalyani–Kalyani Simanta branch line'''
|-
! style="max-width:1%;" |#
! style="max-width:1%;" |Distance from Kalyani (km)
! style="max-width:5%;" |Station Name
! style="max-width:1%;" |Station Code
! style="max-width:1%;" |Connections
![[Categorization of Indian Railway stations by commercial importance|Station Category]]<ref name=":15" />
|-
|1
|0
|'''{{rws|Kalyani}}'''
|KYI
|Sealdah–Ranaghat–Gede main line
|SG-3
|-
|2
|2
|{{rws|Kalyani Silpanchal}}
|KLYS
|–
|SG-3
|-
|3
|4
|{{rws|Kalyani Ghoshpara}}
|KLYG
|–
|SG-3
|-
|4
|7
|'''{{rws|Kalyani Simanta}}'''
|KLYM
|–
|SG-3
|}

== Planned extensions ==
The Aranghata–Duttapulia extension between [[Aranghata]] and [[Duttapulia]] of [[Nadia district]] was proposed in the railway budget of 2011.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Advantage Bengal, but others gain too|url=https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/kolkata/advantage-bengal-but-others-gain-too/|access-date=28 January 2022|website=Indian Express}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=ONGOING PROJECTS ON NEW LINES, GAUGE CONVERSION AND DOUBLING|url=https://er.indianrailways.gov.in/uploads/files/1591266376881-ERSM2020%20-2021%20cor-04.06-Model.pdf|access-date=28 January 2022|website=Indian Express}}</ref>

== Gallery ==
<gallery>
File:Dumdum Junction.jpg|{{rws|Dum Dum Junction}} platform board
File:Naihati Rail Station by Piyal Kundu2.jpg|A suburban EMU train arriving at {{Rws|Naihati Junction}}
File:Ranaghat Junction Railway Station.jpeg|Station Board at {{Rws|Ranaghat Junction}}
</gallery>

== References ==
{{reflist}}

{{Railway lines in Eastern India}}
{{North 24 Parganas topics}}
{{Nadia topics}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Sealdah - Ranaghat line}}
[[Category:5 ft 6 in gauge railways in India]]
[[Category:Sealdah railway division|*]]
[[Category:Railway lines opened in 1862]]
[[Category:1862 establishments in India]]
[[Category:Transport in Kolkata]]

Sealdah–Ranaghat–Gede line - Revision history

Mere Mentor: started new pg - done