Kolkata Circular Railway: Difference between revisions

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| depot                          = [[Kolkata railway station|Kolkata]]<br />[[Majerhat railway station|Majerhat]]
| depot                          = [[Kolkata railway station|Kolkata]]<br />[[Majerhat railway station|Majerhat]]
| stock                          = [[Electrical Multiple Unit|EMU]]s
| stock                          = [[Electrical Multiple Unit|EMU]]s
| linelength                      = {{convert|42|km|mi|0|abbr=on}}
| linelength                      = {{convert|36.2|km|mi|0|abbr=on}}
| tracklength                    =  
| tracklength                    =  
| tracks                          = 2
| tracks                          = 2
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==Service==
==Service==
[[File:Shobhabazar - ahiritola station.jpg|thumb|left|150px|Shobhabazar - Ahiritola station of circular railway]]
[[File:Shobhabazar - ahiritola station.jpg|thumb|left|150px|Shobhabazar - Ahiritola station of circular railway]]
The line begins and terminates at [[Dum Dum Junction]], with a total of 19 stations spread over the route's 42&nbsp;kilometers length. Services on the line are operated as an extension of the [[Kolkata Suburban Railway]], partially sharing tracks with the [[Sealdah South lines]], terminating at [[Sealdah railway station]] (which is bypassed by the Circular Railway). There are no services which operate throughout the loop as a whole; instead, services are operated from [[Dum Dum railway station|Dum Dum Junction]] to [[Majerhat Railway Station|Majerhat]] (via [[Burrabazar]]) and Majerhat to [[Dum Dum Junction]] (via [[Ballygunge Junction railway station|Ballygunge Junction]]). The line operates a part of longer suburban services from [[Budge Budge]], [[Canning, South 24 Parganas|Canning]], [[Barrackpore]], [[Hasnabad]], [[Kalyani, West Bengal|Kalyani]], [[Naihati]] etc.
The line begins and terminates at [[Dum Dum Junction]], with a total of 19 stations spread over the route's 36.20&nbsp;kilometers length[[Dum Dum Junction railway station|(Dumdum junction]] to [[Majerhat railway station|Majerhat]] via [[Prinsep Ghat railway station|Princepghat]] route :- 18.00 km & [[Majerhat railway station|Majerhat]] to [[Dum Dum Junction railway station|Dumdum junction]] via [[Ballygunge Junction railway station|Ballygunge Junction]] route :- 18.20 km). Services on the line are operated as an extension of the [[Kolkata Suburban Railway]], partially sharing tracks with the [[Sealdah South lines]], terminating at [[Sealdah railway station]] (which is bypassed by the Circular Railway). There are no services which operate throughout the loop as a whole; instead, services are operated from [[Dum Dum railway station|Dum Dum Junction]] to [[Majerhat Railway Station|Majerhat]] (via [[Prinsep Ghat railway station|Princepghat]]) and Majerhat to [[Dum Dum Junction]] (via [[Ballygunge Junction railway station|Ballygunge Junction]]). The line operates a part of longer suburban services from [[Budge Budge]], [[Canning, South 24 Parganas|Canning]], [[Barrackpore]], [[Hasnabad]], [[Kalyani, West Bengal|Kalyani]], [[Naihati]] etc.


The Circular Railway offers direct interchange points with the [[Kolkata Metro]] at [[Dum Dum railway station|Dum Dum Junction]]. The loop line serves [[Kolkata railway station]], one of the major intercity stations in Kolkata, as well as a number of prominent city landmarks including [[Prinsep Ghat]] and [[Eden Gardens]]. In addition, a {{convert|3.7|km|abbr=on}} long line connecting Dum Dum Cantonment to the [[Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose International Airport]] became the first such suburban railway line in India to serve an airport and allowed extended Circular Railway operations from Dum Dum Junction and beyond. However, the poorly-patronized branch line between [[Dum Dum Cantonment railway station]] and Biman Bandar railway station is replaced by [[Kolkata Metro Line 4|Line 4]] (under construction) of the [[Kolkata Metro]], which follows the same route.<ref name="Services End">{{cite news |title=Services End on Kolkata's Circular Railway|url=https://themetrorailguy.com/2016/10/13/services-end-on-kolkatas-circular-railway-to-facilitate-metros-construction/}}</ref>
The Circular Railway offers direct interchange points with the [[Kolkata Metro]] at [[Dum Dum railway station|Dum Dum Junction]]. The loop line serves [[Kolkata railway station]], one of the major intercity stations in Kolkata, as well as a number of prominent city landmarks including [[Prinsep Ghat]] and [[Eden Gardens]]. In addition, a {{convert|3.7|km|abbr=on}} long line connecting Dum Dum Cantonment to the [[Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose International Airport]] became the first such suburban railway line in India to serve an airport and allowed extended Circular Railway operations from Dum Dum Junction and beyond. However, the poorly-patronized branch line between [[Dum Dum Cantonment railway station]] and Biman Bandar railway station is replaced by [[Kolkata Metro Line 4|Line 4]] (under construction) of the [[Kolkata Metro]], which follows the same route.<ref name="Services End">{{cite news |title=Services End on Kolkata's Circular Railway|url=https://themetrorailguy.com/2016/10/13/services-end-on-kolkatas-circular-railway-to-facilitate-metros-construction/}}</ref>
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![[English language|English]]||[[Bengali language|Bengali]]|| Code
![[English language|English]]||[[Bengali language|Bengali]]|| Code
|-
|-
| rowspan="3" |1|| rowspan="3" |{{rws|Dum Dum Junction}}|| rowspan="3" | দম দম জংশন || rowspan="3" | DDJ ||{{Rail-interchange|kolkata|s}} [[Eastern line (Kolkata Suburban Railway)|Eastern line]]
| rowspan="3" |1|| rowspan="3" |{{rws|Dum Dum Junction}}|| rowspan="3" | দমদম জংশন || rowspan="3" | DDJ ||{{Rail-interchange|kolkata|s}} [[Eastern line (Kolkata Suburban Railway)|Eastern line]]
| rowspan="3" |[[File:Dumdum Junction.jpg|180x180px|alt=]]
| rowspan="3" |[[File:Dumdum Junction.jpg|180x180px|alt=]]
| rowspan="3" |
| rowspan="3" |
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==Proposed stations==
==Proposed stations==
There was also a plan to build two more stations between [[Park Circus railway station|Park Circus]] and [[Sir Gurudas Banerjee Halt railway station|Sir Gurudas Banerjee Halt]] named Tangra and Beliaghata Main Road respectively, but it was ultimately cancelled. Although Tangra station construction was started, it became unfinished, and now demolished.
There was also a plan to build two more stations between [[Park Circus railway station|Park Circus]] and [[Sir Gurudas Banerjee Halt railway station|Sir Gurudas Banerjee Halt]] named Tangra(Kamardanga Halt) and Beliaghata Main Road respectively, but it was ultimately cancelled. Although Tangra station construction was started under the name of Kamardanga Halt but it became unfinished, and now demolished.


== See also ==
== See also ==
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* [[Kolkata Metro]]
* [[Kolkata Metro]]
* [[Kolkata Tram]]
* [[Kolkata Tram]]
{{Portal bar|Trains|Transport|India}}
 


==References==
==References==

Latest revision as of 14:33, 14 August 2023


Kolkata Circular Railway
A local train at Bagbazar railway station
Overview
OwnerIndian Railway
LocaleKolkata
TerminiDum Dum Junction
Majerhat
Stations
  • Total stations: 20
  • Interchange stations: 8
WebsiteEastern Railway
Service
TypeCommuter rail
SystemKolkata Suburban Railway
ServicesDum Dum-Majerhat and Majerhat-Bidhannagar Road
Operator(s)Eastern Railway
Depot(s)Kolkata
Majerhat
Rolling stockEMUs
History
Opened16 August 1984; 42 years ago (1984-08-16)
Technical
Line length36.2 km (22 mi)
Number of tracks2
CharacterAt grade and elevated
Track gauge5 ft 6 in (1,676 mm) broad gauge
Electrification25 kV overhead line
Operating speedup to 100 km per hour
Route map

km
Sealdah–Ranaghat line
Chord link line
Noapara
Dum Dum Cantt.
to Sealdah–Bangaon line
Dum Dum Junction
Belgachia
Patipukur
Tala
Kolkata
Error creating thumbnail: File missing Bagbazar
Error creating thumbnail: File missing Sovabazar Ahiritola
Bidhannagar Road
Error creating thumbnail: File missing Burra Bazar
Error creating thumbnail: File missing B.B.D Bag
Error creating thumbnail: File missing Eden Gardens
Sir Gurudas Banerjee Halt
Sealdah Main
Sealdah
Sealdah South
Error creating thumbnail: File missing Prinsep Ghat
Kidderpore
Park Circus
Remount Road
To Budge Budge
Majerhat
New Alipore
Ballygunge Junction
Tollygunge
Lake Gardens
Rabindra Sarobar
Sealdah South lines
to Namkhana

Kolkata Circular Railway is a railway loop line operated by the Eastern Railway zone of Indian Railways, encircling the entire city of Kolkata.

Service[edit | edit source]

Error creating thumbnail: File missing
Shobhabazar - Ahiritola station of circular railway

The line begins and terminates at Dum Dum Junction, with a total of 19 stations spread over the route's 36.20 kilometers length(Dumdum junction to Majerhat via Princepghat route :- 18.00 km & Majerhat to Dumdum junction via Ballygunge Junction route :- 18.20 km). Services on the line are operated as an extension of the Kolkata Suburban Railway, partially sharing tracks with the Sealdah South lines, terminating at Sealdah railway station (which is bypassed by the Circular Railway). There are no services which operate throughout the loop as a whole; instead, services are operated from Dum Dum Junction to Majerhat (via Princepghat) and Majerhat to Dum Dum Junction (via Ballygunge Junction). The line operates a part of longer suburban services from Budge Budge, Canning, Barrackpore, Hasnabad, Kalyani, Naihati etc.

The Circular Railway offers direct interchange points with the Kolkata Metro at Dum Dum Junction. The loop line serves Kolkata railway station, one of the major intercity stations in Kolkata, as well as a number of prominent city landmarks including Prinsep Ghat and Eden Gardens. In addition, a 3.7 km (2.3 mi) long line connecting Dum Dum Cantonment to the Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose International Airport became the first such suburban railway line in India to serve an airport and allowed extended Circular Railway operations from Dum Dum Junction and beyond. However, the poorly-patronized branch line between Dum Dum Cantonment railway station and Biman Bandar railway station is replaced by Line 4 (under construction) of the Kolkata Metro, which follows the same route.[1]

History[edit | edit source]

Error creating thumbnail: File missing
Circular Railway track

With the population of the Kolkata metropolis continuing to grow, and road transport being unable to cope with demand due to bottlenecks on the roads, it was felt necessary to introduce an additional method of transportation which would ease the congestion problem particularly at peak hours. Of the various modes considered, including tramcars and buses, the railway was found to be most suitable. Unlike other metropolitan cities, Kolkata does not have a rail route running through the heart of the city, nor through the central district area where more commuters will be seeking their transport.

Error creating thumbnail: File missing
Bagbazar station of circular railway

Previously a railway line existed between Dum Dum railway station to Ultadanga for the transport of wagons to Chitpur Goods Yard. For a considerable time, lines ran between B.B.D. Bagh and Majerhat for the transport of goods from the port area to the godowns (warehouses) of the Calcutta port along the Hooghly River. These were built during the early East Indian Railway Company (EIR) period when the river Hooghly was navigable to this area. Gradually with the silting of Hooghly, and its inaccessibility to bigger ships, these lines ceased to be used. With these existing lines being rehabilitated and small stretches of new track being laid in a few locations, a connection could be established between Dum Dum Junction and Prinsep Ghat along the bank of the Hooghly.

Error creating thumbnail: File missing
Eden Gardens station of Circular Railway

The original line was a single-line track with loading and unloading sidings and wharfs. A few platforms were built and simultaneous reception facilities were constructed at some stations. The line was commissioned from Dum Dum railway station to Prinsep Ghat on 16 August 1984. In fact the lines from the port of Calcutta already existed for an interchange yard for Eastern Railways, and these lines were modified/extended/realigned for the Circular Railway. Previously the trains were hauled by diesel shunters. The electrification works have been completed and four Electrical Multiple Unit (EMU) trains originally destined for Sealdah during office hours have been diverted to the central business district of Kolkata directly, avoiding Sealdah station. The line has been an overwhelming success with commuters and the earnings have quadrupled with the introduction of EMUs. Once connected to Majerhat a train can easily ply up to Dum Dum to complete the circle. This has been a boon to office-goers. The Circular Railway is directly managed by the Eastern Railway. The Circular Railway is a part of the Kolkata Suburban Railway along with the Kolkata Metro to provide connectivity throughout the city. The line is a single-lined track from Tala station to Princep Ghat station, but in the platform area it becomes double-lined for crossing. From Princep Ghat the line becomes single-tracked until it reaches Majerhat.

Stations[edit | edit source]

List of Kolkata Circular Railway stations in anti-circular way:

# Station Name Connections Picture Notes
English Bengali Code
1 Dum Dum Junction দমদম জংশন DDJ Eastern line
Chord link line
Dum Dum
2 Patipukur পাতিপুকুর PTKR  –
3 Kolkata কলকাতা KOAA  – Error creating thumbnail: File missing Major railway station of Eastern Railway
4 Tala টালা TALA  –
5 Bagbazar বাগবাজার BBR Error creating thumbnail: File missing Bagbazar Launch Ghat Error creating thumbnail: File missing
6 Sovabazar Ahiritola শোভাবাজার আহিরীটোলা SOLA Error creating thumbnail: File missing Sovabazar Launch Ghat Error creating thumbnail: File missing
Error creating thumbnail: File missing Ahiritola Ghat
7 Burrabazar বড়বাজার BZB Error creating thumbnail: File missing Jagannath Ghat
8 B.B.D Bag বি.বা.দি. বাগ BBDB Error creating thumbnail: File missing Fairlie Place Ghat Error creating thumbnail: File missing
9 Eden Gardens ইডেন গার্ডেন্স EDG Error creating thumbnail: File missing Outram Ghat Error creating thumbnail: File missing
10 Prinsep Ghat প্রিন্সেপ ঘাট PPGT Error creating thumbnail: File missing Prinsep Ghat Error creating thumbnail: File missing
11 Khiddirpur খিদিরপুর KIRP Kidderpore
12 Remount Road রিমাউন্ট রোড RMTR  –
13 Majerhat মাঝেরহাট MJT Sealdah South line Error creating thumbnail: File missing
Majerhat
14 New Alipore নিউ আলিপুর NACC Sealdah South line Error creating thumbnail: File missing
15 Tollygunge টালিগঞ্জ TLG Sealdah South line Error creating thumbnail: File missing
Rabindra Sarobar
16 Lake Gardens লেক গার্ডেন্স LKF Sealdah South line
17 Ballygunge বালিগঞ্জ BLN Sealdah South line File:Ballygunge Junction railway station.jpg
18 Park Circus পার্ক সার্কাস PQS Sealdah South line Error creating thumbnail: File missing
19 Sir Gurudas Banerjee Halt স্যার গুরুদাস ব্যানার্জি হল্ট SGBA Phoolbagan Error creating thumbnail: File missing
20 Bidhannagar Road বিধাননগর রোড BNXR Bidhannagar

Trains with Extended Route[edit | edit source]

Train Name From To Daily Frequency
Canning-Barasat Local Canning Barasat 3
Bangaon - Canning Local Bangaon Canning 1
Champahati - Majerhat - Hasanabad Local (Via Tala) Champahati Hasnabad 1
Duttapukur - Ghutiary Sharif (Via Dum Dum, Kolkata,Bagbazar,Khidirpur,Majerhat, Ballygunge And Gourdaha) Local Duttapukur Ghutiari Sharrif 1
Barasat - Majerhat Local (via - B.B.D. Bagh) Barasat Majerhat 1
Madhyamgram - Majerhat Local Madhyamgram Majerhat 1
Gede-Majerhat Local (Via Tala) Gede Majerhat 1

Closure of airport extension[edit | edit source]

Kolkata's Circular Railway was extended from Dum Dum Cantonment to Biman Bandar/Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose International Airport. The 3.8 km (2.4 mi) extension from Dum Dum Cantonment station included two elevated stations Jessore Road and Biman Bandar. It ran at grade to UK Dutta Road and then on an elevated structure to the Airport passing through Jessop, Jessore Road, VIP Road and the domestic terminal road. This project was undertaken by the Kolkata Metro.

The Jessore Road station has been closed since 7 January 2015. The Biman Bandar station has been closed since 30 September 2016. Currently this section is being converted into metro under Kolkata Metro Line 4.[1]

Proposed stations[edit | edit source]

There was also a plan to build two more stations between Park Circus and Sir Gurudas Banerjee Halt named Tangra(Kamardanga Halt) and Beliaghata Main Road respectively, but it was ultimately cancelled. Although Tangra station construction was started under the name of Kamardanga Halt but it became unfinished, and now demolished.

See also[edit | edit source]


References[edit | edit source]

  1. 1.0 1.1 "Services End on Kolkata's Circular Railway".