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{{Sealdah-Parbatipur Line}}
{{Sealdah–Parbatipur line}}
The '''East Bengal Mail''' was one of three [[train]]s operated between [[India]] and [[East Pakistan]] (now [[Bangladesh]]). The rail link was suspended at the outbreak of the [[Indo-Pakistani War of 1965]].
The '''East Bengal Mail''' was one of three trains operated between India and [[East Pakistan]] (now [[Bangladesh]]). The rail link was suspended at the outbreak of the [[Indo-Pakistani War of 1965]].


==Overview==
==Overview==
Prior to 1965, when armed conflict broke out between India and Pakistan, rail links existed between India and East Pakistan. Three trains ran between the two countries carrying goods and passengers: (1) [[East Bengal Express]] between [[Sealdah]] and [[Goalundo Ghat]] via [[Gede, Nadia|Gede]]-[[Darshana, Chuadanga, Bangladesh|Darshana]], (2) East Bengal Mail between Sealdah and [[Parbatipur Junction]] via [[Gede, Nadia|Gede]]-[[Darshana, Chuadanga, Bangladesh|Darshana]], and (3) [[Barisal Express]] between Sealdah and [[Khulna]] via [[Petrapole]]-[[Benapole]].<ref>{{cite web| url = http://www.idsa-india.org/an-mar9-8.html |title = India-Bangladesh Transportation Links: A Move for Closer Cooperation |last= Sangeeta Thapliyal | publisher= | access-date = 2011-12-10 }}</ref><ref name="Geography - International">{{cite web| url = http://www.irfca.org/faq/faq-inter.html |title = Geography - International |last= |first= | publisher= IRFCA| access-date = 2011-12-10 }}</ref>
Prior to 1965, when armed conflict broke out between India and Pakistan, rail links existed between India and East Pakistan. Three trains ran between the two countries carrying goods and passengers: (1) [[East Bengal Express]] between [[Sealdah]] and [[Goalundo Ghat]] via [[Gede, Nadia|Gede]][[Darshana, Chuadanga, Bangladesh|Darshana]], (2) East Bengal Mail between Sealdah and [[Parbatipur Junction]] via [[Gede, Nadia|Gede]][[Darshana, Chuadanga, Bangladesh|Darshana]], and (3) [[Barisal Express]] between Sealdah and [[Khulna]] via [[Petrapole]][[Benapole]].<ref>{{cite web| url = http://www.idsa-india.org/an-mar9-8.html |title = India–Bangladesh Transportation Links: A Move for Closer Cooperation |last= Sangeeta Thapliyal | publisher= | access-date = 2011-12-10 }}</ref><ref name="Geography International">{{cite web| url = http://www.irfca.org/faq/faq-inter.html |title = Geography International |last= |first= | publisher= IRFCA| access-date = 2011-12-10 }}</ref>


==History==
==History==
From 1878, the railway route from Kolkata, then called Calcutta, to Siliguri was in two legs through the eastern part of Bengal. The first leg was a 185&nbsp;km journey along the Eastern Bengal State Railway from Calcutta Station (later renamed Sealdah) to Damookdeah Ghat on the southern bank of the [[Padma River]], then across the river in a ferry and the second leg of the journey. A 336&nbsp;km metre gauge line of the North Bengal Railway linked Saraghat on the northern bank of the Padma to Siliguri.<ref name=njp>{{cite web| url = http://www.irfca.org/docs/rinbad-siliguri.html|title = India: the complex history of the junctions at Siliguri and New Jalpaiguri | publisher= IRFCA|access-date = 2011-11-12 }}</ref>
From 1878, the railway route from Kolkata, then called Calcutta, to Siliguri was in two legs through the eastern part of Bengal. The first leg was a 185&nbsp;km journey along the Eastern Bengal State Railway from Calcutta Station (later renamed Sealdah) to Damookdeah Ghat on the southern bank of the [[Padma River]], then across the river in a ferry and the second leg of the journey. A 336&nbsp;km metre-gauge line of the North Bengal Railway linked Saraghat on the northern bank of the Padma to Siliguri.<ref name=njp>{{cite web| url = http://www.irfca.org/docs/rinbad-siliguri.html|title = India: the complex history of the junctions at Siliguri and New Jalpaiguri | publisher= IRFCA|access-date = 2011-11-12 }}</ref>
   
   
The 1.8&nbsp;km long [[Hardinge Bridge]] across the Padma opened for trains in 1915. Presently, it is between the Paksey and Bheramara stations on the broad gauge line between [[Khulna]] and [[Parbatipur Upazila|Parbatipur]] in Bangladesh.<ref>{{cite book |last=Bhuiyan |first=Muhammad Masudur Rahman |year=2012 |chapter=Hardinge Bridge |chapter-url=http://en.banglapedia.org/index.php?title=Hardinge_Bridge |editor1-last=Islam |editor1-first=Sirajul |editor1-link=Sirajul Islam |editor2-last=Jamal |editor2-first=Ahmed A. |title=Banglapedia: National Encyclopedia of Bangladesh |edition=Second |publisher=[[Asiatic Society of Bangladesh]]}}</ref> In 1926 the metre-gauge section north of the bridge was converted to broad gauge, and so the entire Calcutta - Siliguri route became broad-gauge.<ref name=njp/>
The 1.8&nbsp;km long [[Hardinge Bridge]] across the Padma opened for trains in 1915. Presently, it is between the Paksey and Bheramara stations on the broad-gauge line between [[Khulna]] and [[Parbatipur Upazila|Parbatipur]] in Bangladesh.<ref>{{cite book |last=Bhuiyan |first=Muhammad Masudur Rahman |year=2012 |chapter=Hardinge Bridge |chapter-url=http://en.banglapedia.org/index.php?title=Hardinge_Bridge |editor1-last=Islam |editor1-first=Sirajul |editor1-link=Sirajul Islam |editor2-last=Jamal |editor2-first=Ahmed A. |title=Banglapedia: National Encyclopedia of Bangladesh |edition=Second |publisher=[[Asiatic Society of Bangladesh]]}}</ref> In 1926 the metre-gauge section north of the bridge was converted to broad gauge, and so the entire Calcutta Siliguri route became broad-gauge.<ref name=njp/>


In the pre-independence days, two legendary mail trains used the Sealdah-Parbatipur line. The [[Darjeeling Mail]] linked Kolkata, then known as Calcutta, and Siliguri. The [[Assam Mail]] originally ran from [[Sealdah]] to [[Santahar]] by broad gauge, and onwards by metre gauge from [[Santahar]] to [[Guwahati]] (then spelt Gauhati).<ref>{{cite web| url = http://www.irfca.org/articles/isrs/fnrm3-fame-name.html |title = Trains of fame and locos with a name - Part 2| publisher= [[IRFCA]]| access-date = 2011-12-15 }}</ref>
In the pre-independence days, two legendary mail trains used the Sealdah–Parbatipur line. The [[Darjeeling Mail]] linked Kolkata, then known as Calcutta, and Siliguri. The [[Assam Mail]] originally ran from [[Sealdah]] to [[Santahar]] by broad gauge, and onwards by metre gauge from [[Santahar]] to [[Guwahati]] (then spelt Gauhati).<ref>{{cite web| url = http://www.irfca.org/articles/isrs/fnrm3-fame-name.html |title = Trains of fame and locos with a name Part 2| publisher= [[IRFCA]]| access-date = 2011-12-15 }}</ref>


==Branch lines==
==Branch lines==
Not only was the mainline an important one but a cursory glance at the route map shows important links. The [[Maitree Express]] uses a part of the route from [[Iswardi]].
Not only was the mainline an important one but a cursory glance at the route map shows important links. The [[Maitree Express]] uses a part of the route from [[Iswardi]].


[[Abdulpur]] is an important junction with links to [[Rajshahi]] and the India-Bangladesh border at Rahanpur-[[Singhabad]]. In olden days, it was the route for travel between Malda and Kolkata.
[[Abdulpur]] is an important junction with links to [[Rajshahi]] and the India–Bangladesh border at Rahanpur-[[Singhabad]]. In olden days, it was the route for travel between Malda and Kolkata.


Santahar is another important junction, with a metre gauge connection to many places in the northern part of Bangladesh.<ref>{{cite book |last=Fida |first=Quazi Abul |year=2012 |chapter=Railway |chapter-url=http://en.banglapedia.org/index.php?title=Railway |editor1-last=Islam |editor1-first=Sirajul |editor1-link=Sirajul Islam |editor2-last=Jamal |editor2-first=Ahmed A. |title=Banglapedia: National Encyclopedia of Bangladesh |edition=Second |publisher=[[Asiatic Society of Bangladesh]]}}</ref>
Santahar is another important junction, with a metre-gauge connection to many places in the northern part of Bangladesh.<ref>{{cite book |last=Fida |first=Quazi Abul |year=2012 |chapter=Railway |chapter-url=http://en.banglapedia.org/index.php?title=Railway |editor1-last=Islam |editor1-first=Sirajul |editor1-link=Sirajul Islam |editor2-last=Jamal |editor2-first=Ahmed A. |title=Banglapedia: National Encyclopedia of Bangladesh |edition=Second |publisher=[[Asiatic Society of Bangladesh]]}}</ref>


In pre-independence days, there was a metre gauge line: [[Katihar]] - [[Radhikapur]] - [[Biral]] - [[Parbatipur Upazila|Parbatipur]] - Tista - Geetaldaha - [[Golakganj]] – [[Fakiragram]].<ref name="Geography - International"/>
In pre-independence days, there was a metre-gauge line: [[Katihar]][[Radhikapur]][[Biral]][[Parbatipur Upazila|Parbatipur]]–Tista–Geetaldaha–[[Golakganj]]–[[Fakiragram]].<ref name="Geography International"/>


==References==
==References==
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{{Railways in Bangladesh}}
{{Railways in Bangladesh}}
{{Railway lines in Eastern India}}
{{Railways in Eastern India}}
{{International trains from India}}
{{International trains from India}}



Revision as of 01:01, 23 December 2021


East Bengal Mail
Overview
Service typeMail train
Route
StartSealdah
EndParbatipur Junction
Service frequencyDaily
Technical
Track gauge1,676 mm (5 ft 6 in)

Template:Sealdah–Parbatipur line The East Bengal Mail was one of three trains operated between India and East Pakistan (now Bangladesh). The rail link was suspended at the outbreak of the Indo-Pakistani War of 1965.

Overview

Prior to 1965, when armed conflict broke out between India and Pakistan, rail links existed between India and East Pakistan. Three trains ran between the two countries carrying goods and passengers: (1) East Bengal Express between Sealdah and Goalundo Ghat via GedeDarshana, (2) East Bengal Mail between Sealdah and Parbatipur Junction via GedeDarshana, and (3) Barisal Express between Sealdah and Khulna via PetrapoleBenapole.[1][2]

History

From 1878, the railway route from Kolkata, then called Calcutta, to Siliguri was in two legs through the eastern part of Bengal. The first leg was a 185 km journey along the Eastern Bengal State Railway from Calcutta Station (later renamed Sealdah) to Damookdeah Ghat on the southern bank of the Padma River, then across the river in a ferry and the second leg of the journey. A 336 km metre-gauge line of the North Bengal Railway linked Saraghat on the northern bank of the Padma to Siliguri.[3]

The 1.8 km long Hardinge Bridge across the Padma opened for trains in 1915. Presently, it is between the Paksey and Bheramara stations on the broad-gauge line between Khulna and Parbatipur in Bangladesh.[4] In 1926 the metre-gauge section north of the bridge was converted to broad gauge, and so the entire Calcutta – Siliguri route became broad-gauge.[3]

In the pre-independence days, two legendary mail trains used the Sealdah–Parbatipur line. The Darjeeling Mail linked Kolkata, then known as Calcutta, and Siliguri. The Assam Mail originally ran from Sealdah to Santahar by broad gauge, and onwards by metre gauge from Santahar to Guwahati (then spelt Gauhati).[5]

Branch lines

Not only was the mainline an important one but a cursory glance at the route map shows important links. The Maitree Express uses a part of the route from Iswardi.

Abdulpur is an important junction with links to Rajshahi and the India–Bangladesh border at Rahanpur-Singhabad. In olden days, it was the route for travel between Malda and Kolkata.

Santahar is another important junction, with a metre-gauge connection to many places in the northern part of Bangladesh.[6]

In pre-independence days, there was a metre-gauge line: KatiharRadhikapurBiralParbatipur–Tista–Geetaldaha–GolakganjFakiragram.[2]

References

  1. Sangeeta Thapliyal. "India–Bangladesh Transportation Links: A Move for Closer Cooperation". Retrieved 10 December 2011.
  2. 2.0 2.1 "Geography – International". IRFCA. Retrieved 10 December 2011.
  3. 3.0 3.1 "India: the complex history of the junctions at Siliguri and New Jalpaiguri". IRFCA. Retrieved 12 November 2011.
  4. Bhuiyan, Muhammad Masudur Rahman (2012). "Hardinge Bridge". In Islam, Sirajul; Jamal, Ahmed A. (eds.). Banglapedia: National Encyclopedia of Bangladesh (Second ed.). Asiatic Society of Bangladesh.
  5. "Trains of fame and locos with a name – Part 2". IRFCA. Retrieved 15 December 2011.
  6. Fida, Quazi Abul (2012). "Railway". In Islam, Sirajul; Jamal, Ahmed A. (eds.). Banglapedia: National Encyclopedia of Bangladesh (Second ed.). Asiatic Society of Bangladesh.