Bardhaman–Katwa line explained

Box Width:28em
Bardhaman–Katwa line
System:Electrified
Status:Operational
Locale:West Bengal
Start:Bardhaman
End:Katwa
Stations:16
Open:1 December 1915 (NG),
11 February 2014 (BG) (Bardhaman - Balgona Section),
12 January 2018 (BG) (Balgona - Katwa Section)
Close:15 April 2010 (Bardhaman - Balgona section);
1 December 2014 (Balgona - Katwa section)
Owner:Indian Railways
Operator:1915-1966 McLeod's Light Railways
1966-present Eastern Railway
Linelength:530NaN0
Gauge: broad gauge
Electrification:25 kV AC overhead
since 11 February 2014 (Bardhaman - Balgona section);
since 12 January 2018 (Balgona - Katwa Section)
Map State:collapsed

The Bardhaman–Katwa line is a broad gauge branch line connecting Bardhaman and Katwa in Purba Bardhaman district of West Bengal. It is under the jurisdiction of Eastern Railway. The line was a narrow gauge line, before its gauge conversion began on 2010. The gauge conversion was done in two phases along with electrification and the full broad gauge line was thrown open for public again on 12 January 2018.[1]

History

McLeod's Light Railways

McLeod's Light Railways (MLR) consisted of four narrow gauge lines in West Bengal in India. The railways were built and owned by McLeod & Company, which was the subsidiary of a London company of managing agents, McLeod Russell & Co. Ltd.[2]

Burdwan-Katwa Railway connecting Bardhaman (earlier known as Burdwan) and Katwa in now Purba Bardhaman district, West Bengal was opened to traffic on 1 December 1915. The railway was built in gauge and total length was .[3]

The railway had a maximum speed of 30kph.[4] [5]

Gauge Conversion

The 53 km long railway section was converted to broad gauge,[6] [7] work for which began on 15 April 2010.[8]

The Bardhaman-Balogna section of the line, after conversion from narrow gauge to electrified broad gauge, was opened to the public on 11 February 2014.[9] The Balogna-Katwa section of the line, after conversion from narrow gauge to electrified broad gauge, was opened to the public on 12 January 2018.[10]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Baro rail Katwae, jamlo bhidr (Big railway in Katwa, crowd gathers) . Bengali . Ananda Bazar Patrika, 13 January 2018 . 13 January 2018.
  2. Web site: McLeod's Light Railways . 2009-08-22 .
  3. Web site: Burdwan-Katwa Railway . 2009-08-22 .
  4. Web site: Narrow gauge gets a new lease of life . 2009-08-22 . The Statesman, 14 October 2004.
  5. Web site: The Katwa Railways . 2009-08-22 . Manning . Ian . From Bengal Towards Nagpur . Indian Railway Fan Club.
  6. Web site: Burdwan-Katwa Railway . fibis. 2 May 2013.
  7. Web site: Burdwan bids adieu to vintage narrow gauge trains . Siddiqui . Kanchan . The Statesman, 14 April 2010 . 2 May 2013 .
  8. News: Villagers stall rail project in Burdwan . The Times of India. 25 August 2018.
  9. Web site: Bardhaman-Balogna new EMU service introduced . Indian Railways . 25 August 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20150618172236/http://epaper.timesofindia.com/Repository/getimage.dll?path=TOIKM%2F2014%2F02%2F09%2F19%2FImg%2FAd0191102.png . 18 June 2015 . dead .
  10. Web site: Baro rail Katwae, jamlo bhidr (Big railway in Katwa, crowd gathers) . Bengali . Ananda Bazar Patrika, 13 January 2018 . 13 January 2018.