Sheoraphuli–Bishnupur branch line

Sheoraphuli–Bishnupur branch line
Overview
System Electrified
Status Operational
Locale West Bengal
Termini Sheoraphuli
Bishnupur
Stations 16+6
Operation
Opened 1885
Owner Indian Railway
Operator(s) Eastern Railway
Technical
Line length 121 km (75 mi)
Track gauge 1,676 mm (5 ft 6 in) broad gauge
Operating speed up to 100 km/h (62 mph)

The Sheoraphuli–Bishnupur branch line (previously Sheoraphuli–Tarakeswar branch line) is a railway line connecting Sheoraphuli on the Howrah–Bardhaman main line and Bishnupur. The 121-kilometre long (75 mi) railway line traverses Hooghly and Bankura districts in the Indian state of West Bengal. Sheoraphuli is 23 kilometres (14 mi) from Howrah. It is part of the Kolkata Suburban Railway system. Part of the line is under construction and the stations on the extended line are being opened in phases.

History

The broad gauge Sheoraphuli–Tarakeswar branch line was opened by the Tarkessur Railway Company on 1 January 1885 and was worked by East Indian Railway Company.[1][2] The Tarkessur company was taken over by the East Indian Railway in 1915.[3]

The Howrah–Bardhaman chord, which crosses this branch line at Kamarkundu, was opened in 1917.[2]

The Bengal Provincial Railway also opened in 1885 the Tarakeshwar–Magra narrow gauge railway, which was closed down in 1956. The restoration of the Tarakeswar–Magra line was proposed in the railway budget for 2009–10.[4]

Electrification

The Sheraphuli–Tarakeswar branch line was first electrified with 3,000 V DC system in 1957. Subsequently, when the Railways decided to adopt the AC system, the branch line was converted to 25 kV AC system in 1967.[5] EMU coaches were introduced on electrification.

Tarakeswar-Bishnupur extension

The Tarakeswar-Bishnupur project was sanctioned in 1999-2000, but not much work was done for the next decade. After Mamata Banerjee again became railway minister in 2009, work was speeded up.[6] Eastern Railway gave out details of the project in 2003. The proposed fully electrified line was divided into three parts: Tarakeswar-Arambagh (26 km), Arambagh-Kodabari (16 km), and Kodabari-Bishnupur (44 km).[7]

Train services were opened in the Tarakeswar-Talpur section on 25 April 2010.[8] The Talpukur-Arambagh sector was opened on 4 June 2012, without electrification and auto signaling.[9]

At the time of inaugurating the line, the Chief Minister had said that the Arambag railway station was to be named after former West Bengal chief minister Prafulla Chandra Sen and the Mayapur railway station was to be named after Raja Rammohan Ray.[10]

Without the overhead electrification the railways had no option but to run diesel-electric multiple unit (DEMU) trains initially.[9] Mukul Roy, railway minister, inaugurated the electrified line to Tarakeswar on 16 September 2012. EMU services have since been introduced.[11]

The completion of the Bishnupur-Gokulnagar sector was announced in the railway budget for 2009-10.[4]

References

  1. ↑ "Administration Report on the Railways in India" 1884–85
  2. 1 2 "The Chronology of Railway development in Eastern Indian". railindia. Retrieved 2011-11-17.
  3. ↑ "Statistical abstract relating to British India from 1910-11 to 1919-20" London: His Majesty's Stationery Office 1922, which is on a DSAL statistical site at the University of Chicago.
  4. 1 2 "Mamata’s Gift to Bengal". Express News Service, 4 July 2009. Retrieved 2011-11-17.
  5. ↑ "Indian Railways History (after independence)". Retrieved 2011-11-17.
  6. ↑ "Rail projects in jeopardy after Mamata quits UPA II". The Times of India. 19 September 2012. Retrieved 16 April 2013.
  7. ↑ "Eastern Railway plans new route". The Times of India. 15 July 2003. Retrieved 16 April 2013.
  8. ↑ "ER officials gear up to complete project before deadline". The Statesman. 22 May 2012. Retrieved 16 April 2013.
  9. 1 2 "Rly gives nod to Mamata project". The Statesman. 3 June 2012. Retrieved 16 April 2013.
  10. ↑ "Mamata Banerjee to set up IT hub at Chinsurah in Hooghly district". SME News, India Mart. 5 June 2012. Retrieved 16 April 2013.
  11. ↑ "Introduction of EMU train services on Tarakeswar-Arambagh". Retrieved 16 April 2013.
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