CleanupBot at 05:37, 22 March 2026

2026-03-22T05:37:19Z

New page

{{short description|Railway line in India}}
{{Use Indian English|date=January 2016}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2020}}
{{Infobox rail line
| box_width = 28em
| name = Ahmadpur–Katwa line
| color =
| logo = 
| logo_width = 100 px
| image = Ahmedpur-katwa ng rail.jpg
| image_width =
| caption = Railcar No 10607 in March 2012
| type =
| system = Electrified
| status = Operational
| locale = [[West Bengal]]
| start = [[Ahmedpur, Birbhum|Ahmadpur]]
| end = [[Katwa Junction railway station|Katwa]]
| stations = 16
| routes =
| daily_ridership =
| open = 29 September 1917 (NG)
24 May 2018 (BG)
| close = 14 January 2013 (NG)
| owner = [[Indian Railways]]
| operator = 1917-1966 [[McLeod's Light Railways]]
1966-present [[Eastern Railway zone|Eastern Railway]]
| character =
| depot =
| stock =
| linelength = {{convert|52|km|mi|0|abbr=on}}
| tracklength =
| gauge = {{track gauge|5ft6in|lk=on}} [[broad gauge]]
| old_gauge = {{track gauge|2ft6in|lk=on}}
| minradius =
| racksystem =
| electrification =
| speed =
| elevation =
| website =
| map = {{Ahmadpur-Katwa line|collapse=no|inline=1}}
| map_state = collapsed
}}
The '''Ahmadpur–Katwa line''' is a railway branch line connecting [[Ahmadpur Junction railway station]] in [[Birbhum district]] and [[Katwa Junction railway station|Katwa]] in [[Purba Bardhaman district]] of the Indian state of [[West Bengal]]. It is under the jurisdiction of the [[Eastern Railway zone|Eastern Railway]].<ref>{{cite web| url = https://www.telegraphindia.com/1130114/jsp/bengal/story_16438707.jsp| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20140628045916/http://www.telegraphindia.com/1130114/jsp/bengal/story_16438707.jsp| url-status = dead| archive-date = 28 June 2014|title =Emotions pasted – One last run |last=Chakraborty |first=Snehamoy | work= The Telegraph | date= 14 January 2013| access-date = 2 May 2013}}</ref> This branch is crucial as it connects the [[Katwa Junction railway station|Katwa]]-[[Bandel Junction railway station|Bandel]]-[[Howrah railway station|Howrah]]/[[Sealdah railway station|Sealdah]] route with the [[Khana railway station|Khana]]-[[Rampurhat Junction railway station|Rampurhat]] section of the [[Sahibganj loop]], bypassing the [[Barddhaman Junction railway station|Barddhaman Station]].

==History==

===McLeod's Light Railways===
[[McLeod's Light Railways|McLeod's Light Railways (MLR)]] consisted of four {{RailGauge|2ft6in|lk=on}} [[narrow-gauge railway|narrow-gauge]] lines in [[West Bengal]]. The railways were built and owned by McLeod & Company, a subsidiary of a London company of managing agents, McLeod Russell & Co. Ltd.<ref>{{cite web| url = http://wiki.fibis.org/index.php?title=McLeod%27s_Light_Railways| title = McLeod's Light Railways | access-date = 2009-08-22 }}</ref>

[[Ahmedpur–Katwa Railway]] connecting [[Ahmedpur, Birbhum|Ahmadpur]] (now [[Birbhum district]]) and [[Katwa]] (now [[Purba Bardhaman district]]), [[West Bengal]] opened on 29 September 1917. The railway was built in {{RailGauge|2ft6in}} gauge and total length was {{convert|52|km}}.<ref>{{cite web | url = https://wiki.fibis.org/w/Ahmadpur-Katwa_Railway | title = Ahmedpur-Katwa Railway | access-date = 2009-08-22 }}</ref>

The engines chugged along at a maximum speed of 30&nbsp;km per hour.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.thestatesman.net/page.arcview.php?clid=6&id=85261&usrsess=1| title = Narrow gauge gets a new lease of life | access-date = 2009-08-22 | work= [[The Statesman (India)|The Statesman]], 14 October 2004}} {{Dead link|date=October 2010|bot=H3llBot}}</ref><ref>{{cite web| url = http://www.irfca.org/articles/manning/bnr.html| title = The Katwa Railways | access-date = 2009-08-22 | last = Manning | first = Ian | work = From Bengal Towards Nagpur | publisher = Indian Railway Fan Club}}</ref>

In 1966, ownership of the AKR, together with its sister line, the [[Burdwan–Katwa Railway]], was transferred to the Eastern Railway zone of Indian Railways.<ref>{{cite web| url = https://wiki.fibis.org/w/Ahmadpur-Katwa_Railway| title = Ahmadpur-Katwa Railway | access-date = 2009-08-22 | publisher = FIBIS Wiki}}</ref>

===Gauge conversion===

This 52&nbsp;km-long railway section was converted to {{RailGauge|1676mm|lk=on}} broad gauge, work for which began on 14 January 2013. The line was opened to the public on 24 May 2018.<ref>{{cite web| url = https://www.anandabazar.com/state/west-bengal-news-first-train-started-running-on-newly-constructed-line-of-katwa-ahmedpur-broad-gauge-1.805342 |title = First train starts running on newly constructed Ahmedpur Katwa broadgauge line | publisher=Anandabazar Patrika |language = bn| access-date = 25 August 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite web| url = https://st2.indiarailinfo.com/kjfdsuiemjvcya1/0/3/9/8/3442398/0/1526994180625270534.jpg |title = Passenger train to start on newly constructed Ahmedpur Katwa broadgauge line | publisher=Indian Railways | access-date = 25 August 2018}}</ref>

==Stations between Ahmadpur- Katwa Line ==

*[[Ahmadpur Junction railway station]]
*[[Chowhatta railway station]]
*[[Gopalpurgram railway station]]
*[[Labpur railway station]]
*Kirnahar railway station
*[[Daskalgram railway station]]
*[[Kurmodanga railway station]]
*[[Jnandas Kandra railway station]]
*[[Komarpur railway station]]
*[[Nirol railway station]]
*[[Pachandi railway station]]
*[[Ambalgram railway station]]
*[[Nabagram Kankurhati railway station]]
*[[Katwa Junction railway station]]

==Trains ==
This route is served by six local trains that run daily :
*⁦03037 Katwa - Ahmadpur MEMU special
* 03055 Katwa - Ahmadpur Express special
* 03099 Katwa - Ahmadpur MEMU Special
* 03038 Ahmadpur - Katwa MEMU special
* 03056 Ahmadpur - Katwa Express Special
* 03100 Ahmadpur - Katwa MEMU Special

== See also ==
{{stack|{{Portal|India|Trains}}}}
*[[Ahmadpur Junction railway station]]
*[[Labpur railway station]]
*[[Katwa Junction railway station]]
*[[Bolpur Shantiniketan railway station]]
*[[Rampurhat Junction railway station]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

{{Railways in Eastern India}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Ahmadpur-Katwa line}}
[[Category:5 ft 6 in gauge railways in India]]
[[Category:Transport in Birbhum district]]
[[Category:Howrah railway division|*]]

Ahmadpur Katwa line - Revision history

CleanupBot at 05:37, 22 March 2026