Template:Infobox rail line The Ahmadpur–Katwa line is a railway branch line connecting Ahmadpur Junction railway station in Birbhum district and Katwa in Purba Bardhaman district of the Indian state of West Bengal. It is under the jurisdiction of the Eastern Railway.[1] This branch is crucial as it connects the Katwa-Bandel-Howrah/Sealdah route with the Khana-Rampurhat section of the Sahibganj loop, bypassing the Barddhaman Station.
History
McLeod's Light Railways
McLeod's Light Railways (MLR) consisted of four Template:RailGauge 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.[2]
Ahmedpur–Katwa Railway connecting Ahmadpur (now Birbhum district) and Katwa (now Purba Bardhaman district), West Bengal opened on 29 September 1917. The railway was built in Template:RailGauge gauge and total length was Template:Convert.[3]
The engines chugged along at a maximum speed of 30 km per hour.[4][5]
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.[6]
Gauge conversion
This 52 km-long railway section was converted to Template:RailGauge broad gauge, work for which began on 14 January 2013. The line was opened to the public on 24 May 2018.[7][8]
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
- Ahmadpur Junction railway station
- Labpur railway station
- Katwa Junction railway station
- Bolpur Shantiniketan railway station
- Rampurhat Junction railway station
References
- ↑ Emotions pasted – One last run, Chakraborty, Snehamoy(14 January 2013). Retrieved 2 May 2013.
- ↑ McLeod's Light Railways. Retrieved 2009-08-22.
- ↑ Ahmedpur-Katwa Railway. Retrieved 2009-08-22.
- ↑ Narrow gauge gets a new lease of life. Retrieved 2009-08-22. Template:Dead link
- ↑ The Katwa Railways, Manning, Ian. Indian Railway Fan Club. Retrieved 2009-08-22.
- ↑ Ahmadpur-Katwa Railway. FIBIS Wiki. Retrieved 2009-08-22.
- ↑ First train starts running on newly constructed Ahmedpur Katwa broadgauge line. Anandabazar Patrika. Retrieved 25 August 2018.
- ↑ Passenger train to start on newly constructed Ahmedpur Katwa broadgauge line. Indian Railways. Retrieved 25 August 2018.
