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.[2]

Ahmadpur–Katwa line
Railcar No 10607 in March 2012
Overview
StatusOperational
OwnerIndian Railways
LocaleWest Bengal
Termini
Stations16
Service
SystemElectrified
Operator(s)1917-1966 McLeod's Light Railways 1966-present Eastern Railway
History
Opened29 September 1917 (NG) 24 May 2018 (BG)
Closed14 January 2013 (NG)
Technical
Line length52 km (32 mi)
Track gauge5 ft 6 in (1,676 mm) broad gauge
Old gauge2 ft 6 in (762 mm)
Route map

km
52
Ahmadpur Junction
46
Chowhatta
42
Gopalpurgram
40
Labpur
36
Mahespur
30
Kirnahar
25
Daskalgram
23
Kurmadanga
21
Jnandas Kandra
17
Komarpur
16
Nirol
14
Nirolgram Halt
12
Pachandi
Kandor River
8
Ambalgram
Right arrow
4
Nabagram Kankurhati
Left arrow
0
Katwa Junction
Down arrow
km

Sources: [1]

History

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McLeod's Light Railways

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McLeod's Light Railways (MLR) consisted of four 2 ft 6 in (762 mm) 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.[3]

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 2 ft 6 in (762 mm) gauge and total length was 52 kilometres (32 mi).[4]

The engines chugged along at a maximum speed of 30 km per hour.[5][6]

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.[7]

Gauge conversion

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This 52 km-long railway section was converted to 1,676 mm (5 ft 6 in) broad gauge, work for which began on 14 January 2013. The line was opened to the public on 24 May 2018.[8][9]

References

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  1. ^ "Howrah Division System Map". ER Railway.
  2. ^ Chakraborty, Snehamoy (14 January 2013). "Emotions pasted – One last run". The Telegraph. Archived from the original on 28 June 2014. Retrieved 2 May 2013.
  3. ^ "McLeod's Light Railways". Retrieved 22 August 2009.
  4. ^ "Ahmedpur-Katwa Railway". Retrieved 22 August 2009.
  5. ^ "Narrow gauge gets a new lease of life". The Statesman, 14 October 2004. Retrieved 22 August 2009. [dead link]
  6. ^ Manning, Ian. "The Katwa Railways". From Bengal Towards Nagpur. Indian Railway Fan Club. Retrieved 22 August 2009.
  7. ^ "Ahmadpur-Katwa Railway". FIBIS Wiki. Retrieved 22 August 2009.
  8. ^ "First train starts running on newly constructed Ahmedpur Katwa broadgauge line" (in Bengali). Anandabazar Patrika. Retrieved 25 August 2018.
  9. ^ "Passenger train to start on newly constructed Ahmedpur Katwa broadgauge line". Indian Railways. Retrieved 25 August 2018.