Kolkata gets one more train to north Bengal

Jalpaiguri: The Railway Board has sanctioned a new weekly train to Jalpaiguri, the gateway to the hill stations in north Bengal and also Sikkim, from Sealdah. This train will directly connect towns like Krishnagore and Berhampore with north Bengal for the first time.

In a notice dated Feb 25, the Railway Board instructed the department concerned to introduce the train ‘from an early convenient date' and mentioned that the coaches of the train will be maintained by Eastern Railway.

According to the schedule, the train will depart from Sealdah at 11.40 pm every Friday to reach Jalpaiguri Road at 12.15 pm the next day. Similarly, it will leave Jalpaiguri Road at 8.30 pm on Saturday and reach Sealdah at 8.10 am the next day.

The train will pass through Ranaghat Junction station to reach Malda via Krishnagore City, Berhampur and Azimganj Junction before entering Malda in north Bengal.

This route was on the cards for a long time. However, the unavailability of land for the construction of the Nashipur–Azimganj Rail Bridge over the Bhagirathi river delayed the project by 12 years. This bridge is now complete, and railway tracks have been laid over the proposed stretch.

The Nashipur-Azimganj Rail Bridge connects Murshidabad railway station and Azimganj Junction across Bhagirathi in Murshidabad. The bridge existed during the British regime and was dismantled during World War II. The Azimganj-Nalhati railway line started in 1872.