East Bengal Mail

Defunct train in India

East Bengal MailOverview

Service type| Mail train
Route
Termini| Sealdah
Parbatipur Junction
Service frequency| Daily
Technical
Track gauge| 1,676 mm (5 ft 6 in)

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Sealdah–Parbatipur line

| Technical

Track gauge| Broad gauge 5 ft 6 in (1,676 mm)

Legend

|  |  |

|  |  Sealdah

|
|
|
|

|  |

|  |
|  |

|  | Ranaghat
|  |

|  | to Lalgola
|  |

|  |
|  |

|  | Gede
|  |

|  |  | India

Bangladesh
border
|  |

|  | Darshana
|  |

|  | to Jessore
|  |

|  |
|  |

|  | Poradah
|  |

|  | to Goalundo Ghat
|  |

|  |
|  |

|  | Hardinge Bridge across Padma
|  |

|  | Iswardi
|  |

|  | to Dhaka
|  |

|  |
|  |

|  | to Rahanpur–Singhabad border
|  |

|  | Abdulpur
|  |

|  |
|  |

|  | Santahar
|  |

|  | to Lalmonirhat Junction MG
|  |

|  |
|  |

|  | Hili
|  |

|  |
|  |

|  | to Biral–Radhikapur border MG
|  |

|  | Parbatipur Junction
|  |

|  | to Lalmonirhat Junction MG
|  |

|  | to Chilahati–Haldibari border
|  |

|  |  |  |  |  |

The East Bengal Mail was one of three trains operated between India and East Pakistan (now Bangladesh). The rail link was suspended at the outbreak of the Indo-Pakistani War of 1965.

## Overview

[edit]

Prior to 1965, when armed conflict broke out between India and Pakistan, rail links existed between India and East Pakistan. Three trains ran between the two countries carrying goods and passengers: (1) East Bengal Express between Sealdah and Goalundo Ghat via Gede–Darshana, (2) East Bengal Mail between Sealdah and Parbatipur Junction via Gede–Darshana, and (3) Barisal Express between Sealdah and Khulna via Petrapole–Benapole.[1][2]

## History

[edit]

From 1878, the railway route from Kolkata, then called Calcutta, to Siliguri was in two legs through the eastern part of Bengal. The first leg was a 185 km journey along the Eastern Bengal State Railway from Calcutta Station (later renamed Sealdah) to Damookdeah Ghat on the southern bank of the Padma River, then across the river in a ferry and the second leg of the journey. A 336 kilometres (209 mi) metre-gauge line of the North Bengal Railway linked Saraghat on the northern bank of the Padma to Siliguri.[3]

The 1,849 metres (6,066 ft) Hardinge Bridge across the Padma opened for trains in 1915. Presently, it is between the Paksey and Bheramara stations on the broad-gauge line between Khulna and Parbatipur in Bangladesh.[4] In 1926 the metre-gauge section north of the bridge was converted to broad gauge, and so the entire Calcutta – Siliguri route became broad-gauge.[3] East Bengal Mail used to cover the distance of 376 kilometres (234 mi) in 7 hours 50 mins in up direction & in 8 hours in down direction, running at 47.5 kilometres per hour (29.5 mph). Train used to leave Sealdah at 21.10 hours, reaching Parbatipur at 05.00 hours. In return used to leave Parbatipur at 21.30 hours, arriving Sealdah at 05.30 hours.

In the pre-independence days, two legendary mail trains used the Sealdah–Parbatipur line. The Darjeeling Mail linked Kolkata, then known as Calcutta, and Siliguri. The Assam Mail originally ran from Sealdah to Santahar by broad gauge, and onwards by metre gauge from Santahar to Guwahati (then spelt Gauhati).[5]

## Branch lines

[edit]

Not only was the mainline an important one but a cursory glance at the route map shows important links. The Maitree Express uses a part of the route in Kolkata to Iswardi journey. The Mitali Express uses a part of the route from New Jalpaiguri to Iswardi journey.

Abdulpur is an important junction with links to Rajshahi and the India–Bangladesh border at Rahanpur-Singhabad. In olden days, it was the route for travel between Malda and Kolkata.

Santahar is another important junction, with a metre-gauge connection to many places in the northern part of Bangladesh.[6]

In pre-independence days, there was a metre-gauge line: Katihar–Radhikapur–Biral–Parbatipur–Tista–Geetaldaha–Golakganj–Fakiragram.[2]

## References

[edit]

1. ^ Sangeeta Thapliyal. "India–Bangladesh Transportation Links: A Move for Closer Cooperation". Archived from the original on 12 October 2000. Retrieved 10 December 2011.
2. ^ a b "Geography – International". IRFCA. Retrieved 10 December 2011.
3. ^ a b "India: the complex history of the junctions at Siliguri and New Jalpaiguri". IRFCA. Retrieved 12 November 2011.
4. ^ Bhuiyan, Muhammad Masudur Rahman (2012). "Hardinge Bridge". In Islam, Sirajul; Jamal, Ahmed A. (eds.). Banglapedia: National Encyclopedia of Bangladesh (Second ed.). Asiatic Society of Bangladesh.
5. ^ "Trains of fame and locos with a name – Part 2". IRFCA. Retrieved 15 December 2011.
6. ^ Fida, Quazi Abul (2012). "Railway". In Islam, Sirajul; Jamal, Ahmed A. (eds.). Banglapedia: National Encyclopedia of Bangladesh (Second ed.). Asiatic Society of Bangladesh.

* v
* t
* e

Bangladesh Railway

Zones|

* East Zone
* West Zone

Lines|

* Narayanganj–Bahadurabad Ghat line
* Rajbari–Bhanga line
* Dhaka–Jessore line
* Joydebpur–Bangabandhu Shetu East line
* Tongi–Bhairab–Akhaura line
* Tongi–Manikganj–Paturia Ghat line
* Akhaura–Kulaura–Chhatak line
* Habiganj Bazar–Shaistaganj–Balla line
* Kulaura–Shahbajpur line
* Akhaura–Laksam–Chittagong line
* Chittagong Circular Railway
* Chittagong–Cox's Bazar line
* Chilahati–Parbatipur–Santahar–Darshana line
* Darshana–Jessore–Khulna line
* Old Malda–Abdulpur line
* Burimari–Lalmonirhat–Parbatipur line
* Santahar–Kaunia line
* Iswardi–Sirajganj line
* Khulna–Mongla Port Railway

Defunct lines|

* Jessore–Jhenidah Light Railway
* Kaunia–Dharlla State Railway
* Khulna–Bagerhat Railway
* Bheramara -Raita line
* Cherra Companyganj State Railways

Passenger trains|

* Barisal Express
* East Bengal Express
* East Bengal Mail
* Maitree Express
* Bandhan Express
* Chitra Express
* Kalni Express
* Kapotaksha Express
* Lalmoni Express
* Parabat Express
* Shonar Bangla Express
* Suborno Express
* Tista Express
* Banalata Express

Rolling stock|

* Locomotives of Bangladesh

Railway bridges|

* Hardinge Bridge
* Bangabandhu Railway Bridge
* Padma Bridge
* Rupsha Rail Bridge

Transit points with India|

* Old Malda–Abdulpur line
* Akhaura–Agartala line
* Darshana–Gede
* Benapole–Petrapole
* Biral–Radhikapur
* Chilahati–Haldibari

Defunct
transit points with India|

* Burimari–Changrabandha
* Shahbajpur–Mahisasan
* Mogalhat–Gitaldaha

History|

* Eastern Bengal Railway
* Assam Bengal Railway
* Pakistan Eastern Railway

See also|

* Saidpur railway workshop
* Bangladesh Railway Museum
* Dhaka Metro Rail
* Dhaka Subway
* Trans-Asian Railway

* Category
* Commons

* v
* t
* e

Railways in Eastern India

National network/
trunk lines|

* Barauni–Guwahati line
* Grand Chord
* Howrah–Chennai main line
* Howrah–Gaya–Delhi line
* Howrah–Nagpur–Mumbai line
* Howrah–New Delhi main line
* Howrah–New Jalpaiguri line
* Howrah–Prayagraj–Mumbai line
* Sahibganj loop

Other lines/sections|

| Interstate|

* Asansol–Gaya section
* Asansol–Patna section
* Asansol–Tatanagar–Kharagpur line
* Barauni–Gorakhpur, Raxaul and Jainagar lines
* Barkakana–Son Nagar line
* Barsoi–New Farakka section
* Barsoi–Radhikapur branch line
* Dumka–Bhagalpur line
* Gaya–Pandit Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Junction section
* Hatia–Rourkela line
* Jasidih–Dumka–Rampurhat line
* Jharsuguda–Vizianagaram line
* Katihar–Siliguri line
* Kharagpur–Puri line
* Khurda Road–Visakhapatnam section
* Kothavalasa–Kirandul line
* New Jalpaiguri–Alipurduar–Samuktala Road line
* New Jalpaiguri–New Bongaigaon section
* Tatanagar–Bilaspur section

|

Bihar|

* Bakhtiyarpur–Tilaiya line
* Barauni–Katihar section
* Barauni–Samastipur section
* Fatuha–Tilaiya line
* Gaya–Kiul line
* Jogbani–Katihar line
* Mansi–Saharsa line
* Mokama–Barauni section
* Muzaffarpur–Gorakhpur line (via Hajipur, Raxaul and Sitamarhi)
* Muzaffarpur–Gorakhpur main line
* Muzaffarpur–Sitamarhi section
* Muzaffarpur–Hajipur section
* Narkatiaganj–Bhikhna Thori branch line
* Neora–Daniyawan–Bihar Sharif–Sheikhpura line
* Patna–Gaya line
* Patna–Mughalsarai section
* Patna–Sonepur–Hajipur section
* Saharsa–Purnia line
* Saharsa–Forbesganj line
* Samastipur–Muzaffarpur section

Jharkhand|

* Barkakana–Netaji S.C.Bose Gomoh line
* Barkakana–Muri–Chandil line
* Dhanbad–Chandrapura line
* Railways in Jharia Coalfield
* Koderma–Hazaribagh–Barkakana–Ranchi line
* Madhupur–Giridih–Koderma line
* Netaji S.C.Bose Gomoh–Hatia line

Odisha|

* Khurda Road–Bolangir line
* Cuttack–Sambalpur line

West Bengal|

* Ahmadpur–Katwa line
* Alipurduar–Bamanhat branch line
* Andal–Sainthia branch line
* Andal–Sitarampur loop line
* Bandel–Katwa line
* Bankura–Masagram line
* Bardhaman–Asansol section
* Bardhaman–Katwa line
* Barharwa–Azimganj–Katwa loop
* Darjeeling Himalayan Railway
* Eklakhi–Balurghat branch line
* Haldibari–New Jalpaiguri line
* Howrah–Barddhaman main line
* Howrah–Bardhaman chord
* Howrah–Kharagpur line
* Kharagpur–Bankura–Adra line
* New Mal–Changrabandha–New Cooch Behar line
* Santragachi–Amta branch line
* Sealdah Main and North section
* Calcutta Chord link line
* Kolkata Circular Railway
* Sealdah–Bangaon line
* Sealdah–Ranaghat–Gede line
* Ranaghat–Krishnanagar City–Lalgola line
* Sealdah South section
* Sheoraphuli–Bishnupur branch line

Suburban
rail transport|

* Kolkata Metro
* Kolkata Suburban Railway
* Kolkata Circular Railway

Monorail|

* Kolkata Monorail
* Patna Monorail

Defunct lines|

| Revived/
Under revival|

* Ahmedpur–Katwa Railway
* Bankura–Damodar Railway
* Barasat–Basirhat Light Railway
* Burdwan–Katwa Railway
* Bakhtiarpur–Bihar Light Railway
* Futwah–Islampur Light Railway

|

Inactive|

* Bengal Provincial Railway
* East Coast State Railway
* Kalighat Falta Railway
* Mayurbhanj State Railway
* Dehri Rohtas Light Railway
* Patna–Digha Ghat line
* Parlakimedi Light Railway

Zones & Divisions|

| Eastern|

* Asansol
* Howrah
* Malda
* Sealdah

|

East Central|

* Danapur
* Dhanbad
* Pandit Deen Dayal Upadhyaya
* Samastipur
* Sonpur

East Coast|

* Sambalpur
* Khurda Road
* Waltair

North Eastern|

* Varanasi

Northeast Frontier|

* Katihar
* Alipurduar

South Eastern|

* Adra
* Chakradharpur
* Kharagpur
* Ranchi

Production units/
workshops|

* Chittaranjan Locomotive Works
* Bharat Bhari Udyog Nigam
* Braithwaite & Co.
* Burn Standard Company Limited
* Bharat Wagon and Engineering
* Braithwaite, Burn & Jessop Construction Company
* Carriage Repair Workshop, Harnaut
* Electric Locomotive Factory, Madhepura

Transit points
with Bangladesh|

| Active|

* Haldibari–Chilahati
* Singhabad–Rohanpur
* Radhikapur–Biral
* Gede–Darshana
* Petrapole–Benapole

|

Defunct|

* Mahisasan–Shahbajpur
* Changrabandha–Burimari
* New Gitaldaha–Mogalhat

Indian railheads
near India–Nepal border|

* Raxaul Junction
* Bairgania
* Jaynagar
* Jogbani
* Laukaha Bazar
* Thakurganj

Railway companies|

* East Indian Railway Company
* Bengal Nagpur Railway
* Indian Branch Railway Company
* Indian Railways
* Martin's Light Railways

See also|

* Bholu (mascot)
* Suburban rail in India

* v
* t
* e

Named international passenger trains from  India

Bangladesh|

| Current|

* Bandhan Express
* Maitree Express
* Mitali Express

|

Defunct (East Pakistan)|

* Barisal Express
* East Bengal Express
* East Bengal Mail

Nepal|

Jaynagar–Bardibas Train

Pakistan|

| Current|

None

|

Defunct|

* Sind Mail
* Samjhauta Express
* Thar Express

Sri Lanka|

Boat Mail (now runs till Rameshwaram)
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