Andal–Sainthia branch line

The Andal–Sainthia branch line is a railway line connecting Andal on the Bardhaman–Asansol section of the Howrah–Delhi main line and Sainthia Junction on the Sahibganj loop. This 73 kilometres (45 mi) track is under the jurisdiction of Eastern Railway. This track passes through the north-eastern part of the Raniganj Coalfield in Bardhaman district and the western part of Birbhum district in the Indian state of West Bengal.

Andal–Sainthia branch line
Andal railway station and Sainthia railway station
Overview
Status	Operational
Owner	Indian Railways
Locale	West Bengal
Termini	Andal Sainthia Junction
Stations	15
Service
Type	Electric
System	Broad gauge
Operator(s)	Eastern Railway
History
Opened	1913
Technical
Line length	73 km (45 mi)
Track gauge	5 ft 6 in (1,676 mm) broad gauge
Electrification	Yes
Operating speed	up to 100 km/h (62 mph)
Route map Legend km Bardhaman–Asansol section Andal Marshalling Yard 0 Andal Bardhaman–Asansol section NH 19 Andal–Sitarampur loop line Singaran River 5 Kajoragram Khas Kajora Colliery 10 Siduli Siduli Colliery Shree Diamond Sitalpur Colliery 12 Ukhra Bankola Colliery Sankarpur Colliery South Samla Colliery Pandaveswar Colliery Pandaveswar Airfield Khottadih Colliery 20 Pandabeswar Ajay River 23 Bhimgara Junction 29 Hazratpur 33 Raswan 37 Barhragram 42 Lachhmanpur Road West Bengal Jharkhand border 49 Palasthali Hinglo River 29 Panchra 35 Dubrajpur Bakreshwar River 42 Chinpai Bakreshwar Thermal Power Station 45 Kachujor 51 Jibdharpur 54 Siuri Prantik-Siuri line (planned) 63 Kunuri 65 Mahishadahari Halt 69 Kherua Sahibganj Loop 73 Sainthia Junction Sahibganj Loop km

This track serves Bakreshwar Thermal Power Station.

History

The Andal–Sainthia branch line was built in 1913.^[1]

Branch lines

There are two branch lines in this section. The first is the Andal–Barabani–Sitarampur section.^[2] The other is the Bhimgara–Palasthali branch line. Service on this line was suspended for safety reasons. The track became unfit because of unauthorized mining under the track.^[3]

Electrification

Electrification of Andal–Pandabeshwar section was completed in 2010–11.^[4] Electrification of the Pandabeshwar-Sainthia section was sanctioned in the rail budget for 2011–12, which is expected to be completed until 2013 and completed in 2016.^[5]