Title - Burdwan bids adieu to vintage narrow gauge trains

The Burdwan railway station today bade farewell to the vintage narrow gauge trains, as the Eastern Railways declared its decision to suspend narrow gauge services and initiate the first phase of broad gauge conversion between Burdwan and Bolgona from tomorrow. Mr Dilip Kumar Sur, station manager, Burdwan, said: “Four pairs of ZDM rail cars marked their last journey from Burdwan station today, as a result of which a large number of people chose to take the trains today pushing up sales figures greatly. Union railway minister Miss Mamata Banerjee flagged off the first phase of broad gauge conversion of 25 km between Burdwan and Bolgona on 3 April, which is slated to be completed by the end of December. The ministry has allocated Rs 245.15 crore for the purpose of gauge conversion and electrifying the vintage railway link.  

Mr Sukumar Nunia, whose family has long since been engaged in driving the narrow gauge trains said: “I have been driving narrow gauge trains since 1986. My grand father and my father were also drivers of the same train. It's good that the Burdwan-Katwa tracks will be converted to broad gauge. However, it's painful to see an era end". Sheikh Sentu, a daily commuter, said: “This train has become a part of my life in the past 10 years. Although it took me about two hours to cover 25 kms, I will miss the ride." The services between Burdwan and Katwa and three other routes were introduced by British-owned McLeod & Company in 1928 to extend the railway network in Bengal. The operation was then resumed by the Indian Railways in April 1966.

Four ZDM diesel locomotives have been meeting the requirements of commuters traveling between Burdwan and Katwa, covering a distance of 51.52 kms. The gauge conversion between Burdwan and Katwa was flagged off by Mr Lalu Prasad on 30 June 2007, former Union railway minister.