Two more routes of AC locals from 5 Sep in Sealdah division
The Statesman | 3 September 2025The decision comes after the huge popularity of the recently-rolled out AC local EMU train between Sealdah and Ranaghat. According to the divisional railway manager of Sealdah, Rajeev Saxena, the Sealdah-Ranaghat AC local train has received an overwhelming response, with daily passenger count steadily increasing since its launch. Even though the AC EMU has a seating capacity of 2,232, the occupancy has touched up to 160 per cent on several days with the highest recorded occupancy of 162 per cent and 3,626 passengers on a single trip.
Given the demand, the divisional railway has decided to run a new AC EMU service on the Ranaghat-Bangaon-Sealdah route. “One of the major features of the proposed route is that it would enable alternate service from Ranaghat for airport and nearby areas via interchange with Metro at Dum Dum Cantt and other areas in Kolkata,” pointed out the Sealdah DRM. The AC train would depart from Ranaghat at 7.11 a.m. and from Bangaon at 7.52 a.m. and arrive at Sealdah at 9.37 a.m. On the return journey, it would depart from Sealdah at 6.14 p.m, arrive at Bangaon at 8.04 p.m. and reach Ranaghat at 8.41 p.m.
The other proposed AC EMU service is to be operated between Sealdah and Krishnanagar to strengthen connectivity on the busy mainline section. The new service has been decided particularly to serve commuters headed towards Mayapur ISKCON temple and passengers bound for Kalyani AIIMS Hospital. “The timing of the route has been decided in tandem with the checking in and out schedule of the hotels,” said Mr Saxena. “The date of the commencement of commercial services in the two new routes would be announced soon,” he added.
Infrastructural enhancements and additional local EMUs, Sealdah division to decongest increasing crowd at Sealdah, Dum Dum and Bidhannagar railway stations
