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Andal Junction railway station

Andal Rail Station 01
Andal Rail Station 01 Image: Wikimedia Commons. Pinakpani / CC BY-SA 4.0

Overview

Andal Junction railway station is a railway station located in Andal, in the Paschim Bardhaman district of the Indian state of West Bengal. It serves the town of Andal and the surrounding coal mining and industrial belt of the Raniganj Coalfield. The station is an important junction on the Howrah–Delhi main line of the Indian Railways and falls under the administrative jurisdiction of the Asansol railway division of the Eastern Railway zone.

Key facts

Name Andal Junction railway station
Station code UDL
Location Andal, Paschim Bardhaman district, West Bengal, India
Line Howrah–Delhi main line; Andal–Sainthia branch line
Owner Indian Railways
Operator Eastern Railway zone
Division Asansol railway division
Type Junction station
Electrification Yes

Location and setting

The station lies in the Damodar valley region of West Bengal, an area historically associated with coal mining and heavy industry. Andal is situated between the major industrial centres of Durgapur and Asansol, and is close to the collieries of the Raniganj Coalfield, one of the oldest coal-producing regions of India. The Kazi Nazrul Islam Airport at Andal is located in the vicinity, linking air and rail connectivity in the area.

Lines and connections

Andal Junction is positioned on the principal Howrah–Delhi main line that passes through the Bardhaman–Asansol section. As a junction, it is the originating point of the Andal–Sainthia branch line, which connects the Howrah–Delhi corridor with the Sahibganj loop in the Birbhum district. This branch was historically significant for the movement of coal from the Raniganj Coalfield towards northern parts of Bengal.

Routes served

  • Howrah–Bardhaman–Asansol–Dhanbad section of the Howrah–Delhi main line.
  • Andal–Sainthia branch line connecting to the Sahibganj loop.
  • Local connections to colliery sidings in the surrounding region.

History

Railway operations in the Andal area developed alongside the growth of the East Indian Railway Company's main line from Howrah towards the upper provinces in the second half of the nineteenth century. The line reached the Raniganj coal belt to facilitate the transport of coal to Calcutta and other markets, and stations such as Andal grew as servicing points along this corridor. The Andal–Sainthia link was subsequently developed to provide an additional outlet from the coalfield. After the reorganisation of Indian Railways, the station came under the Eastern Railway zone, and was placed within the Asansol division.

Significance

Andal Junction's importance derives largely from its role in the movement of coal and industrial freight from the Raniganj Coalfield. Passenger services at the station include local EMU trains connecting Asansol, Durgapur and Bardhaman, as well as several long-distance express trains that halt en route between Howrah and destinations in northern, central and western India. The station also serves as a feeder point for nearby townships and industrial establishments.

References