Bandel Junction is a major railway station located in the town of Bandel in the Hooghly district of West Bengal, India. It is one of the oldest and busiest junctions in the Eastern Railway zone of Indian Railways and serves as an important node in the Howrah suburban railway network. The station functions as a junction point where lines from Howrah, Burdwan, Katwa, and Naihati converge, making it a significant transit hub for both suburban commuters and long-distance travellers in southern Bengal.
| Name | Bandel Junction railway station |
|---|---|
| Station code | BDC |
| Location | Bandel, Hooghly district, West Bengal, India |
| Owned by | Indian Railways |
| Operated by | Eastern Railway zone |
| Division | Howrah railway division |
| Lines | Howrah–Bardhaman main line, Bandel–Katwa line, Bandel–Naihati branch line |
| Type | Junction station |
| Electrification | Electrified (25 kV AC overhead) |
Bandel is situated on the west bank of the Hooghly River, adjacent to the historic town of Hooghly-Chinsurah. The town is well known for the Bandel Church, one of the oldest Christian churches in eastern India, established by Portuguese settlers in the early 17th century. The railway station took its name from this town and grew in importance as the railway network in Bengal expanded during the colonial period.
The Howrah–Bardhaman main line, on which Bandel lies, was among the earliest railway corridors developed in eastern India. The East Indian Railway Company opened the section connecting Howrah with Hooghly in 1854, marking the introduction of railway services in the region. Bandel subsequently developed into a junction with the construction of the Bandel–Naihati link, which connected the western and eastern banks of the Hooghly via the Jubilee Bridge (and later the Sampreeti Bridge).
The Bandel–Katwa branch, extending northwards through the Hooghly district, further consolidated the station's role as a junction. Over the decades, the station has been progressively modernised, with electrification of suburban lines and the introduction of EMU services significantly increasing passenger throughput.
Bandel Junction has multiple platforms catering to suburban EMU trains, mail and express services, and passenger trains. It also houses one of the larger locomotive sheds in eastern India, historically associated with both steam and electric traction operations. The station handles a high volume of daily commuter traffic on the Howrah suburban network, particularly on services running between Howrah and Bardhaman, Katwa, and Naihati.
As a junction integrating three significant rail corridors, Bandel plays a crucial role in the movement of suburban commuters in the greater Kolkata metropolitan region and acts as a gateway for travellers heading to northern and western parts of West Bengal. The station also supports goods traffic and serves pilgrims and tourists visiting the Bandel Church and other historical sites in the Hooghly–Chinsurah area.