Andal–Sainthia branch line
{{short description|Railway line in India}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2022}}
{{Infobox rail line
| box_width = 28em
| name = Andal–Sainthia branch line
| color =
| logo =
| logo_width = 100 px
| image = Andal-Sainthia Railway Stations.jpg
| image_width = 300px
| caption = Andal railway station and Sainthia railway station
| type = Electric
| system = Broad gauge
| status = Operational
| locale = West Bengal
| start = Andal
| end = Sainthia Junction
| stations = 15
| routes =
| daily_ridership =
| open = 1913
| close =
| owner = Indian Railways
| operator = Eastern Railway
| character =
| depot =
| stock =
| linelength = {{convert|73|km|mi|0|abbr=on}}
| tracklength =
| tracks =
| gauge = {{Track gauge|5ft6in|lk=on}} broad gauge
| old_gauge =
| minradius =
| racksystem =
| electrification = Yes
| speed = up to {{convert|100|km/h|abbr=on}}
| elevation =
| website =
| map = {{Andal–Sainthia branch line|inline=1}}
| map_state = collapsed
}}
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 {{convert|73|km}} 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.
This track serves Bakreshwar Thermal Power Station.
History
The Andal–Sainthia branch line was built in 1913.{{cite web|first=R. P.| last=Saxena|title=Indian Railway History Time line|url=http://irse.bravehost.com/IRHTML.htm|work=Irse.bravehost.com|access-date= 15 March 2017| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120229092028/http://irse.bravehost.com/IRHTML.htm| archive-date=29 February 2012}}
Branch lines
There are two branch lines in this section. The first is the Andal–Barabani–Sitarampur section.{{cite web| url = http://www.er.indianrailways.gov.in/view_section.jsp?lang=0&id=0,6,443,528,537 |title =List of Stations on Asansol Division | publisher= Eastern Railway| access-date = 2011-11-20 }} 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.Time Table, July 2005, Eastern Zone
Electrification
Electrification of Andal–Pandabeshwar section was completed in 2010–11.{{cite web| url = http://www.core.indianrailways.gov.in/view_section.jsp?lang=0&id=0,295,329,549 |title = Electrification work in progress by CORE: Progress during the year 2010–11| publisher= Central Organisation for Railway Electrification| access-date = 2011-11-28 }} 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.{{cite web| url = http://pib.nic.in/newsite/erelease.aspx?relid=58164|title =Electrification of new rail sections | publisher= Press Information Bureau| access-date = 2011-11-28 }}
References
{{reflist}}
|{{Railways in Eastern India}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Andal-Sainthia branch line}}
Category:5 ft 6 in gauge railways in India
Category:Rail transport in West Bengal
Category:1913 establishments in India
Category:Railway lines opened in 1913