Reduction in running time of trains – Mail/Exp., Passenger and Locals :
With the completion of doubling between Bandel and Katwa, Krishnanagar upto Plassey, Lalgola to Jiaganj, in Suburban sections of Sealdah Division and Tinpahar to Pirpainthi in two stretches in Malda Division,8 Mail/Express trains and 17 Passenger trains have been speeded up saving time between 5 to 45 mts. In Sealdah Division, 20 EMU locals between Sealdah and Diamond Harbour, 7 locals between Sealdah and Laxmikantapur have been speeded up to save 5 to 8 mts. In Bandel – Katwa section also 28 local trains have been speeded up by 5 to 45 mts.
Here’s the information on the speeding up of Mail, Express, Passenger, and Local trains by Eastern Railway:
Contents
Official Update: September 29, 2025
According to an IRCTC Portal announcement:
- With track doubling completed in several sections—Bandel–Katwa, Krishnanagar to Plassey, Lalgola to Jiaganj (Sealdah Division), and Tinpahar to Pirpainti (Malda Division)—timings for many trains were improved:
- 8 Mail/Express trains and 17 Passenger trains received speed enhancements, saving 5 to 45 minutes per run.
- In suburban sectors:
- 20 EMU locals between Sealdah–Diamond Harbour and 7 EMUs between Sealdah–Laxmikantapur saved 5–8 minutes.
- In the Bandel–Katwa section, 28 local trains were sped up, saving 5–45 minutes.
More Recent Enhancements
December 2024 – New Timetable Initiated (Effective Jan 1, 2025)
Eastern Railway unveiled a revised timetable, introducing:
- Major improvements in Mail/Express train timings
- Faster Passenger and Local services
- Infrastructure upgrades: commissioning of 3rd/4th lines, new train introductions, diversions, and frequency adjustments.
July 2024 – Sectional Speed Upgrades
As part of modernization efforts, several critical sections were sped up from 60/70/80 km/h to 110 km/h, significantly improving average travel speeds across routes in the Howrah and Asansol Divisions:
- Bally–Dankuni (3rd line): 90 → 110 km/h
- Bally–Bandel: 100 → 110 km/h
- Sheoraphuli–Tarakeswar: 80 → 110 km/h
- Azimganj–Nalhati: 60/80 → 110 km/h (both directions)
- Andal–Pandabeswar: 65 → 110 km/h
At a Glance
| Period | Key Enhancements |
|---|---|
| Sep 2015 | Multiple Mail/Express/Passenger trains and suburban locals sped up (5–45 min). |
| Jul 2024 | Track-based speed upgrades to 110 km/h across key sections (Howrah/Asansol Divs). |
| Jan 2025 | New timetable with faster schedules, added lines, and better capacities. |
Let me know if you’d like details on specific trains, updated schedules, or current running speeds!