Darshana–Jessore–Khulna line

Darshana–Jessore–Khulna line
Overview
Status	Functioning
Owner	Bangladesh Railway
Locale	Bangladesh
Termini	Darshana Junction railway station Khulna railway station
Stations	23
Service
Type	Railway line in Bangladesh
History
Opened	Jessore–Khulna (opened 1884) Darshana–Jessore (1954)
Technical
Track gauge	Broad-gauge 1,676 mm (5 ft 6 in)
Operating speed	80 km/h (50 mph)
Route map Chilahati–Parbatipur– Santahar–Darshana line Darshana Junction Darshana Darshana Halt Bangladesh India Uthli Gede Ansarbaria Sealdah–Gede line Safdarpur Sealdah–Bangaon line Kotchandpur Petrapole Sunderpur India Bangladesh Mubarakganj Benapole Barobazar Nabharan Bhairab River Kapotaksha River Jhikargacha Meherullanagar Dhopakhola Jessore Cantonment Jessore Junction Rupdia Dhaka–Jessore line Singia Junction Chengutia Noapara Taltala Hat Bejerdanga Phultala Junction Khulna– Mongla Port line Shiromoni Daulatpur Daulatpur College Khalishpur I/A Khulna Junction Khulna Source: Map of Bangladesh

Darshana–Jessore–Khulna line is a broad-gauge railway of Bangladesh Railway. The line is maintained and operated by West Zone.

History

The British Indian government constructed the Chilahati–Parbatipur–Santahar–Darshana line in 1878 and the Kolkata–Jessore to Khulna line in 1878 to start a direct service from Calcutta to Siliguri. But after the partition of the country in 1947, the railway communication between the two countries was cut off. The direct rail link between Khulna in then East Pakistan and North Bengal was disrupted. So very quickly the then provincial government quickly laid a new railway line from Darshana Junction to Jessore Junction by 1951.

Sections

Jessore–Benapole section

This section stretches from Jessore Junction via Benapole–Petrapole to Dum Dum Junction. Benapole Express, Bandhan Express, Benapole Commuter, Khulna Commuter and freight trains ply through this route.

Khulna–Mongla section

See also: Khulna–Mongla Port line

Khulna–Mongla Port line is being constructed to connect Port of Mongla with rail across the country. It will be a 65 km (40 mi) long broad gauge railway. Rupsha Rail Bridge is part of this route.

Rupsha–Bagerhat section

See also: Khulna–Bagerhat Railway

Rupsha–Bagerhat line is a 2 ft 6 in (762 mm) narrow gauge line that served as a link between Rupsha and Bagerhat. The railway line was constructed in 1918 and was declared abandoned in 1998. The 20-mile (32 km) long railroad carried 13 coaches and 8 freight cars in 1958.