KOLKATA: The first day-time train between Kolkata and New Jalpaiguri is likely to be flagged off by chief minister Mamata Banerjee on February 29. This was a long-standing demand.
It will be a Shatabdi-like train, say sources. But it is yet to be decided if it will leave from Sealdah or 'Kolkata' station in Chitpore.
The existing trains take 8-9 hours for the 573km trip. The new train could cover it in seven hours, say sources. The route will be the same as Darjeeling Mail or Padatik Express but a timing will be worked out when there is less traffic.
"We are working on the details. It will be a superfast train with few stops. The composition is not final but it will have only chair cars . The train may leave Kolkata early in the morning and reach NJP by late afternoon. The corresponding train from NJP may start in the afternoon and reach Kolkata by 10pm," an official said.
Officials feel that the train will not only be popular among professionals and businessmen but also tourists who don't find it convenient to travel by night with families.
"There are trains like the Darjeeling Mail and Padatik Express between Sealdah and NJP. In addition to this, there are several Assam-bound trains from Howrah that pass through NJP. In spite of this, there is always a rush in trains bound for NJP as it is an important business centre as well as a link to tourist destinations like Darjeeling and Sikkim. All these trains are night trains though. While some people prefer to travel overnight, there are many who would prefer to travel to and from NJP by day," an official said.
This has to be done as there are stretches in the Northeast Frontier Railway jurisdiction where doubling of tracks is required. The journey time goes up in single line sections as trains have to wait for those from the opposite direction to cross. . We already have a Shatabdi running upto Ranchi. There is also a Jan-Shatabdi running between Howrah and Patna. These trains have the same schedule (the Patna Jan-Shatabdi leaves Howrah in the afternoon) and are quite popular. The South Eastern Railway also runs a Jan-Shatabdi to Barbil from Howrah.
Source: http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2012-02-26/kolkata/31101191_1_darjeeling-mail-superfast-train-south-eastern-railway