• Sohana Ahamad Khan
• 25 Oct, 2025

§  What are the alternative options.?

§  When does the change become effective.?

§  Which 8 trains will not stop at Bidhannagar.?

§  Bidhannagar Station Loses 8 Train Stoppages.!

§  Eastern Railway Withdraws 8 Express Trains from Bidhannagar

§  Gour, Uttarbanga, Kanchankanya Express Won’t Stop at Bidhannagar from Monday

Kolkata, October 25, 2025 — In a significant development affecting thousands of daily commuters, Eastern Railway has announced that eight long-distance express trains will no longer stop at Bidhannagar Road railway station starting Monday, October 27, 2025. The decision, which impacts four pairs of popular mail and express trains connecting Kolkata with North Bengal and South Bengal destinations, has been attributed to low passenger turnout at this busy suburban junction.

Bidhannagar Road station, also known as Ultadanga station is a crucial junction on the Sealdah-Ranaghat line under the Sealdah Division of Eastern Railway. Despite handling approximately 975,000 passengers daily through around 325 trains in both directions, railway authorities have determined that long-distance express services see minimal boarding and alighting at this location.

This marks one of the most significant service adjustments at a major Kolkata suburban station in recent months, raising concerns among regular travelers who depend on these connections for journeys to northern and southern districts of West Bengal.

Complete List of Affected Trains

The Eastern Railway headquarters has officially confirmed that the following eight trains (four pairs) will bypass Bidhannagar Road station effective from the dates mentioned,  

·       Sealdah-Malda Town Gour Express (Train No. 13153)
Starting from trains departing October 27, 2025, this overnight express connecting Kolkata with Malda district will no longer stop at Bidhannagar. The train currently departs Sealdah at 22:05 and reaches Malda Town at 06:05 the next morning, covering 349 kilometers in approximately 8 hours.

·       Malda Town-Sealdah Gour Express (Train No. 13154)
From October 26, 2025 departure onwards, the return service will skip Bidhannagar station. This train leaves Malda Town at 21:25 and arrives at Sealdah at 04:40, currently making a brief one-minute stop at Bidhannagar around 04:08-04:09.

·       Sealdah-Bamanhat Uttarbanga Express (Train No. 13147)
Effective October 27, 2025, this crucial North Bengal connection will not halt at Bidhannagar. The Uttarbanga Express covers 743 kilometers in approximately 15 hours 40 minutes, serving 23 major stations between Sealdah and Bamanhat.

·       Bamanhat-Sealdah Uttarbanga Express (Train No. 13148)
Starting October 26, 2025, the return journey will bypass Bidhannagar station. Currently, this train makes a two-minute stop at Bidhannagar around 04:26-04:28 during its 15-hour 30-minute journey covering 743 kilometers.​

·       Sealdah-Alipurduar Kanchankanya Express (Train No. 13149)
From October 27, 2025 onward, this popular express connecting Kolkata with the Dooars region will skip Bidhannagar. The train covers 748 kilometers in about 15 hours 55 minutes with 25 stops, providing vital connectivity to North Bengal’s tea garden districts.

·       Alipurduar-Sealdah Kanchankanya Express (Train No. 13150)
Starting October 26, 2025, the return service will not stop at Bidhannagar. Currently making a brief two-minute halt around 07:54-07:56, this train completes its journey in approximately 16 hours.

·       Sealdah-Jaynagar Gangasagar Express (Train No. 13185)
Effective October 27, 2025, this important South Bengal connection serving passengers traveling to the Gangasagar pilgrimage site will bypass Bidhannagar. The train covers 624 kilometers in 15 hours with 22 stops.

·       Jaynagar-Sealdah Gangasagar Express (Train No. 13186)
From October 26, 2025, the return journey will skip Bidhannagar station. This train currently makes a two-minute stop around 06:34-06:36 during its 14-hour 50-minute journey back to Kolkata.

Why the Stoppage Withdrawal.?

According to Eastern Railway officials, the primary reason behind this decision is consistently low passenger patronage at Bidhannagar Road station for these specific long-distance services. Despite being a major suburban junction handling nearly a million passengers daily, most traffic consists of local EMU (Electric Multiple Unit) trains serving Kolkata’s metropolitan commuter network.

“The following trains will no longer stop at Bidhannagar Road station because of low passenger turnout,” stated an official Eastern Railway notification issued ahead of the festive season.

Railway authorities conduct periodic reviews of train stoppages across their network, analyzing passenger boarding and alighting data, platform utilization and overall journey time efficiency. When specific stations show minimal usage for particular services, stoppages may be withdrawn to improve overall train punctuality and reduce travel time for the majority of passengers.

The timing of this announcement is particularly significant as it comes just ahead of the major Kali Puja and Jagadhatri Puja festivals when passenger traffic typically surges across West Bengal. However, railway officials emphasize that the measure is based on long-term usage patterns rather than seasonal fluctuations.

Impact on Daily Commuters and Connectivity

The stoppage withdrawal will primarily affect passengers from the Ultadanga, Bidhannagar and surrounding areas who previously used these express trains for journeys to North Bengal districts like Malda, Cooch Behar and Alipurduar or South Bengal destinations like Jaynagar in the Sundarbans region.

For many commuters, these express trains offered a convenient alternative to the longer route via Sealdah station, which is located approximately 7 kilometers away in central Kolkata. Bidhannagar Road’s strategic location on the northeastern fringe of Kolkata made it accessible for residents of areas like Salt Lake, New Town and parts of North 24 Parganas district.

However, passengers affected by this change still have multiple alternative options available. Local EMU trains continue to connect Bidhannagar Road with Sealdah station at frequent intervals throughout the day, allowing travelers to board these express services from the main terminus. Additionally, several other long-distance trains that stop at Sealdah provide connectivity to the same destinations.

No Changes to Other Train Schedules

Eastern Railway has clarified that the timings and stoppages at all other stations along these train routes will remain unchanged. This means that passengers boarding from stations like Naihati Junction, Bandel Junction, Barddhaman Junction, Rampurhat Junction, Bolpur Shantiniketan and other major stops will not experience any schedule modifications.

The move is part of a broader network optimization exercise being undertaken by Eastern Railway across its Sealdah Division. In recent months, the division has also introduced new AC EMU local trains on the Sealdah-Bongaon and Sealdah-Krishnanagar routes with stoppages at Bidhannagar station specifically included for suburban travelers.

Recent Railway Service Updates in Eastern Region

This announcement comes amid several other significant railway developments in the Eastern region during October 2025. The Indian Railways has been operating over 12,000 special trains across the country between October 1 and November 30, 2025 to manage the heavy festive rush during Durga Puja, Diwali, Kali Puja and Chhath Puja.

For the Chhath Puja festival alone, scheduled from October 25-28, 2025, more than 2,220 special trains have been deployed for Bihar with the North Eastern Railway operating 186 additional services from major stations including Gorakhpur. Eastern Railway has also been running EMU special trains between Sealdah and key suburban destinations like Dankuni, Ranaghat, Barasat, and Baruipur during peak festival nights.

In a historic first, Indian Railways recently permitted the movement of empty passenger trains on the Dedicated Freight Corridor network to enable the operation of a larger number of passenger and express trains during the festive season. This unprecedented step demonstrates the railways’ commitment to accommodating increased travel demand.

Meanwhile, in other regions, services like the Srinagar-Katra Vande Bharat Express received an additional stoppage at Reasi station from October 29, 2025, on a trial basis following local demands. Such adjustments reflect the railways’ ongoing efforts to balance operational efficiency with passenger convenience based on actual usage patterns.

Alternative Travel Options for Affected Passengers

·       Passengers who regularly used these eight trains from Bidhannagar Road station have several convenient alternatives

o   Via Sealdah Station: Local EMU trains run at frequent intervals between Bidhannagar Road and Sealdah throughout the day. The journey takes approximately 15-20 minutes, allowing passengers to reach Sealdah in time to board these express trains from the main terminus.

o   Via Naihati Junction: For North Bengal-bound travelers, Naihati Junction (located about 10 minutes beyond Bidhannagar Road) continues to have stoppages for trains 13147/13148 (Uttarbanga Express) and 13149/13150 (Kanchankanya Express). Passengers can take local trains to Naihati and board these services there.

o   Alternative Express Trains: Multiple other mail and express trains connecting Sealdah with Malda, North Bengal and South Bengal destinations continue to operate with regular schedules. Passengers can check the Indian Railways website, NTES app or IRCTC portal for complete train lists and availability.

o   AC EMU Services: For shorter distances within suburban areas, the newly introduced AC EMU local trains on various routes from Sealdah provide comfortable alternatives with stops at Bidhannagar station.

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Official Railway Guidance

Eastern Railway has advised all passengers planning to travel on these affected trains to make note of the changes and plan their journeys accordingly. The railway administration recommends,

·       Checking the latest train schedules on the official Eastern Railway website or IRCTC platform before booking tickets

·       Arriving at Sealdah station if traveling on any of these eight trains from October 26-27, 2025 onwards

·       Using the 139 railway enquiry helpline or the NTES (National Train Enquiry System) app for real-time train information

Consulting with railway ticket counters for alternative train options and route planning assistance

The railway authorities have emphasized that this measure is aimed at improving overall operational efficiency and reducing journey times for the majority of passengers traveling longer distances on these routes.

Historical Context of Bidhannagar Station

Bidhannagar Road railway station has been a vital link in Kolkata’s suburban railway network for decades. Located in the rapidly developing northeastern corridor of the city, the station serves as a gateway between central Kolkata and the expanding urban areas of Salt Lake City, New Town and surrounding regions.

The station’s strategic importance grew significantly with the development of Salt Lake as a planned satellite town and the subsequent expansion of New Town as a major IT and residential hub. However, its role has primarily been centered on serving local and suburban traffic rather than long-distance express train passengers.

With Sealdah being one of India’s busiest railway terminals and located relatively close by, most long-distance travelers have traditionally preferred to board express trains directly from the main terminus where amenities, connectivity, and train frequency are significantly higher.

Conclusion: Balancing Efficiency with Passenger Needs

The withdrawal of stoppages for these eight express trains at Bidhannagar Road station represents a data-driven decision by Eastern Railway to optimize train operations based on actual passenger usage patterns. While the move may cause some inconvenience to a small segment of travelers, it reflects the broader objective of improving punctuality, reducing journey times and enhancing the overall efficiency of long-distance rail services.

For the vast majority of passengers traveling on these routes, the change will likely result in marginally faster journeys as trains no longer need to make brief stops at a station with minimal boarding activity. Meanwhile, affected commuters still have multiple viable alternatives through local train connectivity to Sealdah and other major junctions.

As Indian Railways continues to modernize and optimize its vast network serving over 8 billion passengers annually, such periodic adjustments based on usage analytics have become increasingly common. The challenge lies in striking the right balance between operational efficiency and local connectivity—a balance that requires constant monitoring, passenger feedback, and data-driven decision-making.

Passengers are encouraged to stay updated with official railway announcements and plan their journeys accordingly to ensure smooth and hassle-free travel across Eastern Railway’s extensive network.

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