Eastern Divisions
Eastern Divisions – Railway General Knowledge Capsule
The Eastern Railway (ER) is one of the 19 zones of Indian Railways. Headquartered at Fairlie Place, Kolkata, it came into existence on 14 April 1952 by amalgamating the East Indian Railway (EIR) and the Bengal–Assam Railway.
ER is operationally carved into four Divisions whose technical, historical and current details are exam-repeater favourites.
1. Divisional Map & Jurisdiction
| Division | HQ | Major Districts / Sections | Route kms (2024) | Track kms (incl. multiple) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Howrah | Howrah (West Bengal) | Howrah, Hooghly, Purba Bardhaman, parts of Birbhum & Jharkhand | 1,050 | 2,380 |
| Sealdah | Sealdah (Kolkata, WB) | Kolkata, North & South 24-Parganas, Nadia, Murshidabad | 713 | 1,640 |
| Asansol | Asansol (West Bengal) | Paschim Bardhaman, Bankura, Purulia, Dhanbad (Jharkhand), parts of Bihar | 853 | 2,050 |
| Malda | Malda (West Bengal) | Malda, Uttar Dinajpur, Dakshin Dinajpur, Birbhum, Jharkhand’s Sahebganj, Bihar’s Katihar | 1,044 | 1,970 |
Total ER network ≈ 3,660 route km (2024) — highest density among all zones.
2. Technical Specifications
| Parameter | ER (Eastern Divisions) |
|---|---|
| Electrification | 100 % (since Jan 2021) – 25 kV AC 50 Hz |
| Traction | 80 % trains hauled by WAP-4, WAP-7, WAG-9 (BCOY / 3-phase) |
| Signalling | 68 % stations with Panel / Electronic Interlocking; 32 % Route-Relay |
| Max Permissible Speed (MPS) | |
| – Howrah–New Delhi Rajdhani | 130 km/h |
| – Howrah–Barddhaman Chord | 130 km/h |
| – Sealdah–Naihati–Bandel | 130 km/h |
| – Asansol–Gaya–Mughalsarai | 130 km/h |
| – Dankuni–Sitarampur 3rd line | 110 km/h |
| Track Standard | 52 kg 90 UTS rail; PSC sleepers; 1660 / km density on mainline |
| Loading | CC+8+2 (BOXNHL) since 2022; earlier CC+6+2 |
| Major Workshops | |
| – Howrah (Carriage & Wagon) | |
| – Jamalpur (EIR heritage, now under ER) | |
| – Kanchrapara (Electric Loco & Coach) — largest in ER | |
| – Liluah (EMU & MEMU) | |
| – Andal (Diesel Shed) — 260 loco holding | |
| Freight Share | 18 % of IR’s total coal, 24 % steel, 12 % food-grain (FY 23-24) |
3. Historical Milestones
| Year | Event |
|---|---|
| 1854 | First passenger train in Eastern India ran from Howrah to Hooghly (15 Aug) – 37 km |
| 1862 | Howrah station first building commissioned |
| 1887 | Bridge over Hooghly (Pandit Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar Setu) – dual-use rail-cum-road |
| 1900 | Sealdah–Ranaghat–Lalgola BG completed |
| 1916 | Sealdah division created (oldest division of IR) |
| 1925 | First 1.5 kV DC EMU service Sealdah–Budge Budge (later converted to 3 kV & then 25 kV AC) |
| 1930 | Howrah–Barddhaman main line electrified with 3 kV DC |
| 1952 | Eastern Railway zone born (14 Apr) |
| 1958 | 25 kV AC system adopted; Howrah–Barddhaman converted |
| 1962 | Asansol division carved out |
| 1984 | First 5-digit numbered train – 12301 Howrah Rajdhani |
| 1998 | Malda division created (1 Oct) |
| 2003 | Kolkata Metro (under ER umbrella till 2010) |
| 2021 | Full network electrified |
| 2023 | Kavach Trial on Howrah–Barddhaman Chord (expected completion 2025) |
4. Current Status & Recent Updates (2023-24)
- Amrit Bharat Station Scheme – 32 stations of ER sanctioned; Howrah, Sealdah, Asansol, Bandel in top 5.
- Kolkata–Howrah 3rd bridge (Rakesh Sinha Setu) – 650 m extradosed, 2025 target; will de-congest Howrah bridge.
- Howrah–New Delhi route undergoing Gati-Shakti multi-track (4th & 5th) – 1,400 cr sanctioned.
- Dankuni–Sitarampur 5th line – 75 % earthwork complete; will segregate freight.
- Sealdah–Barrackpore 3rd line commissioned (Feb 2024).
- Kanchrapara Workshop rolled out first Vande Bharat Sleeper rake shell (Mar 2024).
- Howrah EMU Carshed got 12-coach Medha 3-phase EMUs with 160 km/h design.
- Asansol division declared “Green Unit” – 100 % LED, solar roof 14 MW.
- Malda division recorded highest freight loading 69 MT in FY 23-24 (beat last 10 yr record).
- RailTel Wi-Fi live at 215/231 stations of ER.
- Railway Protection Force – ER has all-women “Durga” squad in Sealdah suburban.
- Heritage – 155-yr-old Howrah building to be re-developed under “Srijan” plan while retaining façade.
5. Mega Terminals & Satellite Freight Complexes
| Station | Division | No. of Platforms | Unique Facts |
|---|---|---|---|
| Howrah | Howrah | 23 + 1 (under-construction) | Oldest & 2nd busiest in India (1.2 mn daily) |
| Sealdah | Sealdah | 21 (Main + North + South) | Largest suburban hub (3.2 mn/day) |
| Asansol | Asansol | 12 | Adjudged “Cleanest Railway Colony” 2023 |
| Malda Town | Malda | 8 | Gateway to N-E via Farakka Barrage |
| Kolkata | Sealdah | 7 | Only terminal inside Kolkata city |
| Dankuni | Howrah | 6 | Largest freight marshalling yard in ER |
| Andal | Asansol | 4 | Proximity to IISCO Steel Plant; coal link |
| Bandel | Howrah | 5 | Junction for branch to Katwa & Bandel–Naihati chord |
6. Freight & Economic Impact
- Coal – 60 % originates from Jharia & Raniganj coalfields → transported via Asansol division → Dankuni → Haldia / Paradip.
- Steel – SAIL IISCO (Burnpur), Tata Kalinganagar, JSPL Patratu.
- Food-grain – Major loading points: Malda Town, Rampurhat, New Farakka for movement to N-E & Bihar.
- Container traffic – Dankuni ICD 0.5 TEU/yr; 2nd to Tughlakabad in NCR.
- Revenue – ER earned ₹17,836 cr in FY 23-24 (8.4 % of IR’s total).
7. Quick-Fire Points for CBT
- Oldest train still running – Punjab Mail (1909) passes through Asansol.
- Longest platform in ER – Howrah 8-9 (704 m) after renewal.
- Highest rail-cum-road bridge – Vidyasagar Setu (120 m clearance).
- First 25 kV AC loco homed at Howrah (WAM-4).
- ER’s UNESCO site – Mountain Railways of India (Darjeeling) is under NFR, but ER maintains heritage EIR museum at Howrah.
- ER’s only RORO ramp – Dankuni.
- ER’s only inland container rail-linked port – Haldia Dock Complex (freight corridor).
- ER’s CO2 target – Net-zero by 2030 (solar 150 MW, wind 20 MW).
MCQs – Eastern Divisions
- Eastern Railway was formed on which date?
A) 15 August 1947
B) 26 January 1950
C) 14 April 1952
D) 01 October 1955
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C
Explanation: Eastern Railway (ER) was officially formed on 14 April 1952 by integrating parts of the East Indian Railway and the Bengal Nagpur Railway.
- Which is the newest division among the four of ER?
A) Howrah
B) Sealdah
C) Asansol
D) Malda
Show Answer
Correct Answer: D
Explanation: Malda is the newest division of the Eastern Railway, having been carved out in 1984 to manage operations in North Bengal and parts of Bihar.
- Headquarters of Asansol division is situated in which state?
A) Jharkhand
B) Bihar
C) West Bengal
D) Odisha
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C
Explanation: The Asansol division headquarters is located in the Paschim Bardhaman district of West Bengal.
- Total route kilometres of Eastern Railway (as of 2026) are approximately?
A) 2,500 km
B) 3,100 km
C) 3,660 km
D) 4,200 km
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C
Explanation: Eastern Railway manages an extensive network of approximately 3,660 route kilometres across West Bengal, Bihar, and Jharkhand.
- Which division of ER handles the highest freight loading?
A) Howrah
B) Sealdah
C) Asansol
D) Malda
Show Answer
Correct Answer: D
Explanation: In recent years, the Malda division has emerged as the leader in freight loading for ER, primarily driven by coal and stone traffic.
- First passenger train in Eastern India ran between?
A) Howrah to Hooghly
B) Sealdah to Ranaghat
C) Howrah to Bardhaman
D) Asansol to Dhanbad
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A
Explanation: The first passenger train in Eastern India commenced operations on 15 August 1854, between Howrah and Hooghly.
- The 25 kV AC traction system in ER was adopted in which year?
A) 1947
B) 1958
C) 1966
D) 1972
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B
Explanation: To modernize operations, Indian Railways adopted the 25 kV AC traction system in 1958, starting with sections in the Eastern Railway zone.
- Which workshop of ER is involved in Vande Bharat rake shell maintenance and manufacturing?
A) Liluah
B) Kanchrapara
C) Jamalpur
D) Kharagpur
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B
Explanation: The Kanchrapara workshop has been modernized to handle maintenance and shell components for advanced rakes like Vande Bharat.
- Eastern Railway became 100 % electrified in?
A) December 2018
B) January 2021
C) August 2023
D) January 2025
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B
Explanation: Eastern Railway achieved 100% electrification of its entire route in January 2021, becoming one of the first major zones to reach this milestone.
- Longest platform of ER is located at?
A) Sealdah
B) Malda Town
C) Howrah
D) Asansol
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C
Explanation: Howrah Station is the largest and has some of the longest platforms in the zone to accommodate 24-coach trains.
- Which of the following is NOT a terminal station of Sealdah division?
A) Kolkata (Chitpur)
B) Sealdah
C) Bardhaman
D) Budge Budge
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C
Explanation: Bardhaman is a major junction under the Howrah division, not the Sealdah division.
- Dankuni marshalling yard falls under which division?
A) Asansol
B) Sealdah
C) Malda
D) Howrah
Show Answer
Correct Answer: D
Explanation: Dankuni is a vital hub for freight and passenger interchange under the Howrah division.
- Which bridge connects Howrah station to the main line towards Bardhaman?
A) Jubilee Bridge
B) Vidyasagar Setu
C) Vivekananda Setu
D) Howrah Bridge (Rabindra Setu)
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B
Explanation: In railway terms, the Hooghly bridge system (including the Jubilee and Vivekananda bridges) connects the banks, but the Pandit Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar Setu is a major road/rail landmark in the area.
- The first 5-digit numbered train of Indian Railways was?
A) Howrah Rajdhani Express
B) Poorva Express
C) Black Diamond Express
D) Coalfield Express
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A
Explanation: 12301 Howrah Rajdhani was the first train to adopt the 5-digit numbering system (1xxxx) during the national transition.
- Which division recorded the highest freight loading in FY 24-25?
A) Howrah
B) Sealdah
C) Asansol
D) Malda
Show Answer
Correct Answer: D
Explanation: Malda division remains the highest freight loader in the zone, handling approximately 69 Million Tonnes (MT) of cargo.
- The Liluah Carriage & Wagon workshop is located in which division?
A) Howrah
B) Sealdah
C) Asansol
D) Malda
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A
Explanation: The Liluah workshop, established in 1900, is one of the oldest C&W workshops and falls under the Howrah division.
- Which of the following sections has MPS of 130 km/h in ER (as of 2026)?
A) Howrah–NDLS Rajdhani Route
B) Howrah–Bardhaman Chord
C) Sealdah–Bandel
D) All of the above
Show Answer
Correct Answer: D
Explanation: By 2026, most trunk routes in ER, including the chord lines and the main Sealdah-Bandel sections, have been upgraded to 130 km/h Maximum Permissible Speed.
Last Updated: January 2026
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