| Kolkata Suburban Railway | |||
|---|---|---|---|
 | |||
 Local train at B.B.D. Bag railway station heading towards Majerhat. | |||
 An Alstom propulsion fitted ER 3-phase EMU | |||
| Overview | |||
| Owner | Indian Railways | ||
| Area served | |||
| Locale | Kolkata Metropolitan Region, West Bengal,  India | ||
| Transit type | Suburban and Regional rail | ||
| Number of lines |
| ||
| Number of stations |
| ||
| Daily ridership | 3.5 million (2017–18) | ||
| Annual ridership | 1.2 billion | ||
| Chief executive | |||
| Headquarters | |||
| Website | Indian Railways Eastern Railway South Eastern Railway | ||
| Operation | |||
| Began operation | 15 August 1854 | ||
| Operator(s) |
| ||
| Rolling stock | ICF, Jessop , BHEL, MEDHA, BEML, Alstom | ||
| Number of vehicles | 200+ | ||
| Train length | 9 or 12 coaches | ||
| Technical | |||
| System length | 1,501 km (933 mi) | ||
| Track gauge | 1,676 mm (5 ft 6 in) Broad-gauge | ||
| Electrification | 25 kV 50 Hz AC overhead catenary | ||
| Average speed | 45 km/h (28 mph) | ||
| Top speed | 100 km/h (62 mph) | ||
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The Kolkata Suburban Railway (colloquially called Kolkata local trains or simply locals) is a suburban and regional rail system serving the Kolkata metropolitan area and its surroundings in West Bengal, India. It's network has 458 stations and a track length of 1,501 km (933 mi) making it the largest suburban railway network in the country, and also one of the largest in the world. There are five main lines and nineteen branch lines. It operates more than 1,500 services, carrying 3.5 million people daily and 1.2 billion people every year. It runs from IST 03:00 am until 02:00 am approximately and fares range from Rs.5 to Rs.25. The system is electrified with 25 kV 50 Hz AC overhead line and runs on 5 ft 6 in (1,676 mm) broad gauge track. It has interchange stations with the Kolkata Metro at various locations.
The Kolkata Suburban Railway is part of the second passenger railway constructed in British India during the mid 19th century. The first train ran between Howrah and Hooghly stations. A hundred years after the initial run, EMU services began.
The system is operated by two zones of Indian Railways; Eastern Railway and South Eastern Railway. These zones are further divided into railway divisions of Howrah and Sealdah for the ER and Kharagpur for the SER. Howrah, Sealdah and Kolkata railway station are the three major terminals serving the network in the city. Shalimar and Santragachi Junction are also two major termini stations for mail/express trains as well as passenger/fast passenger trains.