First EMU train services of Eastern Railway between Howrah-Seoraphuli

First EMU train services of Eastern Railway between Howrah-Seoraphuli

60 YEARS OF FIRST EMU SERVICES OVER-Eastern Railway

• COMMEMORATIVE RUN OF HOWRAH – SEORAPHULI EMU TRAIN SERVICE

The commemorative run of 60 years of first EMU train services of Eastern Railway between Howrah and Seoraphuli was flagged off by the eldest Guard & Driver working in ER, who are going to retire this month of December & next month January, Shri Swapan Kumar Modi, Guard and Shri Sekhar Chattopadhyay, Driver (Motorman) in presence of Shri Harindra Rao, General Manager, Eastern Railway at Howrah station this morning.

The EMU services in Eastern Railway was introduced for the first time in December 1957 between Howrah and Seorphuli of Howrah Division. Since suburban trains hauled by steam engines in Howrah and Sealdah Divisions had reached their saturation, it was felt that electric traction was the only alternative. As a sequel to this line of thinking, the first electric train travelled from Howrah to Seoraphuli on December 12, 1957.

On this occasion, Shri Harindra Rao, General Manager, Eastern Railway said that it is a historic event to celebrate the commemorative run of the EMU train which was flagged off by the then Prime Minister, Pt. Jawaharlal Nehru in presence of the then Railway Minister Babu Jagjivan Ram & the then Chief Minister of West Bengal, Dr. B. C. Roy on December 12, 1957. With the introduction of the EMU trains on that august day, today Eastern Railway has a proud position to run 1393 EMU train services, including 476 EMU services in Howrah Division and 917 EMU services in Sealdah Division every day for the benefit of the passengers.

He also pointed out that Seoraphuli – Barddhaman, Seoraphuli – Tarakeswar branches were electrified by December 1965. The electrification of Howrah – Barddhaman Chord and Calcutta Chord link were completed in 1966 which ushered in a new era of faster and comfortable train journey for the commuters.

Shri Rao also said that great stress has been laid for even further improvement of EMU train services of both Howrah and Sealdah Divisions so that passengers can enjoy faster, comfortable and secured train journey to reach their destinations. All out efforts have also been made to maintain even better punctuality of EMU services over Eastern Railway.

Shri Sudhir Agrawal, Addl. General Manager, Eastern Railway and Shri Manu Goel, Divisional Railway Manager, Howrah were also present on the occasion.

Source : er.indianrailways.gov.in