Kolkata: The Sealdah Railway Division will introduce 14 new local train services from July 6, 2026, across six suburban sections to handle rising passenger
demand and reduce peak-hour crowding. The move is expected to help daily commuters who use the busy suburban network for office, school, market trips and metro connections.
The new services will cover key routes including Sealdah-Barasat, Diamond Harbour, Canning, Lakkhikantopur, Dum Dum Cantonment-Hasnabad, Krishnanagar, and Shantipur-Krishnanagar-Amghata sections. Officials said the plan includes two EMU services on the Sealdah-Barasat section, including one air-conditioned train.
New trains for busy suburban sections
According to railway officials, two trains each will be added on multiple sections. For regular passengers, even one extra local during rush hour can change the mood of the day. Less pushing at the door, maybe a little space to stand, and sometimes even the rare miracle of a seat.
Rajeev Saxena, Divisional Railway Manager of Sealdah, said, “This new plan is a direct response to passengers daily travel needs and designed to cut down peak-hour crowding, offer better comfort, and provide smoother metro connectivity.”
He added, “We are fully committed to constantly listening to our commuters and upgrading our network to ensure their daily journeys are reliable, safe, and completely hassle-free.”
Circular Line services may be reworked
The Sealdah Division is also planning to restructure Circular Line suburban services to address platform shortage at Kolkata station, also known as KOAA. The aim is to make Kolkata station a major coaching terminal in future.
Officials said a six-hour corridor from 11.15 am to 5.15 pm is being planned to free Platform 1 at KOAA for long-distance trains. During this off-peak period, some trains may originate from Tala station.
Why Kolkata station needs changes
Railway officials said Platform 1 at Kolkata station is the only platform with direct concourse access. It is currently tied up for suburban operations from 7.30 am to 9 pm daily.
Saxena said, “The primary objective of this restructuring of Circular Line is to address acute platform scarcity at Kolkata Station (KOAA) triggered by a steady rise in long-distance Mail, Express, and Train on demand (TOD) services.”
With other platforms close to full use, long-distance passengers have faced delays and congestion. The new plan now tries to balance suburban demand with long-distance train operations.
