Sealdah Division’s AC local fleet leaps with rising passenger occupancy

In order to facilitate access to historical, religious and educational places in the districts of South Bengal, the Sealdah Division of the Eastern Railway has launched a fleet of air-conditioned local trains. A few months after the start of local air-conditioned train services, locals are operating at 80 percent to 100 percent occupancy.

Air-conditioned services were introduced on three major routes of Sealdah Division in August, September and December 2025. Divisional Railway Manager Sealdah Division Rajeev Saxena said that Krishnanagar was considered as the first destination due to its historical and religious significance, while Kalyani town was considered due to the presence of high concentration of educational institutions and Ranaghat being an important commercial centre.

“Krishnanagar is a major railway junction serving as a major entry point for visitors traveling to Mayapur, home to the world headquarters and magnificent temple complex of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON), which attracts devotees from all over the world,” Mr. Saxena said.

Services of Krishnanagar -Sealdah air-conditioned local trains, which started in the first week of September 2025, operate all week long, including Sundays, with trains leaving early in the morning and returning in the afternoon. On December 1, the passenger occupancy rate of the Krishnanagar-Sealdah section was 83.29%.

Apart from connecting with the religious town of Krishnanagar in Nadia district of West Bengal, the Sealdah Division has also introduced air-conditioned locals between Sealdah and Ranaghat, another important destination in Nadia district. Air-conditioned community services were introduced in August 2025, and by December 1, the passenger occupancy rate of the section had increased to almost 90%.

Another addition to the Sealdah section is the introduction of these full-fledged AC local services throughout the Kalyani Sealdah section, DRM said. “Kalyani is home to many renowned universities, important educational and research centres, requiring easy and reliable transportation for students. Recognizing the critical role of Kalyani as a growing educational and medical hub, the Sealdah Division has also introduced AC local services to improve connectivity to Kalyani for students and patients,” the railway official said.

Officials of Eastern Railway’s Sealdah Division say the expansion of the AC local fleet on these key routes is taking people away from road traffic congestion by ensuring commuters have a high level of comfort and reliability at a highly competitive price point. These are the first successful attempts to introduce air-conditioned local trains in West Bengal.