Trams in Kolkata


The Kolkata Tram System, is a tram system that serves Kolkata, the capital city of the Indian state of West Bengal, operated by West Bengal Transport Corporation after Calcutta Tramways Company was merged with WBTC. Being started in 1873 Kolkata tram is the second oldest operating tram network in the world after Turin. Being electrified in 1902, Calcutta became the first Asian City with electric tramway. The Kolkata Tram is the only tram system operating now in India.
With the help of periodic negligence, the Government of West Bengal had formed systematic initiatives to suspend the entire tram network from the city and sell properties. However, an apolitical organization named Calcutta Tram Users Association was formed in 2016 to advocate in favor of Kolkata's tram system.
The network initially had up to 37 lines in the 1960s, but has gradually reduced over the years with only two lines currently operating due to financial struggles, poor maintenance, low ridership, addition of road flyovers, expansion of the Kolkata Metro, slow tram speed and perceptions that the trams are outdated and occupy too much road space. There are currently 2 tram routes running which are route 25 and route 5.

History

1873–1901: Horse-drawn trams

The first horse-drawn trams in India ran for between Sealdah and Armenian Ghat Street on 24 February 1873. The service was discontinued on 20 November of that year. The Calcutta Tramway Company was formed and registered in London on 22 December 1880. Meter-gauge horse-drawn tram tracks were laid from Sealdah to Armenian Ghat via Bowbazar Street, Dalhousie Square, and Strand Road. The route was inaugurated by the Viceroy, Lord Ripon, on 1 November 1880.
At first, it was planned to open tram network in three directions – in north towards Kumartuli via Chitpur Road for easy transportation of then-rich Indians, middle-classes and poor who lived in those areas, in the east towards Sealdah stations via Bowbazar Street for railway passengers' interchange who come from outside of Kolkata, and in the south towards Kalighat via Russa Road because not only for easy transportation of then-rich Indians, middle-classes and poor who lived at those areas but also as a Hindu pilgrimage regarding Kali temple for inhabitants and tourists. Kalighat tram depot was also constructed at that, time, which was also a minor workshop for all horse trams. Besides this the city center connection between Dharmatala & Dalhousie Square was also established via Old Court House Street. One year later, a second route towards north Kolkata up to Shyambazar via College Street was opened for residents and students of medical college, university, and various schools & colleges. A second route from Wellington Square to Sealdah Station via Moula Ali was also opened for more transportation of railway passengers. Sealdah tram terminus was at that place where Sealdah metro station of the Kolkata metro line 2 is. At the same time, the first opening a westward tram route was opened by the High Court via Strand Road was connected by tram network for pleaders, law-related peoples, and river-bathers of Ganga. High Court tram terminus was at that place where now the annexure building of the High Court is situated. Another connection from Metcalf Hall towards Nimtala via Strand Road was also opened for serving the crematorium and serving of businessmen. Nimtala tram terminus was at that place beside of the red temple building is now situated. By opening those routes, Shyambazar, High Court, Nimtala, Sealdah, Dalhousie Square, Dharmatala and Kalighat area was connected by horse tram. Kalighat was the only depot at that time, so it was the oldest tram depot.

Timeline

  • 1873 – Opening of horse tram as meter gauge, closure in the same year.
  • 1880 – Final opening of horse tram as a permanent system. Calcutta Tramways Company was established.
  • 1881 – Dalhousie Square – Lalbazar - Bowbazar – Lebutala - Sealdah Station route opened. Esplanade – Lalbazar – Pagyapatti – Companybagan - Shobhabazar – Kumortuli route opened. Dalhousie Square – Esplanade connection opened. The connection was improved at Lalbazar Junction for through running trams from Dalhousie Square to Kumortuli. Esplanade – Planetarium - Hazra Park – Kalighat route opened.. Occasional through service started from Kumortuli to Kalighat either via Esplanade or via Dalhousie Square.
  • 1882 - Esplanade – Wellington Square – Bowbazar – Boipara - Hatibagan - Shyambazar Junction route opened. The connection was improved at Bowbazar Junction for through running trams from Dalhousie Square to Shyambazar. Wellington Square – Moula Ali - Sealdah Station route opened. Dalhousie Square – Metcalfe Hall - High Court route opened. Direct tram service from Sealdah Station to High Court started. Metcalfe Hall – Howrah Bridge – Nimtala route opened. Direct tram service from Esplanade to Nimtala started. At this time steam tram service was thought.

    1883–1902: Steam trams

In 1882, steam locomotives were deployed experimentally to haul tram cars. In the next year a new route opened for steam tram service towards Khidirpur. Tram tracks were laid down via Dufferin Road through maidan, and on reserved track for high-speed steam trams for morning walkers, tourists, race-course goers, and peoples living on those area. Khidirpur tram depot was also constructed at that time, which was also a minor workshop for all steam trams. It was followed by a south-central branch towards from Wellington Square to Park Street via Wellesley Street. After a long sixteen years gap, the Nimtala route was connected with Company Bagan line via Nimtala Ghat Street, and the Dharmatala – Nimtala service was changed to steam tram. At this time horse trams ran on Shyambazar, Sealdah, High Court & Kalighat routes, and steam trams ran on Nimtala, Park Street & Khidirpur route. The Dharmatala – Wellington Square section and Esplanade – Metcalfe Hall section, were served by both horse and steam trams until 1901. Khidirpur & Kalighat were the only steam & horse tram depot at that time respectively.
By the end of the century, the company owned 166 tram cars, 1,000 horses, seven steam locomotives, and 19 miles of track.

Timeline

  • 1883 - Esplanade – Racecourse - Wattganj – Khidirpur route opened
  • 1884 - Wellington Square – Park Street route opened
  • 1900 - Nimtala – Companybagan route opened. Electrification & conversion to standard gauge was started.

    1902–1951: Electric trams

In 1900, the electrification of the tramway and conversion of its tracks to began. The first electric tramcar in Calcutta ran from Esplanade to Kidderpore on 27 March 1902, with service from Esplanade to Kalighat introduced on 14 June of that year. Both Kalighat & Khidirpur tram depot was converted to electric tram depot. The connecting route through Grey Street was opened in that year for a second route between Shyambazar and Dharmatala. The Nonapukur Workshop was established also in that year, from where the track connection up to Wellesley Street opened via Elliott Road, after which the Park Street branch closed. Now the major repairing of the horse, steam and electric trams was started at Nonapukur. In next year, the Kalighat line was extended to Tollygunge for serving the then south suburban area and film studios via Russa Road. Tollygunge tram depot was also constructed at that time, which was the largest tram depot in terms of area. The Shyambazar line was also extended to Belgachia for serving the then north suburban area, hospital, and rail yards via Belgachhia Road. Belgachhia tram depot and Shyambazar tram terminus were also opened in this year. In next year, The Kumourtuli line was extended to Bagbazar, after which the Kumortuli terminus was closed. Bagbazar tram terminus was at that place where now a lorry parking area beside the circular railway track. A new route from Sealdah Station to Howrah Bridge via Harrison Road was opened on next year, for serving the businessmen, residents, ferry passengers and railway passengers for Howrah Station. At that time the electrification project was completed.
Two years later, the connection between Nonapukur and Moula Ali opened via Circular Road, and after that tram service started from Nonapukur to Howrah Bridge via Sealdah station. A branch up to Mominpur was also opened from Wattganj via Diamond Harbour Road, but at that time direct access was constructed through Orphanganjbazar. In next year a new branch was constructed from Shyambazar Junction to Galiff Street via Cornwallis Street, and occasional tram service was also started from Galiff Street to Dharmatala. Side by side the Mominpur branch was also extended up to Behala, another then south suburban area via Diamond Harbour Road. At that time Behala tram terminus was at right side of Diamond Harbour Road. The connecting route through Alipur Road was also opened in that year for a tram connection between Behala & Kalighat, also a second route between Kalighat and Dharmatala.
At that time, tram service was opened in Howrah City. From Howrah Station, two routes were selected. One towards north up to Bandhaghat via Dobson Road, another towards south up to Shibpur via Grand Trunk Road. For shibpur route, a single coach double-ended tram was selected due to the lack of creating a loop at Shibpur. For Howrah service, a new depot was constructed at Ghasbagan. Hence then the old Howrah Bridge was a pontoon bridge, it was not possible to connect Kolkata tram and Howrah tram directly.
Two years later, the Sealdah Station to Rajabazar route opened in 1910. Rajabazar tram depot was also constructed at that time, which was the largest tram depot in terms of track number.
After a long 15 years gap, new tram route construction had started again in 1925. The Nonapukur line was extended to Park Circus via Park Street for serving residents and circus goers of that area. Park Circus tram depot was also constructed at that time. In the next year, the direct access of the Behala line via Orphanganjbazar was replaced by present alignment via Wattganj junction for smooth tram service. A new terminus near Racecourse was constructed in next year for race special trams towards Belgachhia, Bagbazar, Galiff Street, Rajabazar, High Court, Nimtala, Park Circus, Tollygunge, Behala & Khidirpur. In the next year, a new branch was constructed from Kalighat to Ballygunge, another then south suburb of Kolkata via Ballygunge Avenue.
After again a long 13 years gap, new tram route construction had started again in 1941. The Rajabazar line was extended to connect with Galiff Street line at Shyambazar junction via Circular Road. Two years later, when new Howrah Bridge was opened, tram service started crossing the river Hooghly and connecting Kolkata & Howrah tram network. Very few times trams from Shibpur and Bandhaghat came towards Dharmatala and Rajabazar. In the same year, the Park Circus line was extended to connect with the Ballygunge line at Gariahat junction via Gariahat Road. Gariahat tram depot was also constructed at that time. With this extension, total track length reached.