The 2 ft 6 in (762 mm)-wide narrow-gauge Purulia–Ranchi line was opened by Bengal Nagpur Railway in 1907.

[1][2] In 1907 Adra was connected to the Grand Chord at Gomoh with a 1,676 mm (5 ft 6 in) wide [[5 ft 6 in (1,676 mm) broad gauge|broad-gauge]] line.

[3] The construction of the 143 kilometres (89 mi) long broad gauge Chandrapura–Muri–Ranchi–Hatia line was started in 1957 and was completed in 1961.

[2][4] The narrow-gauge Purulia–Kotshila sector was converted to broad gauge in 1992.

WAP-7 locos serve the prestigious Howrah Rajdhani Express.