Asansol–Patna section

The Asansol–Patna section is a railway line connecting Asansol in the Indian state of West Bengal and Patna in Bihar. The 331 km (206 mi) line passes through the fringe areas of West Bengal, a portion of Santhal Parganas in Jharkhand and the Gangetic Plain in Bihar.

Asansol–Patna section
Kiul Junction is an important railway station at Asansol–Patna section
Overview
StatusOperational
OwnerIndian Railways
LocaleWest Bengal, Jharkhand, Bihar
Termini
Service
Operator(s)Eastern Railway, East Central Railway
History
Opened1871
Technical
Line length331 km (206 mi)
Number of tracks2
Track gauge5 ft 6 in (1,676 mm) broad gauge
Electrification25 kV 50 Hz AC OHLE in 1960–61 and during 1994–95 and 2000–01
Operating speedup to 130 km/h
Route map

km
to
Patna–Mughalsarai section
of Howrah–Delhi main line
to Patna–Gaya line
331
Patna Junction
329
Rajendra Nagar Terminal
NH19-IN.svg NH 19
325
Gulzarbagh
322
Patna Sahib
Patna Ghat
319
Deedarganj
315
Banka Ghat
Punpun River
SH4-IN jct.svg SH 4
309
Fatuha Junction
to Fatuha–Tilaiya line
307
Buddhdevchak Yadav Nagar
306
Harasbigha
301
Khusropur
297
Manjhauligram (Halt)
295
Salimpur
293
Karauta
291
Teka Bigha (Halt)
286
Bakhtiyarpur Junction
to Bakhtiyarpur–Tilaiya line
280
Jai Prakash Mahuli
277
Athmal Gola
274
Achuara
268
Barh
266
Sabari (Halt)
Barh Super Thermal Power Station
(NTPC Limited)
262
Railey (Halt)
260
Lemuabad
258
Punarakh
255
Memrakhabad
253
Kanhaipur
249
Mor
247
Barhapur (Halt)
244
Shivnar (Halt)
Bharat Wagon and Engineering
242
Mokama Junction
238
Auta (Halt)
NH31-IN.svg NH 31
237
Tall
to Mokama–Barauni section
234
Hathidah Junction
230
Rampur Dumra
224
Barhiya
222
Ganga Sahay
220
Dumri (Halt)
217
Dhurani Jwas (Halt)
215
Mankatha
to Gaya–Kiul line
209
Lakhisarai Junction
Kiul River
208
Kiul Junction
to Sahibganj loop
206
Mahesh Leta (Halt)
205
Lakhochak (Halt)
204
Bansipur
203
Balaharpur (Halt)
201
Manakpur
198
Bhalui
191
Kunder (Halt)
SH72-IN jct.svg SH 72
181
Jamui
178
Chaura
166
Gidhaur
162
Dadpur
155
Jhajha
151
Rajla
147
Narganjo (Halt)
142
Ghorparan
136
Simultala
133
Telwa Bazar
Bihar
Jharkhand
border
126
Lahabon
118
Tulsitanr
Dahwa River
NH333-IN.svg NH 333
111
Jasidih Junction
to Jasidih–Dumka–Rampurhat line
104
Kumrabad Rohini
Ajay River
99
Sankarpur
93
Mathurapur
87
Nawapatra
Pathrol River
to Madhupur–Giridih–Koderma line
82
Madhupur Junction
72
Joramow
Jayanti River
66
Madankata
57
Vidyasagar
Mihijam–Madhupur Road
48
Kaseetar
Mihijam–Madhupur Road
39
Jamtara
Mihijam–Madhupur Road
Mihijam–Madhupur Road
30
Bodma
25
Chittaranjan
Jharkhand
West Bengal
border
Asansol–Chittaranjan Road
Chittaranjan Locomotive Works
21
Rupnarayanpur
Damgoria Colliery
13
Salanpur
Bonjemahari Colliery
NH2-IN.svg NH 2
to
Asansol–Gaya section
of Howrah–Gaya–Delhi line
9
Sitarampur
5
Barachak
to Asansol–Tatanagar–Kharagpur line
0
Asansol Junction
Bardhaman–Asansol section

History

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The first rail track between Howrah and Delhi was via what was later named as Sahibganj loop and the first through train on the route was run in 1864. The Kiul–Patna sector was ready around 1862. A "shorter main line" connecting Raniganj and Kiul Junction was in position in 1871 and the opening of the Grand Chord in 1907 shortened the distance from Howrah to Delhi even further.[1][2][3]

Electrification

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The Asansol–Sitarampur sector was electrified in 1960–61 and the rest of the Asansol–Patna section was electrified during the period 1994–95 to 2000–2001. Sector-wise progress was as follows: Sitarampur–Chittaranjan 1994–95, Chittaranjan–Jamtara 1995–96, Jamtara–Jasidih 1996–97, Jasidih–Narganjo 1997–98, Narganjo–Jhajha 1998–99, Jhajha–Kiul in 1997–98, Kiul–Mankatha 1999–2000, Mankatha–Barhaiya 2000–01, Barhaiya–Mokama 1999–2000 Mokama–Fatuha 1998–99, Fatuha–Danapur 1999–2000.[4]

Speed limit

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The entire Sitarampur–Patna–Mughalsarai line is classified as "B Class" line, where trains can run at speeds up to 130 km/h.[5]

Passenger movement

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Patna and Asansol, on this line, are amongst the top hundred booking stations of Indian Railway.[6]

Sheds and workshops

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Chittaranjan Locomotive Works, one of the largest electric locomotive manufacturers in the world, is located on this line. Initially started for manufacturing steam locomotives, it went into production on 26 January 1950, the day when India became a republic. It now produces AC and DC locomotives and accessories.[7]

Asansol is home to the oldest electric loco shed of Indian Railways. It houses WAG-5 and WAM-4 electric locomotives.[8]

Railway reorganisation

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In 1952, Eastern Railway, Northern Railway and North Eastern Railway were formed. Eastern Railway was formed with a portion of East Indian Railway Company, east of Mughalsarai and Bengal Nagpur Railway. Northern Railway was formed with a portion of East Indian Railway Company west of Mughalsarai, Jodhpur Railway, Bikaner Railway and Eastern Punjab Railway. North Eastern Railway was formed with Oudh and Tirhut Railway, Assam Railway and a portion of Bombay, Baroda and Central India Railway.[9] East Central Railway was created in 1996–97.[10]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ Indian Railway History Time line by R. P. Saxena
  2. ^ "IR History: Early days I (1832–1869)". IRFCA. Retrieved 28 March 2014.
  3. ^ "IR History: Early days II (1870–1899)". Retrieved 28 March 2014.
  4. ^ "History of Electrification". IRFCA. Retrieved 28 March 2014.
  5. ^ "Permanent Way". Track Classifications. Retrieved 28 March 2014.
  6. ^ "Indian Railways Passenger Reservation Enquiry". Availability in trains for Top 100 Booking Stations of Indian Railways. IRFCA. Archived from the original on 10 May 2014. Retrieved 28 March 2014.
  7. ^ "Chittaranjan Locomotive Works". Indian Railwaya. Archived from the original on 19 March 2014. Retrieved 26 March 2014.
  8. ^ "Sheds and Workshops". IRFCA. Retrieved 26 March 2014.
  9. ^ "Geography – Railway Zones". IRFCA. Retrieved 28 March 2014.
  10. ^ "East Central Railway". ECR. Retrieved 28 March 2014.
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