Jodhpur–Bathinda line

The Jodhpur–Bathinda line connects Jodhpur, in the Indian state of Rajasthan to Bathinda in the Punjab, via Dabwali Railway in Haryana. During the British Raj, Bathinda was on the Delhi–Karachi line and after independence and partition of India in 1947, it is on the Delhi–Fazilka line. This line operates under the jurisdiction of North Western Railway.

Jodhpur–Bathinda line
Jodhpur Junction an important railway station on Jodhpur–Bathinda line
Overview
StatusOperational
OwnerIndian Railways
LocaleFringe areas of Thar desert, Rajasthan and small sections of Haryana and Punjab
Termini
Service
Operator(s)North Western Railway
History
Opened1901–02
Technical
Track length600 km (373 mi)
Track gauge1,676 mm (5 ft 6 in) broad gauge
ElectrificationYes
Operating speed110 km/h (68 mph)
Highest elevationJodhpur 241 m (791 ft), Bathinda 208 m (682 ft)
Route map

km
600
Bathinda
590
Gursar Sahnewala
583
Sangat
575
Bagwali
571
Pathrala
565
Mandi Dabwali
556
Birang Khera
545
Dhaban
535
Sangaria
520
Manaksar
509
Hanumangarh
496
Dabli Rathan
483
Pili Bangan
475
Amarpura Rathan
467
Rangmahal
458
Suratgarh
451
Pipran
441
Biradhwal
427
Rajiyasar
412
Arjansar
395
Mahajan
378
Malkisar
368
Nathwala
356
Lunkaransar
State Highway 6A
343
Dalmera
326
Baman Wali (Halt)
319
Jagdevwala
308
Jamsar
292
Kanasar
280
Lalgarh
State Highway 15
276
Bikaner Junction
Rani Bazaar Bridge
Bikaner Bypass Road
262
Udramsar
Udramsar-Ambasar Road
Udramsar-Sujasar Road
253
Palana
Palana-Sujasar Road
Palana-Deshnoke Road
244
Deshnoke
Kesardesar Jatan-Rasisar Road
Sova-Rasisar Road
Surpura-Rasisar Bas Bara Road
Surpura-Bhamatsar Road
229
Surpura
Surpura-Hiyandesar Road
Saloodiya-Nokha Gaon Road
Madiya-Bikasar Road
State Highway 20
212
Nokha
RK Puram Road
Sri Balaji-Nokha Road
198
Chilo
Sri Balaji-Kakkoo Road
195
Sri Bala Ji
Shri Balaji-Alai Road
Chhelaa-Alai Road
183
Alai
174
Badwasi
State Highway 19
160
Nagaur
143
Marwar Munwdwa
State Highway 39
127
Khajwana
118
Deswal
110
Marwar Chapri
Merta City
103
Merta Road
93
Jogi Magra
83
Gotan
76
Kharia Khangarh
Birla White Cement
66
Umed
56
Sathin Road
Bilara
Pipar City
State Highway 58
47
Pipar Road
40
Kheri Salwa
State Highway 58
31
Asrananda
23
Jajiwal
State Highway 63
14
Banar
8
Jodhpur Cantt
2
Raikabagh Palace
0
Jodhpur
Source: Google Maps
Jodhpur–Bhatinda Passenger

History

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A 1,000 mm (3 ft 3+38 in)-wide metre-gauge line from Marwar Junction to Pali was built by the Rajputana Railway in 1882. It was extended to Luni in 1884 and Jodhpur in 1885. It formed the first Jodhpur Railway. It later became part of Jodhpur–Bikaner Railway.[1][2]

In 1889, the Bikaner Princely State and Jodhpur Princely State started constructing the Jodhpur–Bikaner Railway within the Rajputana Agency. In 1891 the metre gauge Jodhpur – Merta Road sector was opened on 8 April, the Merta Road–Nagaur sector on 16 October, and the Nagaur–Bikaner sector on 9 December. In 1901–02, the metre-gauge line was extended to Bathinda. The Jodhpur–Bikaner line was extended to Bathinda in 1901–02 to connect it with the metre-gauge section of the Bombay, Baroda and Central India Railway and the metre gauge of North Western Railway Delhi–Fazilka line via Hanumangarh.

Sometime around or prior to 1991, the construction work for the conversion from meter gauge to 1,676 mm (5 ft 6 in)-wide 5 ft 6 in (1,676 mm) broad gauge of the Jodhpur–Bikaner line, along with the link to Phulera, were started,[3] and it was already functioning as broad gauge Jodhpur–Merta City–Bikaner–Bathinda line by 2008.[4]

Passenger movement

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Jodhpur is the only railway station on this line which is amongst the top hundred booking stations of Indian Railways.[5]

Workshops

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The former metre-gauge workshop at Jodhpur now performs periodic overhauling of broad-gauge passenger coaches. The former metre-gauge workshop at Bikaner (Lalgarh) workshop carries out periodic overhauling of broad-gauge coaches and wagons.[6]

References

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  1. ^ "Jodhpur–Bikaner Railway". fibis. Archived from the original on 2 February 2014. Retrieved 5 May 2014.
  2. ^ "IR History: Part II (1870-1899)". IRFCA. Retrieved 5 May 2014.
  3. ^ "Written answers to Question asked in Parliament". Railway expansion programme in Rajasthan. Government of India. Archived from the original on 8 May 2014. Retrieved 7 May 2014.
  4. ^ "Railway line along Indian border". Press Information Bureau, Govt. of India, 21 April 2008. Retrieved 7 May 2014.
  5. ^ "Indian Railways Passenger Reservation Enquiry". Availability in trains for Top 100 Booking Stations of Indian Railways. Archived from the original on 10 May 2014. Retrieved 5 May 2014.
  6. ^ "Sheds and workshops". IRFCA. Retrieved 5 May 2014.
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