Varanasi–Lucknow line
| Varanasi–Jaunpur-Faizabad-Lucknow line वाराणसी-जौनपुर-फैजाबाद-लखनऊ रेल लाइन including Allahabad–Jaunpur line इलाहाबाद-जौनपुर रेल लाइन | |
|---|---|
| Overview | |
| Status | Operational |
| Locale | Gangetic Plain in Uttar Pradesh |
| Termini |
Varanasi Lucknow |
| Stations |
On Varanasi-Lucknow line Jaunpur Junction, Faizabad Junction and Barabanki Junction On Jaunpur-Allahabad line Mariyahu, Janghai, Phulpur, Phaphamau. |
| Operation | |
| Opened | 1872 |
| Owner | Indian Railway |
| Operator(s) |
Northern Railway for main line North Central Railway partially for branch line |
| Depot(s) | Lucknow Alambagh |
| Technical | |
| Track length |
Via JNU,FD : 324 km (201 mi) Branch line: Allahabad-Jaunpur 114 km (71 mi) |
| Track gauge | 1,676 mm (5 ft 6 in) broad gauge Double Broad Gauge Sanctioned |
| Electrification | Main line Sanctioned |
| Operating speed | up to 100 km/h |
| Highest elevation |
Varanasi 82 m (269 ft) Lucknow 123 m (404 ft) |
The Varanasi–Jaunpur-Faizabad-Lucknow line (also known as Varanasi-Lucknow Via Faizabad Main line) is a railway line connecting Varanasi and Lucknow, both in the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh. The main line was subsequently extended to Bareilly, Moradabad and Saharanpur and the entire line was thought of as the "main line" of Oudh and Rohilkhand Railway. An important branch line, the Allahabad-Faizabad line, which meets the main line almost at right angles, is included here. The main line is under the administrative jurisdiction of Northern Railway, a portion of the branch line is under the jurisdiction of North Central Railway.
History
The Oudh and Rohilkhand Railway opened the 1,676 mm (5 ft 6 in) wide broad gauge line from Varanasi to Lucknow in 1872.[1][2] The line was extended to Faizabad as ‘Faizabad Loop’.[3]
The Curzon Bridge across the Ganges was opened in 1905 by the East Indian Railway Company and the 1,676 mm (5 ft 6 in) wide broad gauge Allahabad-Faizabad line was possibly opened the same year. It was operated by the Oudh and Rohilkhand Railway.[4]
The loop-line of the Oudh and Rohilkhand Railway from Benares through Fyzabad to Lucknow tiaverses the Jaunpur District from south to north, while the main line of the same railway crosses the south west corner. A branch from Zafarabad to Phaphamau on the Ganges is under construction ib n 1905, which will give access to Allahabad. Shahganj is connected with Azamgarh, and Jaunpur city with Ghazipur, by branches of the Bengal and North Western Railway.
Passenger movement
Varanasi and Lucknow on the main line, and Allahabad on a branch line are amongst the top hundred booking stations of Indian Railway.[5]
Sheds, workshops and manufacturing facilities
Lucknow diesel loco shed or Alambagh diesel shed is home to 160+ locomotives, including WDM-2, WDM-3A, WDM-3D, WDG-3A and WDG-4 varieties. Charbagh locomotive workshops handle periodical overhaul jobs. Allahabad has an engineering workshop.[6]
Diesel Locomotive Works at Varanasi initially assembled ALCO kits. Subsequently, with technology transfer from GM EMD, it produces advanced diesel locomotives with high efficiency and low maintenance costs. It produces around 240 locomotives annually.[7]
Railway reorganisation
Around 1872, the Indian Branch Railway Company was transformed into Oudh and Rohilkhand Railway.[8][9][10] Oudh and Rohilkhand Railway was merged with East Indian Railway Company in 1925.[11] dia took over the Bengal and North Western Railway and merged it with the Rohilkhand and Kumaon Railway to form the Oudh and Tirhut Railway in 1943.[12]
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 Mughal Sarai, 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.[13] East Central Railway was created in 1996-97.[14] North Central Railway was formed in 2003.[15]
References
- ↑ "IR History: Early Days II (1870-1899)". IRFCA. Retrieved 11 January 2014.
- ↑ "Oudh and Rohilkhand Railway". fibis. Retrieved 11 January 2014.
- ↑ "Oudh and Rohilkhand Railway". Management Ebooks. Retrieved 11 January 2014.
- ↑ "The Curzon Bridge at Allahabad". ice vitual library. Retrieved 11 January 2014.
- ↑ "Indian Railways Passenger Reservation Enquiry". Availability in trains for Top 100 Booking Stations of Indian Railways. IRFCA. Retrieved 11 January 2014.
- ↑ "Sheds and workshops". IRFCA. Retrieved 11 January 2014.
- ↑ "Production Units & Workshops". Diesel Loco Works, Varanasi. IRFCA. Retrieved 11 January 2014.
- ↑ "IR History: Early History (1832-1869)". IRFCA. Retrieved 11 January 2014.
- ↑ "The . Railway" (PDF). Old Martinian Association. Retrieved 11 January 2014.
- ↑ "Indian Branch Railway". fibis. Retrieved 11 January 2014.
- ↑ "IR History III : (1900-1947)". IRFCA. Retrieved 11 January 2014.
- ↑ "Bengal and North Western Railway". fibis. Retrieved 11 January 2014.
- ↑ "Geography – Railway Zones". IRFCA. Retrieved 11 January 2014.
- ↑ "East Central Railway". ECR. Retrieved 11 January 2014.
- ↑ "North Central Railway". NCR. Retrieved 11 January 2014.
