Ludhiana–Fazilka line

The Ludhiana–Fazilka line is a railway line connecting Ludhiana and Fazilka both in the Indian state of the Punjab . The line is under the administrative jurisdiction of Northern Railway.

Ludhiana–Fazilka line
Overview
SystemDiesel-operated
StatusOperational
LocalePunjab
TerminiLudhiana
Fazilka
Operation
Opened1905
OwnerIndian Railway
Operator(s)Northern Railway
Depot(s)Ludhiana
Technical
Track length212 km (132 mi)
Number of tracks1 (Single line)
Track gauge1,676 mm (5 ft 6 in) broad gauge
Highest elevationLudhiana 246 m (807 ft), Fazilka 181 m (594 ft)

History

The Southern Punjab Railway Co. opened the Delhi-Bhatinda-Samasatta line in 1897.[1] The line passed through Muktasar and Fazilka tehsils and provided direct connection through Samma Satta (now in Pakistan) to Karachi. The extension from the Macleodganj (later renamed Mandi Sadiqganj and now in Pakistan) railway line to Ludhiana was opened by the same company in 1905.[2]

Railway border crossings

Fazilka and Hussainiwala on this line are two defunct railway border crossing points on the India-Pakistan border.

After partition of India, a line linked Amrooka on the Pakistan side of the India-Pakistan border, opposite Fazilka, to Samma Satta. The only train running through these tracks was withdrawn in 2011.[3]

The Hussainiwala-Ganda Singh Wala railway crossing, near Firozpur, became defunct with the partition of India. The broad gauge spur from Kasur Junction in Pakistan has been closed.[4] A strategically important bridge that was blown up during the Indo-Pakistani War of 1971 at Hussainiwala, has been rebuilt and opened in 2013.[5]

Loco sheds

Ludhiana diesel shed holds 170+ locos including WDM-2, WDM-3A and WDG-3A. Ludhiana electric loco shed was commissioned in 2001 and houses WAM-4, WAG-5 and WAG-7 locos.[6]

Developments

The 42 km (26 mi) new 1,676 mm (5 ft 6 in) wide broad gauge line between Fazilka and Abohar was opened in 2012.[7]

The Indian Railways have been considering proposals for converting the existing Ludhiana-Firozpur single line into a double line.[8]

Passenger movement

Ludhiana is the only station on this line which is amongst the top hundred booking stations of Indian Railway.[9]

Railway reorganisation

Sind Railway (later reorganised as Sind, Punjab and Delhi Railway) was formed a guaranteed railway in 1856.[10] It constructed broad gauge railways from Delhi to Multan via Lahore, and from Karachi to Kotri. Multan and Kotri were connected by ferry service on the Indus River. In 1871-72, Indus Valley Railway was formed to connect Multan and Kotri. At the same time, Punjab Northern State Railway started constructing from Lahore towards Peshawar. In 1886, Sind, Punjab and Delhi Railway was acquired by the state and amalgamated with Indus Valley Railway and Punjab Northern State Railway to form North-Western State Railway.[11] Southern Punjab Railway was taken over by the state and merged with North Western Railway in 1930.[12]

With the partition of India in 1947, North Western Railway was split. While the western portion became Pakistan West Railway, and later Pakistan Railways, the eastern part became Eastern Punjab Railway.[13] In 1952,Northern Railway was formed with a portion of East Indian Railway Company west of Mughalsarai, Jodhpur Railway, Bikaner Railway and Eastern Punjab Railway.[14]

References
  1. "IR History: Early Days II (1870-1899)". Retrieved 20 February 2014.
  2. "Chapter VII Communications". Archived from the original on 23 February 2014. Retrieved 20 February 2014.
  3. "Bahawalnagar rail junction a relic from 1901". The Nation 14 November 2011. Retrieved 20 February 2014.
  4. Bhuyan, Mohan. "International Links from India". IRFCA. Retrieved 20 February 2014.
  5. Sharma, Dinesh K. "40 years after war, bridge opens near Hussainiwla borer". The Times of India, 5 December 2013. Retrieved 20 February 2014.
  6. "Sheds and workshops". IRFCA. Retrieved 25 January 2014.
  7. "Rail link between Abohar, Fazilka opens today". Hindustan Times, 15 July 2012. Archived from the original on 13 March 2014. Retrieved 20 February 2014.
  8. "Railways to convert Ludhiana-Ferozepur into double line". The Times of India, 30 December 2009. Retrieved 20 February 2014.
  9. "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 20 February 2014.
  10. "Sind Railway". fibis. Retrieved 20 February 2014.
  11. "Digital South Asia Library". Imperial Gazetteer of India, v. 3, p. 398. Archived from the original on 2 February 2014. Retrieved 20 February 2014.
  12. "Southern Punjab Railway". fibis. Retrieved 20 February 2014.
  13. SM Imamul Haque. "Management of Indian Railways, 1989". Readings in Indian Railway Finance by KB Verma, P 136. Mittal Publications,A 1/8 Mohan Garden, New Delhi 110059. ISBN 81-7099-183-8. Retrieved 20 February 2014.
  14. "Geography – Railway Zones". IRFCA. Retrieved 20 February 2014.
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