Sahibganj loop

The Sahibganj loop is a railway line connecting Khana Junction and Kiul Junction. Originally a part of the Howrah-Delhi main line, it was opened to traffic in 1866. With the construction of a shorter railway line for a part of the route, the 410 kilometres (250 mi) stretch was assigned a separate identity.

Sahibganj loop
Overview
Status	Operational
Locale	West Bengal, Jharkhand, Bihar
Termini	Khana Junction Kiul Junction
Operation
Opened	1866
Owner	Indian Railway
Operator(s)	Eastern Railway
Technical
Line length	410 km (255 mi)
Number of tracks	1/ 2
Track gauge	1,676 mm (5 ft 6 in) broad gauge
Route map Howrah–Delhi main line 427 301 Kiul Junction Howrah–Delhi main line 424 Rampur Halt 421 Dhanauri 418 Pawan Brahmasthan Halt 415 Uren 411 Kajra 406 Ghoghi Bariarpur 404 Abhaipur 400 Masudan 394 Dharhara 391 Amari Adalpur 388 Dashrathpur 387 Sarobag Halt 382 Jamalpur Junction to Barauni Barauni-Katihar section to Katihar 394 Sabdalpur Munger Rail cum Road Bridge over Ganga river 387 Munger 386 Purab Sarai 385 Sandalpur 384 Hatkarota Halt 383 Safiasarai 378 Patam Halt 376 Ratanpur 373 Rishikund Halt to Mananpur (planned) 371 Bariarpur 367 Kalyanpur Road 364 Ghorghat Halt 362 Kharia Pipra Halt 360 Ganganiyan 357 Kamarganj to Katoria (planned) 352 Sultanganj to Deoghar (planned) 350 Abjuganj 347 Maheshi 342 Akbarnagar 339 Chhit Makhanpur 337 Murarpur 332 Nathnagar 328 Bhagalpur Junction to Dumka 321 Sabour 314 Lailakh Mamlakha 308 Ghogha 302 Ekchari freight loop to NTPC Farakka Kahalgaon Super Thermal Power Station 298 Kahalgaon 290 Bikramshila 287 Shivanarayanpur 284 Lakshmipur Bhorang to Godda (planned) 278 Pirpainti 273 Ammapali 269 Mirza Cheuki 263 Karamtola Bihar Jharkhand border 254 Sahibganj 246 Sakrigali 247 Sakrigali Ghat 240 Maharajpur 233 Karanpurato 226 Taljhari 221 Kalian Chak 228 Rajmahal 220 Murli Halt 216 Tinpahar Junction 211 Dhamdhamia 207 Bakudi 179 Barharwa Junction Barharwa–Azimganj–Katwa loop 172 Gumani freight loop to NTPC Farakka 165 Kotalpokhar 157 Tilbhita to Godda(planned) 153 Pakur PANEM Coal Depot 147 Nagarnabi Jharkhand Bengal border 136 Rajgram 130 Banshlai Bridge Bansloi River 125 Murarai 117 Chatra to Azimganj 108 Nalhati Junction Brahmani River 101 Swadinpur Jasidih–Dumka–Rampurhat line 94 Rampurhat Junction 87 Tarapith Road 81 Mallarpur Panagarh–Morgram Highway Dwarka River 78 Gadadharpur Mayurakshi River to Chowrigacha (planned) 71 Sainthia Junction Andal–Sainthia branch line 63 Bataspur 58 Ahmadpur Junction Ahmadpur–Katwa line Bakreshwar River 49 Kopai Kopai River Andal–Sainthia branch line Siuri Andal–Sainthia branch line Purandarpur Abinashpur Mongoldihi Salan Kasba Prantik-Siuri line (planned) 43 Prantik 39 Bolpur Shantiniketan Ajay River 31 Bhedia 26 Pichkurir Dhal 20 Guskara Kunur River 15 Noadar Dhal 10 Banpas 4 Jhapater Dhal Howrah-Delhi main line Grand Chord 102 Sitarampur Bardhaman-Asansol section 0 Khana Junction Bardhaman-Asansol section

History

Railway transportation was introduced in India within 30 years of its maiden run in England.

The East Indian Railway Company which was formed on 1 June 1845, completed its survey for a railway line from Kolkata, then called Calcutta, to Delhi via Mirzapur in 1846. The company initially became defunct on refusal of government guarantee, which was given in 1849. Thereafter, an agreement was signed between East Indian Railway Company and the East India Company, for the construction and operation of an "experimental" line between Kolkata and Rajmahal, which would later be extended to Delhi via Mirzapur. Construction began in 1851.

On 15 August 1854, the first passenger train in the eastern section was operated up to Hooghly, 39 kilometres (24 mi) away. On 1 February 1855 the first train ran from Hooghly to Raniganj, 195 kilometres (121 mi) from Howrah. The priority accorded to the Raniganj section was because of the assurance of coal transportation.

The Khana Junction-Rajmahal section was complete in October 1859, crossing Ajay River on the way. The first train ran from Howrah to Rajmahal via Khana on 4 July 1860.[1][2] The Loop from Khana Junction to Kiul via Jamalpur, including the Monghyr branch, was ready in February 1862.[2]

From Rajmahal, construction progressed rapidly, moving westward along the banks of the Ganges, reaching Bhagalpur in 1861, Munger in February 1862, and opposite Varanasi (across the Ganges) in December 1862 and then on to Naini on the bank of the Yamuna. The work included EIR's first tunnel at Jamalpur and first major bridge across the Son River at Arrah.

During 1863-64, work progressed rapidly on the Allahabad-Kanpur-Tundla and Aligarh-Ghaziabad sections. The Yamuna bridge near Delhi was completed in 1864 and EIR established the Delhi terminus. The Yamuna bridge at Allahabad opened on 15 August 1865 and in 1866 Kolkata and Delhi were directly linked. The 1 Dn/ 2 Up Mail started running.

With the completion of the 406-kilometre (252 mi) long line connecting Raniganj with Kiul in 1871, a "shorter main line" was in position. Initially, it was called the chord line. However, as it attracted more traffic it was designated the main line and the original line became the Sahibganj loop.

After approx 150 years of operation, Sahibganj loop is converted in double line on 14-05-2019 except Ratanpur–Jamalpur section as construction of tunnel near Jamalpur is in progress. Train operation with Electric Loco in Kiul-Bhagalpur section is Started on 03-06-2019.

In the Rail Budget 2008, Bhagalpur was announced to be converted to as Railway Division and yet to be completed by ER. The new rail lines from Sultanganj to Deoghar announced and the construction yet to start . Bhagalpur to Dumka section is operational. Bhagalpur to Deoghar via Banka section is operational.

Bhagalpur Godda via Hanshdiya is under construction.

Branch lines

In 1863, the Indian Branch Railway Company, a private company opened the Nalhati–Azimganj branch line. The 27 kilometres (17 mi) track was initially a 4' gauge line. The track was subsequently converted to 5' 6" broad gauge. The Indian Branch Railway Company was purchased by the Government of India in 1872 and the line was renamed Nalhati State Railway. It became a part of the East Indian Railway Company in 1892.[3]

In 1913, the Hooghly–Katwa Railway constructed a line from Bandel to Katwa, and the Barharwa–Azimganj–Katwa railway constructed the Barharwa–Azimganj–Katwa loop line.

The Andal-Sainthia Branch Line was built in 1913.

The 53 kilometres (33 mi) long Ahmedpur Katwa Light Railway connecting Ahmadpur Junction railway station and Katwa Junction railway station, built on 760 millimetres (30 in), was opened to traffic on 29 September 1917.[4]

Bhagalpur to Dumka section is operational. Bhagalpur to Deoghar section via Banka is operational.

Mirjachauki–Godda and Godda–Hanshdiya is under construction. Bhagalpur will directly connect with Godda via Hanshdiya.

Developments

Only Ratanpur to Jamalpur of the Sahibganj Loop is still operating on single track. Work of construction of Second Tunnel Near Janalpur is in progress. Second tunnel work near Jamalpur is likely to be completed by 2021. Twenty-one pairs of trains ply between Bhagalpur and Sahibganj.

New Rail Line From Pakur-Godda and Bashukinath Dham - Chatra is proposed. Work for doubling the 111-kilometre long (69 mi) stretch started in 2010 (Announced in 1996).[5]

Work on the new 130-kilometre (81 mi) long Rampurhat-Dumka-Mander Hill broad gauge line completed and Kavi Guru Express BhagalpurJn to howrah is running on this route.[6]

Jamalpur Workshop

Jamalpur Workshop, the first full-fledged railway workshop facility in India, was opened on 8 February 1862, at a time when the Howrah-Delhi main line, passing through Jamalpur was under construction. It was felt that communities of gunsmiths and other craftsmen in the area handling mechanical engineering jobs could pick up the skills required in a railway workshop. It undertook repairs of wagons, coaches, cranes and tower cars, and locomotives, as well as manufacture of some tower cars, break-down cranes and various kinds of heavy-duty lifting jacks. They also produced their own locomotives, starting with the CA 764 Lady Curzon in 1899. It has also produced ticket printers and other ticket machines (slitting, counting, and chopping). With fairly extensive workshop facilities, it was a fairly self-contained.[7]

Electrification

Electrification of the Khana - Rampurhat - Sainthia - Pakur section was announced in the rail budget for 2010-11.[8] The electrification of Ahmedpur - Khana - Sainthia - Rampurhat - Pakur - Bonidanga section was completed in 2016. The first electric train service started from 29 September, 2016 through running of Howrah - Rampurhat Express by Electric Locomotive.

The electrification of Bonidanga Link Cabin - Barharwa - Sahibganj - Kiul section Including the Tinpahar - Rajmahal section (Announced by Prime Minister Package in Bihar) has been started from September 2017 and was expected to be completed by the end of March 2020 but got delayed due to a pandemic and was completed on 30th June 2020.

After approximately 150 years of operation of Kiul - Bhagalpur Section of Sahibganj Loop Rail Line, Vikramshila Express became the first train to be hauled by an electric locomotive on 2nd of June, 2019.

After the electrification of Bhagalpur to Kiul first train With Electric Locomotive on this loop was started on Vikramshila Express between Anand Vihar Terminus to Bhagalpur hauled by WAP 5 of Ghaziabad Shed. The next day it departed and ran with the same Electric Loco from Bhagalpur Junction till Anand Vihar Terminus. By then almost 8 pairs of express trains originated from Bhagalpur begun its operations by electric locomotives.

The electrification of the further loop line between Bhagalpur to Bonidanga Link Cabin was delayed due to doubling of Sahibganj - Bhagalpur section which was completed in the month of April 2019.

After the complete electrification work was then resumed between Bhagalpur to Bonidanga in 4 stages which began from both sides as the Bonidanga - Barharwa section was electrified within 1 month in First Phase.

The work was then resumed between Barharwa - Tinpahar which was completed within 2 months in the Second Phase.

Within that time Doubling work between Bhagalpur to Kahalgaon section was completed but, it was again delayed due to Route - Relay Interlocking work so, electrification work from Bhagalpur section was paused due to RRI work.

After the electrification of Barharwa - Tinpahar section, Tinpahar - Sahibganj section was electrified in the Third Phase and its CRS Inspection was done between Sahibganj to Barharwa.

The Fourth Phase of electrification was done between Sahibganj to Bhagalpur into two parts.

1. Sahibganj - Shivnarayanpur (33 km) - Completed on February 2020
2. Shivnarayanpur - Bhagalpur (42 km) - Completed on March 2020, CRS Inspection was done on 30 June 2020.

With the Completion of Electrification of Sahibganj Loop from (Bonidanga Link Cabin to Kiul) distance of total 247 km, it became a history marking the era of 100% electrification of the oldest Howrah - New Delhi rail route constructed in the late 1980s by the British Government (East India Company) and thus, ending the era of Diesel Locomotives.

As the newly electrified section of Bhagalpur – Shivnarayanpur portion under Eastern Railways’ Malda division was completely electrified, train number 05956/05955 Delhi-Dibrugarh-Delhi Special Brahmaputra Mail was the first passenger train from Delhi to reach up to New Jalpaiguri with an Electric Locomotive. According to the NFR zone, the national transporter will save an amount of around Rs 20.4 crore per annum in its fuel cost, for running this train on electric traction between Pandit Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Jn (Formerly Mughalsarai Junction ) and New Jalpaiguri Jn railway stations.

Finally, the whole Sahibganj loop route has been electrified and the last CRS inspection was done on 30 June 2020 between Bhagalpur and Shivnarayanpur. More electric trains to run soon in this route after notification.

References

1. George Huddleston (1906). History of the East Indian Railway. p. 28.
2. Rao, M.A. (1988). Indian Railways. New Delhi: National Book Trust. p. 19.
3. "The Oudh & Rohilkhand Railway" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 21 June 2013. Retrieved 1 December 2011.
4. "Ahmadpur-Katwa Railway". Retrieved 2 December 2011.
5. Sarkar, Gautam (21 September 2010). "Green light to double rail on oldest route - 135-year-old Kiul-Sahebganj loop section will finally get twin railway". The Telegraph. Archived from the original on 4 September 2015. Retrieved 15 November 2011.
6. "ER revenue up 25% at Rs 1144 crore". Business Standard. 22 August 2007. Retrieved 15 November 2011.
7. "Production Units & Workshops". Jamalpur Workshop. IRFCA. Retrieved 15 November 2011.
8. "Electrification of new rail sections". Press information Bureau. Archived from the original on 24 March 2014. Retrieved 28 November 2011.