Bathinda–Rajpura line

The Rajpura-Bathinda line is a railway line connecting Rajpura in the Indian state of the Punjab and Bathinda in Punjab. The line is under the administrative jurisdiction of Northern Railway.

Rajpura-Bathinda line
Overview
System	Diesel operated (electrification and doubling) electrified till patiala from Rajpura end
Status	Operational
Locale	Punjab
Termini	Rajpura Bathinda
Operation
Owner	Indian Railway
Operator(s)	Northern Railway
Technical
Track length	173 km (107 mi)
Number of tracks	1 (single)
Track gauge	1,676 mm (5 ft 6 in) broad gauge
Electrification	doubling in progress with electrification
Highest elevation	Rajpura 274 m (899 ft) Bathinda 207 m (679 ft)
Route map Bhathinda–Rajpura line Bhathinda railway station on Delhi-Fazilka line 8.55 Bhathinda cantt 17.39 Bhuchchu 24.9 Lehra mahabat NH 7 32.49 Rampura phul 40.73 Jethuke 45.64 Tapa 51.11 Ghunas 58.75 Hadiaya 64.77 Barnala 74.05 Sekha 82.38 Alal Canal to Ludhiana railway station 95.46 Dhuri Junction to Jakhal railway station

[1][2][3][4][5]

Main stations

• Rajpura Junction railway station
• Patiala
• Nabha
• Dhuri Junction railway station
• Barnala
• Tapa
• Rampura phul
• Lehra mahabat
• Bhuchchu
• Bathinda Junction railway station

History and key developments on the route

It is said that Maharaja of patiala built the railway station in the perpendicular orientation as he had hoped that one day the Ambala-Ludhiana would be diverted via Patiala, but that never happened. One reason was the trains would have to pay the taxes levied by the Pepsu state.

In February 2015, doubling of track between Rajpura-Patiala-Bathinda was sanctioned.

In 2016, electrification of the single broad gauge railway line from Rajpura to Dhuri junction was under progress which is being executed by Rail Vikas Nigam Ltd.

Patiala Railway Station on the line is also one of the 400 stations to be redeveloped under Government of India's AMRUT scheme. In 2016, the work for the platform-1 extension is in progress which shall be extended to another 200 meter to accommodate longest possible train.

In March 2017, work for doubling of Rajpura-Patiala-Bathinda line was partly given to Northern railway construction but later all was allotted and interested to rail vikas nigam limited. As it is also a feeder route for Eastern Dedicated Freight Corridor. It has capacity utilisation to the peak. The doubling is scheduled to start for December 2018.

Electrification

The rail link has been approved by the rail board for electrification to the Lehra Mahabat railway station and doubling to Bathinda junction. The electrification trail between Rajpura and Dhuri was completed on 10 September 2019. CRS has given clearance to electrification up to Dhuri Junction.

References

1. "Rajpura rail track electrification by Jan-end". Tribuneindia.com. 1 January 2018. Retrieved 3 August 2018.
2. "Rajpura-Bathinda rail track work hits fast lane - Times of India".
3. India, Press Trust of (13 November 2016). "Prabhu lays foundation stone of Rajpura-Bathinda project" – via Business Standard.
4. "Indian Railways: Doubling of Rajpura-Bhatinda line approved by CCEA". 21 December 2016.
5. "High speed trains on Patiala-Bathinda tracks in 'three years'". 1 July 2016.