Asansol–Patna section

Asansol–Patna section
Asansol–Patna section
	Kiul Junction is an important railway station at Asansol–Patna section
Overview
Status	Operational
Owner	Indian Railways
Locale	West Bengal, Jharkhand, Bihar
Termini	Asansol; Patna;
Service
Operator(s)	Eastern Railway, East Central Railway
History
Opened	1871
Technical
Line length	331 km (206 mi)
Number of tracks	2
Track gauge	5 ft 6 in (1,676 mm) broad gauge
Electrification	25 kV 50 Hz AC OHLE in 1960–61 and during 1994–95 and 2000–01
Operating speed	up to 130 km/h
Route map
Route map
	Legend
	Patna–Mughalsarai section
	of Howrah–Delhi main line
	Barh Super Thermal Power Station
	(NTPC Limited)
	Bihar
	Jharkhand
	Jharkhand
	West Bengal
	Asansol–Gaya section
	of Howrah–Gaya–Delhi line

The Asansol–Patna section is a railway line connecting Asansol in the Indian state of West Bengal and Patna in Bihar. The 331 km (206 mi) line passes through the fringe areas of West Bengal, a portion of Santhal Parganas in Jharkhand and the Gangetic Plain in Bihar.

History

The first rail track between Howrah and Delhi was via what was later named as Sahibganj loop and the first through train on the route was run in 1864. The Kiul–Patna sector was ready around 1862. A "shorter main line" connecting Raniganj and Kiul Junction was in position in 1871 and the opening of the Grand Chord in 1907 shortened the distance from Howrah to Delhi even further.^[1]^[2]^[3]

Electrification

The Asansol–Sitarampur sector was electrified in 1960–61 and the rest of the Asansol–Patna section was electrified during the period 1994–95 to 2000–2001. Sector-wise progress was as follows: Sitarampur–Chittaranjan 1994–95, Chittaranjan–Jamtara 1995–96, Jamtara–Jasidih 1996–97, Jasidih–Narganjo 1997–98, Narganjo–Jhajha 1998–99, Jhajha–Kiul in 1997–98, Kiul–Mankatha 1999–2000, Mankatha–Barhaiya 2000–01, Barhaiya–Mokama 1999–2000 Mokama–Fatuha 1998–99, Fatuha–Danapur 1999–2000.^[4]

Speed limit

The entire Sitarampur–Patna–Mughalsarai line is classified as "B Class" line, where trains can run at speeds up to 130 km/h.^[5]

Passenger movement

Patna and Asansol, on this line, are amongst the top hundred booking stations of Indian Railway.^[6]

Sheds and workshops

Chittaranjan Locomotive Works, one of the largest electric locomotive manufacturers in the world, is located on this line. Initially started for manufacturing steam locomotives, it went into production on 26 January 1950, the day when India became a republic. It now produces AC and DC locomotives and accessories.^[7]

Asansol is home to the oldest electric loco shed of Indian Railways. It houses WAG-5 and WAM-4 electric locomotives.^[8]

Railway reorganisation

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 Mughalsarai, 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.^[9] East Central Railway was created in 1996–97.^[10]

References

^ Indian Railway History Time line by R. P. Saxena
^ "IR History: Early days I (1832–1869)". IRFCA. Retrieved 28 March 2014.
^ "IR History: Early days II (1870–1899)". Retrieved 28 March 2014.
^ "History of Electrification". IRFCA. Retrieved 28 March 2014.
^ "Permanent Way". Track Classifications. Retrieved 28 March 2014.
^ "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 28 March 2014.
^ "Chittaranjan Locomotive Works". Indian Railwaya. Archived from the original on 19 March 2014. Retrieved 26 March 2014.
^ "Sheds and Workshops". IRFCA. Retrieved 26 March 2014.
^ "Geography – Railway Zones". IRFCA. Retrieved 28 March 2014.
^ "East Central Railway". ECR. Retrieved 28 March 2014.

External links

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[1] Indian Railway History Time line by R. P. Saxena

[2] "IR History: Early days I (1832–1869)". IRFCA. Retrieved 28 March 2014.

[3] "IR History: Early days II (1870–1899)". Retrieved 28 March 2014.

[4] "History of Electrification". IRFCA. Retrieved 28 March 2014.

[5] "Permanent Way". Track Classifications. Retrieved 28 March 2014.

[6] "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 28 March 2014.

[7] "Chittaranjan Locomotive Works". Indian Railwaya. Archived from the original on 19 March 2014. Retrieved 26 March 2014.

[shed-8] "Sheds and Workshops". IRFCA. Retrieved 26 March 2014.

[9] "Geography – Railway Zones". IRFCA. Retrieved 28 March 2014.

[10] "East Central Railway". ECR. Retrieved 28 March 2014.

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