Varanasi–Lucknow line
| Varanasi–Lucknow line (Main line) including Allahabad–Faizabad line | |
|---|---|
| Overview | |
| Status | Operational |
| Owner | Indian Railway |
| Locale | Gangetic Plain in Uttar Pradesh |
| Termini | |
| Service | |
| Operator(s) | Northern Railway for main line North Central Railway partially for branch line |
| Depot(s) | Lucknow Alambagh |
| History | |
| Opened | 1872 |
| Technical | |
| Track length | Main line: 282 km (175 mi) Branch line: Allahabad-Faizabad 158 km (98 mi) |
| Track gauge | 1,676 mm (5 ft 6 in) broad gauge |
| Operating speed | up to 100 km/h |
| Highest elevation | Varanasi 82 m (269 ft) Lucknow 123 m (404 ft) |
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The Varanasi–Lucknow line (also known as Varanasi-Lucknow 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.
Geography
Here is a brief description of the Varanasi-Lucknow area:"“The scenery by the Oudh & Rohilcund Railway does not offer much variety. The country is a dead level, no great rivers, and not many streams, to bridge."[1]
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.[2][3] The line was extended to Faizabad as ‘Faizabad Loop’.[4]
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.[5][6]
Electrification
The Mughalsarai-Varanasi-Jaunpur-Sultanpur-Lucknow line was electrified in 2013.[7]
Speed limits
The Lucknow-Sultanpur-Zafrabad-Varanasi line is classified as a “Group D Special” line and can take speeds up to 100 km/h. Group D Special lines are sections where the traffic density is very high or likely to grow substantially in future.[8]
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.[9]
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.[10]
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.[11]
Railway reorganisation
Around 1872, the Indian Branch Railway Company was transformed into Oudh and Rohilkhand Railway.[12][13][14] Oudh and Rohilkhand Railway was merged with East Indian Railway Company in 1925.[15]
The Government of India 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.[16]
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.[17] East Central Railway was created in 1996-97.[18] North Central Railway was formed in 2003.[19]
References
- ^ William Howard Russel. "Titbits from my Archives: The Prince of Wales' Railway Journeys in India, 1875-1876". To Fyzabad and Lucknow. IRFCA. Retrieved 11 January 2014.
- ^ "IR Hstory: 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.
- ^ R. P. Saxena. "Indian Railway History Time line". Irse.bravehost.com. Archived from the original on 14 July 2012. Retrieved 11 January 2014.
- ^ "The Curzon Bridge at Allahabad". ice vitual library. Retrieved 11 January 2014.
- ^ Rajeev Dikshit. "Electrified Mughalsarai-Lucknow railway testing on Jan 5". Times of India, Varanasi, 11 January 2013. Retrieved 11 January 2014.
- ^ "Chapter II – The Maintenance of Permanent Way". 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 Oudh and Rohilkhand 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.