Varanasi–Rae Bareli–Lucknow line
| Varanasi–Raebareli–Lucknow line Varanasi-Lucknow Chord line | |
|---|---|
| Overview | |
| Status | Operational |
| Owner | Indian Railway |
| Locale | Gangetic Plain in Uttar Pradesh |
| Termini | |
| Service | |
| Operator(s) | Northern Railway for main line |
| Depot(s) | Lucknow Alambagh |
| History | |
| Opened | 1898 |
| Technical | |
| Track length | 301 km (187 mi) |
| Number of tracks | 1 |
| Track gauge | 1,676 mm (5 ft 6 in) broad gauge |
| Electrification | Diesel operated – not electrified |
| Highest elevation | Varanasi 82 m (269 ft) Lucknow 123 m (404 ft) |
The Varanasi–Pratapgarh–Lucknow line (also known as Varanasi-Lucknow chord line) is a railway line connecting Varanasi and Lucknow, both in the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh. The line is under the administrative jurisdiction of Northern Railway.
History
The Lucknow-Rae Bareli extension was completed in 1893 and the Varanasi-Lucknow chord line via Rae Bareli was constructed in 1898.[1]
Line doubling and electrification
As of 2013, the railways have taken up doubling of the 66 km (41 mi) Utaratia-Raebareli sector and the 60 km (37 mi) Raebareli- Amethi sector. Work is in progress for electrification of the 200 km (124 mi) Varanasi-Unchahar railway line.[2][3]
New lines
Railways have taken up construction of the 116 km (72 mi) Rae Bareli-Akbaganj-Faizabad new line and the 134 km (83 mi) Unchahar-Amethi-Sultanpur-Kadipur new line in 2013.[2]
Passenger movement
Varanasi and Lucknow on this line are amongst the top hundred booking stations of Indian Railway.[4]
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.[5]
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.[6]
Rail Coach Factory, Raebareli was inaugurated in 2012. It would initially produce 1,000 coaches per year and the capacity would be enhanced later.[7]
Railway reorganisation
Around 1872, the Indian Branch Railway Company was transformed into Oudh and Rohilkhand Railway.[8][9][10] Oudh and Rohilkhand Railway was merged with East Indian Railway Company in 1925.[11]
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.[12]
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.[13] East Central Railway was created in 1996-97.[14] North Central Railway was formed in 2003.[15]
References
- ^ "Oudh and Rohilkhand Railway". Management Ebooks. Archived from the original on 11 January 2014. Retrieved 12 January 2014.
{{cite web}}: Unknown parameter|dead-url=ignored (|url-status=suggested) (help) - ^ a b "Railway projects and amenities to transform Rae Bareli and surrounding areas". Northern Railway, 17 May 2013. Retrieved 12 January 2014.
- ^ "Rlys rolls out schemes in Rae Bareli, Amethi". Times of India, 17 May 2013. Retrieved 12 January 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 12 January 2014.
{{cite web}}: Unknown parameter|deadurl=ignored (|url-status=suggested) (help) - ^ "Sheds and workshops". IRFCA. Retrieved 12 January 2014.
- ^ "Production Units & Workshops". Diesel Loco Works, Varanasi. IRFCA. Retrieved 12 January 2014.
- ^ "Sonia opens rail coach factory at Rae Bareli". The Hindu. 8 November 2012. Retrieved 12 January 2014.
{{cite news}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter:|1=(help) - ^ "IR History: Early History (1832-1869)". IRFCA. Retrieved 12 January 2014.
- ^ "The Oudh and Rohilkhand Railway" (PDF). Old Martinian Association. Archived from the original (PDF) on 21 June 2013. Retrieved 12 January 2014.
{{cite web}}: Unknown parameter|dead-url=ignored (|url-status=suggested) (help) - ^ "Indian Branch Railway". fibis. Retrieved 11 January 2014.
- ^ "IR History III : (1900-1947)". IRFCA. Retrieved 12 January 2014.
- ^ "Bengal and North-Western Railway". fibis. Retrieved 12 January 2014.
- ^ "Geography – Railway Zones". IRFCA. Retrieved 12 January 2014.
- ^ "East Central Railway". ECR. Retrieved 12 January 2014.
- ^ "North Central Railway". NCR. Retrieved 12 January 2014.