Varanasi–Lucknow line

The Varanasi–Ayodhya–Lucknow line (also known as Varanasi–Lucknow via Ayodhya 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 Prayagraj–Ayodhya 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.

Varanasi–Ayodhya –Lucknow line
वाराणसी-अयोध्या-लखनऊ रेल लाइन
Lucknow Charbagh the starting station of Varanasi–Ayodhya-Lucknow line
Overview
StatusOperational
OwnerIndian Railways
LocaleGangetic Plain in Uttar Pradesh
Termini
StationsOn Varanasi–Ayodhya–Lucknow line

Jaunpur Junction, Ayodhya Junction, Akbarpur Junction

On Jaunpur–Prayagraj line, Prayagraj-Ayodhya Maine line, Ayodhya-Gorkhapur line

Mariyahu, Janghai, Phulpur, Phaphamau.
Service
Operator(s)Northern Railway for main line
North Central Railway partially for branch line
Depot(s)Lucknow Junction, Ayodhya Junction
History
Opened1872
Technical
Track lengthvia Jaunpur and Ayodhya 324 km (201 mi)
Track gauge5 ft 6 in (1,676 mm) broad gauge Double broad gauge Sanctioned
ElectrificationYes completed in March 2022
Operating speedup to 110 km/h
Highest elevationVaranasi 82 m (269 ft)
Lucknow 123 m (404 ft)
Route map
Unnao–Sitapur line
Lucknow–Moradabad line
 Aishbagh
 Lucknow Charbagh
 Lucknow City
 Daliganj Junction
Unnao–Sitapur line
 Badshahnagar
 Gomti Nagar
Varanasi–Rae Bareli–
Lucknow line
 Malhaur
 Jugaur
 Safedabad
 Barabanki Junction
Lucknow–Gorakhpur line
 Rasauli
 Safdarganj
 Saidkhanpur
 Daryabad
 Patranga
 Rauzagaon
 Rudauli
 Gauriyamau
 Baragaon
 Deorakot
 Sohwal
 Salarpur
Varanasi–Sultanpur–Lucknow line
 Faizabad Junction
 Acharya Narendra Dev Nagar
 Ayodhya Junction
Lucknow–Gorakhpur line
 Darshannagar
 Bilhar Ghat
 Ulna Bhari
 Goshainganj
 Katahri
Tanda Thermal
Power House
 Tanda
 Surapur
Akbarpur Junction
 Jafarganj
 Malipur
 Tulsi Nagar
 Bilwai
Allahabad–Mau–Gorakhpur
main line
 Shahganj Junction
 Kheta Sarai
 Manikalan Halt
 Mihrawan
 Mahagawan Halt
Aunrihar–Jaunpur line
 Jaunpur Junction
Varanasi–Sultanpur–
Lucknow line
 Zafarabad Junction
Allahabad–Mau–Gorakhpur
main line
 Sarkoni
 Jalalganj
 Trilochan Mahadeo
 Khalispur
 Pindra Road
 Babatpur
 Birapatti
 Shivpur
Varanasi–Rae Bareli–
Lucknow line
Varanasi–Allahabad Branch line
 Varanasi Junction
Varanasi City
Mughalsarai–Kanpur section
Chhapra–Varanasi line

History

The Oudh and Rohilkhand Railway opened the 5 ft 6 in (1,676 mm) broad gauge line from Varanasi to Lucknow in 1872.[1][2] The line was extended to Ayodhya as ‘Ayodhya Loop’.[3]

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 5 ft 6 in (1,676 mm) broad gauge Prayagraj–Ayodhya line was possibly opened the same year. It was operated by the Oudh and Rohilkhand Railway.[4]

The loop line of the Oudh and Rohilkhand Railway from Benares through Ayodhya to Lucknow traverses the Jaunpur District from south to north, while the main line of the same railway crosses the south-west corner. A branch from Zafarabad to Phaphamau on the Ganges is under construction ib n 1905, which will give access to Prayagraj. Shahganj is connected with Azamgarh, and Jaunpur city with Ghazipur, by branches of the Bengal and North Western Railway.

Passenger movement

Varanasi and Lucknow on the main line, and Prayagraj on a branch line are amongst the top hundred booking stations of Indian Railway.[5]

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.[6]

Banaras 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.[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] dia 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
  1. "IR History: Early Days II (1870-1899)". IRFCA. Retrieved 11 January 2014.
  2. "Oudh and Rohilkhand Railway". fibis. Retrieved 11 January 2014.
  3. "Oudh and Rohilkhand Railway". Management Ebooks. Archived from the original on 11 January 2014. Retrieved 11 January 2014.
  4. Gales, R. R. (January 1908). "The Curzon Bridge at Prayagraj". Minutes of the Proceedings of the Institution of Civil Engineers. ice virtual library. 174 (1908): 1–40. doi:10.1680/imotp.1908.17544. Retrieved 11 January 2014.
  5. "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 11 January 2014.
  6. "Sheds and workshops". IRFCA. Retrieved 11 January 2014.
  7. "Production Units & Workshops". Diesel Loco Works, Varanasi. IRFCA. Retrieved 11 January 2014.
  8. "IR History: Early History (1832-1869)". IRFCA. Retrieved 11 January 2014.
  9. "The . Railway" (PDF). Old Martinian Association. Archived from the original (PDF) on 21 June 2013. Retrieved 11 January 2014.
  10. "Indian Branch Railway". fibis. Retrieved 11 January 2014.
  11. "IR History III : (1900-1947)". IRFCA. Retrieved 11 January 2014.
  12. "Bengal and North Western Railway". fibis. Retrieved 11 January 2014.
  13. "Geography – Railway Zones". IRFCA. Retrieved 11 January 2014.
  14. "East Central Railway". ECR. Retrieved 11 January 2014.
  15. "North Central Railway". NCR. Retrieved 11 January 2014.
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