Delhi–Fazilka line
{{short description|Railway line in India}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2016}}
{{Use Indian English|date=January 2016}}
{{Infobox rail line
| box_width = 28em
| name = Delhi–Fazilka line
with a link to Ferozepur
| color =
| logo =
| logo_width = 100 px
| image = Guru Nanak Dev,Thermal power plant, Bathinda 2013-10-27 10-35.jpg
| image_width =
| caption = Guru Nanak Dev Thermal Power Plant situates near of Delhi–Fazilka line
| type =
| system =
| status = Operational
| start = Old Delhi
| end = Fazilka
| stations =
| routes =
| daily_ridership =
| open = 1897
| close =
| owner = Indian Railways
| operator = Northern Railway
| character =
| depot =
| stock =
| linelength =
| tracklength = {{convert|416|km|mi|0|abbr=on}}
| tracks = Double line from Delhi to Bathinda. Rest: Single line
| gauge = {{Track gauge|5ft6in|lk=on}} broad gauge
| old_gauge =
| minradius =
| racksystem =
| electrification = Fully Electrified
| speed =
| elevation = Delhi {{convert|239|m|ft|0|abbr=on}},
Fazilka {{convert|182|m|ft|0|abbr=on}}
| website =
| map = {{Delhi–Fazilka line}}
| map_state = collapsed
}}
The Delhi–Fazilka line is a railway line connecting Delhi and Fazilka the latter in the Indian state of Punjab. There is a link to {{stnlnk|Firozpur Cantonment}}. The line is under the administrative jurisdiction of Northern Railway. This line was a part of the historic Delhi–Karachi line.
History
The Southern Punjab Railway Co. opened the {{convert|711|km|mi|0|abbr=on}} long Delhi–Jind-Bhatinda–Fazilka-Bahawalnagar-Samma Satta line in 1897.{{cite web|url= http://www.irfca.org/faq/faq-history2.html |title= IR History: Early Days II (1870–1899) | access-date=20 February 2014}} The line passed through Rohtak-Jind-Bhatinda-Muktasar-Fazilka-Bahawalnagar and provided direct connection through Samma Satta (now in Pakistan) to Karachi. The extension from the Macleodganj (later renamed Mandi Sadiqganj and now in Pakistan) railway line to Ambala via Qasamwala-Hindumalkote-Abohar-Bhatinda-Patiala was opened by the same company in 1902.{{cite web|url= http://punjabrevenue.nic.in/muktsar/Chapter%207.htm|title= Chapter VII Communications|access-date= 20 February 2014|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20140223172820/http://punjabrevenue.nic.in/muktsar/Chapter%207.htm|archive-date= 23 February 2014|url-status= dead}}
In 1901–02, the Jodhpur–Bathinda line of Rajputana–Malwa Railway was extended from Bikaner to Bathinda via Hanumangarh, to connect it with the metre-gauge section of the Bombay, Baroda and Central India Railway to the south and the metre-gauge of North Western Railway's Delhi–Fazilka line (Delhi–Hisar–Bhatinda–Karachi line) to the north.{{cite web| url = http://www.wiki.fibis.org/index.php?title=Jodhpur-Bikaner_Railway| title = Jodhpur-Bikaner Railway| publisher = fibis| access-date = 5 May 2014| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20140202124719/http://www.wiki.fibis.org/index.php?title=Jodhpur-Bikaner_Railway| archive-date = 2 February 2014| url-status = dead}} In 2000s, Jodhpur-Bikaner-Bathinda line was converted to broad gauge.{{cite web| url = http://pib.nic.in/newsite/erelease.aspx?relid=37655|title = Railway line along Indian border| publisher= Press Information Bureau, Govt. of India, 21 April 2008| access-date = 5 May 2014}} In 2009, the metre gauge Hisar-Sadulpur section was converted to broad gauge.{{cite web|url=http://www.nwr.indianrailways.gov.in/uploads/files/1390378076313-Overview%20dt.21.01.14.pdf |title=Overview of Bikaner Division |publisher=Indian Railways |access-date=6 May 2014 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140508030427/http://www.nwr.indianrailways.gov.in/uploads/files/1390378076313-Overview%20dt.21.01.14.pdf |archivedate=8 May 2014 }}{{cite web| url=http://indiarailinfo.com/train/map/route-bhatinda-rewari-passenger-54781-bti-to-re/4110/109/356| title=Bathinda–Rewari line route map| website=India Rail Info}}
Border crossings
Fazilka and Hussainiwala on this line are two defunct railway border crossing points on the India–Pakistan border. Before partition of India in 1947, there were the {{convert|711|km|mi|abbr=off|sp=us|adj=on}} long Delhi-Samma Satta and the {{convert|445|km|mi|abbr=off|sp=us|adj=on}} long Delhi-Raiwind railway lines, which were operational. After partition of India, a {{convert|20|km|mi|abbr=off|sp=us|adj=on}} line linked Amruka on the Pakistan side of the India–Pakistan border, opposite Fazilka, towards Samma Satta. The only train running through these tracks was withdrawn after 1965 war. The {{convert|275|km|mi|abbr=off|sp=us|adj=on}} long Amruka-Samma Satta line and the {{convert|28|km|mi|abbr=off|adj=on}} long Kasur-Raiwind lines are operational in Pakistan now. The Hussainiwala–Ganda Singh Wala railway crossing, near Firozpur, became defunct with the partition of India. The {{convert|16|km|mi|abbr=off|sp=us|adj=on}} broad gauge line from Kasur Junction in Pakistan has been closed. The strategically important {{convert|1,681|m|ft|abbr=off|adj=on}} Kaiser-E-Hind Rail cum Road Bridge was blown up during the Indo-Pakistani War of 1971 at Hussainiwala, and was never rebuilt. In 2013, Sutlej Barrage Bridge on Hussainiwala was opened after restructuring.
Electrification
The Okhla–New Delhi–Shakurbasti line was electrified in 1982–83.{{cite web| url = http://irfca.org/docs/electrification-history.html|title = History of Electrification| publisher= IRFCA| access-date = 26 February 2014}} {{As of|2011}}, only 3 km of the 60 km Shakurbasti–Rohtak was remaining.{{cite web|url= http://www.indianrailways.gov.in/railwayboard/view_section.jsp?lang=0&id=0,1,304,366,532,565 |title= Railway Electrification| publisher=Ministry of Railways | access-date=26 February 2014}} The EMU services of Delhi Suburban Railway was extended up to Rohtak in 2013.{{cite web|url= http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/chandigarh/Delhi-Rohtak-EMU-to-be-inaugurated-on-March-3/articleshow/18713330.cms |title= Delhi–Rohtak EMU to be inaugurated on March 3 |work=The Times of India|date=27 February 2013| access-date=26 February 2014}}
After electrification up to Rohtak, further electrification begun in February 2015. Electrification up to {{stnlnk|Jind Junction}} was completed in 2017. Operations of electric locos up to Jind begin in January 2018. After this, electrification up to {{stnlnk|Bathinda Junction}} got completed in March 2018.
Electrification of Kurukshetra–Narwana and Jind–Panipat branch lines was started in 2018 and has been completed in 2019.
Electrification of Jind–Sonipat branch line is also under planning.
Electrification of Bathinda-Firozpur branch line is in progress.
Tracks
Delhi–Bathinda is a double electric line.{{cite web|last=|first=|title=Electrification of Rohtak–Batinda–Lehra Muhabat section of Northern Railway|url=http://pib.nic.in/newsite/erelease.aspx?relid=57153|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180830174155/http://pib.nic.in/newsite/erelease.aspx?relid=57153|archive-date=30 August 2018|access-date=26 February 2014|website=Press Information Bureau – India|publisher=Ministry of Railways|date=21 January 2010}}
The construction of Bathinda-Firozpur single line electrification is in under progress.
Sheds
Shakurbasti has a diesel loco shed. It houses WDS-4A, WDS-4B, WDS-4D, WDM-2 WDM3A, WDS6 and DEMUs. It also has a broad-gauge trip shed for WDM-2 and WDG-3A locos. WDS-4 shunting locos based all over Northern Railway are sent here for periodical maintenance.{{cite web |url= http://www.irfca.org/faq/faq-shed.html |title= Sheds and workshops|publisher= IRFCA| access-date = 26 February 2014}}
Developments
The {{convert|42|km|mi|0|abbr=on}} new {{Track gauge|5ft6in|lk=on}} broad gaugeline between Fazilka and Abohar was opened in 2012.{{cite web|url=http://www.hindustantimes.com/news-feed/chunk-ht-ui-punjabsectionpage-latestnews/rail-link-between-abohar-fazilka-opens-today/article1-889593.aspx |title=Rail link between Abohar, Fazilka opens today |work=Hindustan Times|date=15 July 2012 |access-date=26 February 2014 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140313024903/http://www.hindustantimes.com/news-feed/chunk-ht-ui-punjabsectionpage-latestnews/rail-link-between-abohar-fazilka-opens-today/article1-889593.aspx |archivedate=13 March 2014 }}
The Rewari–Rohtak line was commissioned in 2013.{{cite web |url= http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/industry-and-economy/logistics/haryana-gets-first-functional-railway-line-after-33-years/article4283307.ece |title= Haryana gets first functional railway line after 33 years|work= Business Standard|date=7 January 2013| access-date = 26 February 2014}}
Work for a new line from Rohtak to Hansi via Meham was inaugurated in 2013.{{cite web |url= http://www.nr.indianrailways.gov.in/view_detail.jsp?lang=0&dcd=2919&id=0,4,268|title= The Minister for Railways lays the foundation stones of Rohtak–Meham–Hansi new line|publisher= Northern Railway|date=19 July 2013 | access-date = 26 February 2014}}
A new line from Jind to Sonipat was completed in 2015 and is operational now.
Central Government approved a new rail line from Jind to Hansi via Narnaund.
Railway reorganisation
Southern Punjab Railway was taken over by the state and merged with North Western Railway in 1930.{{cite web|url= http://wiki.fibis.org/index.php/Southern_Punjab_Railway|title=Southern Punjab Railway | publisher= fibis | access-date=26 February 2014}}
With the partition of India in 1947, North Western Railway was split. While the western portion became Pakistan West Railway, and later Pakistan Railways, the eastern part became Eastern Punjab Railway.{{cite book |url= https://books.google.com/books?id=8v-zRmScc0MC&q=Eastern+Punjab+Railway&pg=PA136 |title=Management of Indian Railways, 1989|isbn= 81-7099-183-8| work=Readings in Indian Railway Finance by KB Verma, P 136|last=SM Imamul Haque|year=1989| publisher= Mittal Publications, A 1/8 Mohan Garden, New Delhi 110059| access-date = 26 February 2014}}
In 1952, Northern Railway was formed with a portion of East Indian Railway Company, west of Mughalsarai, Bikaner Railway and Eastern Punjab Railway.{{cite web| url = http://www.irfca.org/faq/faq-geog.html#newzone |title = Geography – Railway Zones| publisher= IRFCA| access-date = 26 February 2014}}
Stations
{{incomplete list|date=December 2022}}
- Julana railway station ({{coord|29.1268|76.3798|type:railwaystation_region:IN|display=inline}}) is in the Julana tehsil of Jind District {{convert|91|km|mi}} from Delhi on the Delhi–Fazilka line.{{Cite web |title=Julana Railway Station Map/Atlas NR/Northern Zone - Railway Enquiry |url=https://indiarailinfo.com/station/map/julana-jna/2177 |access-date=2022-07-20 |website=indiarailinfo.com}}
References
{{Reflist|2}}
External links
- [http://indiarailinfo.com/arrivals/old-delhi-junction-dli/349 Trains at Old Delhi]
- [http://indiarailinfo.com/arrivals/delhi-sarai-rohilla-dee/350 Trains at Sarai Rohilla]
- [http://indiarailinfo.com/arrivals/bathinda-junction-bti/109 Trains at Bhathinda]
- [http://indiarailinfo.com/arrivals/firozpur-cantt-junction-fzr/105 Trains at Firozpur Cantonment]
- [http://indiarailinfo.com/arrivals/fazilka-junction-fka/6222 Trains at Fazilka]
{{Railways in Northern India}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Delhi-Fazilka line}}
Category:5 ft 6 in gauge railways in India
Category:Rail transport in Haryana