The Bilimora–Waghai section belongs to Mumbai WR division of Western Railway zone in Gujarat State of India.[1]
| Bilimora–Waghai section | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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 Unai railway station on Bilimora–Waghai section | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Overview | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Status | Operational | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Owner | Indian Railways | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Locale | Gujarat | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Termini | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Stations | 9 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Service | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Operator(s) | Western Railway | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Technical | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Track length | 63 km (39 mi) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Number of tracks | 1 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Track gauge | Converting to 5 ft 6 in (1,676 mm) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Electrification | Ongoing | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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History
editBilimora-Rankuwa branch was opened in 1914. The length of Bilimora-Rankuwa branch was 21 km. Rankuwa-Unai branch was opened in 1915. The length of Rankuwa-Unai branch was 20 km. Unai-Kalamba branch was opened in 1917. The length of Unai-Kalamba branch was 14 km. Kalamba-Dungarda and Dungarda-Waghai branch was opened in 1926 and 1929 respectively. Total length of Bilimora–Waghai section is 63 km.[2]
The 63-km Bilimora–Waghai track was laid by the British at the instance of the Sayajirao Gaekwad in 1913. It was a part of Gaekwad's Baroda State Railway, the railway line owned by the Princely State of Baroda which was ruled by the Gaekwad dynasty. The main intention was to keep their connection with the royal state. The Gaekwad rulers also used this train for transportation of precious teak wood from forests. After independence of India, Gaekwad's Baroda State Railway was merged and became a part of Western Railway.[3]
In December 2020, Railway Board decided to close 11 sections including Bilimora–Waghai section permanently. BJP MLA from Dang, Vijay Patel, Congress MLA of Vansda, Anant Patel and Bipin bhai, a social worker of Waghai, started a movement to restart the train services for tribals. Anant Patel also started a relay of protest at each of the railway stations on the route.[4][5]
Minister of State for Railways and Textiles, Darshana Jardosh announced the resumption of the narrow gauge train service between Bilimora and Waghai. Bilimora–Waghai narrow gauge heritage train service was started with air-conditioned tourist coach from 4 September 2021.[6][7][8]
Gallery
edit-
Bilimora Junction -
Waghai Station -
AC Vistadome Tourist Coach -
Vistadome Coach Interior -
Dungarda Station -
Bilimora - Waghai Section View 1 -
Bilimora - Waghai Section View 2 -
Bilimora - Waghai Section View 3 -
Bilimora - Waghai Section View 4 -
Bilimora - Waghai Section View 5 -
Ambika River Bridge -
Ambika River Bridge View
References
edit- ^ "Passing trains through Bilimora–Waghai line". India Rail Info.
- ^ "Section opening dates from History of Western Railways, Ministry of Railways" (PDF). Western Railway.
- ^ "Bilimora-Waghai narrow gauge train completes 104 years. Here is what you need to know". Indian Express.
- ^ "Explained: Why Gujarat is seeing protests to save a 107-year-old railway line". Indian Express.
- ^ "End of an era: This 107-year-old heritage train service in Gujarat came to an end". Time Now News.
- ^ "Indian Railways to resume Bilimora-Waghai narrow gauge train in Gujarat with AC Tourist coach". Financial Express.
- ^ "Western Railway to restart Bilimora-Waghai Narrow Gauge train services from September 4". Mid Day.
- ^ "Gujarat: Bilimora-Waghai train chugs again". Times of India.