Varanasi–Rae Bareli–Lucknow line

The Varanasi–Rae Bareli–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.

Varanasi–Rae Bareli–Lucknow
Varanasi–Lucknow Chord line
Rae Bareli Junction lies on Varanasi–Lucknow Section
Overview
StatusOperational
OwnerIndian Railways
LocaleGangetic Plain in Uttar Pradesh
Termini
Service
Operator(s)Northern Railway for main line
Depot(s)Lucknow Alambagh
History
Opened1870
Technical
Track length301 km (187 mi)
Number of tracks2
Track gauge5 ft 6 in (1,676 mm) broad gauge
Electrification25 kV 50 Hz AC]] OHLE
Operating speedup to 110 km/h (68 mph) To be 150 km/h
Highest elevationVaranasi 82 m (269 ft)
Lucknow 123 m (404 ft)
Route map

Alamnagar
Unnao–Sitapur line
301
Lucknow Charbagh
Transport Nagar
289
Utaria Junction
280
Mohanlalganj
272
Kankaha
266
Nigohan
260
Shrirajnagar
254
Bachrawan
244
Kundanganj
238
Harchandpur
231
Gangaganj
31
Dalmau Junction
223/0
Rae Bareli Junction
23
Radhabalampur Halt
17
Ubarni
13
Suraj Kunda
6
Daryapur Junction
11
Bela Bela
21
Laxmanpur
28
Ramchandrapur
214
Rupamau
38
Unchahar Junction
205
Fursatganj
194
Jais
192
Kasimpur
185
Bani
177
Gauriganj
171
Talakhajuri
163
Amethi
157
Misrauli
154
Sahajipur Halt
149
Antu
144
Jagesharganj
132
Chilbila Junction
128
Pratapgarh Junction
121
Pirthiganj
114
Dandupur
104
Gaura
98
Suwansa
92
Badshahpur
85
Nibhapur
75
Janghai Junction
70
Sarai Kansrai
60
Suriawan
53
Mondh
44
Bhadohi
36
Parsipur
28
Kapseti
23
Sewapuri
16
Chaukhandi
6
Lohta
0
Varanasi Junction
3
Varanasi City
Varanasi–Chhapra line
Sources:Google Maps,
Varanasi Lucknow Passenger via Pratapgarh,
Rae Bareli Raghuraj Singh Passenger,
Rae Bareli Kanpur Central Passenger via Unchahar

History

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The Lucknow–Rae Bareli extension was completed in 1864 and the Varanasi–Lucknow chord line via Rae Bareli was constructed in 1870.[1]

Line doubling and electrification

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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

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Railways have taken up construction of the 116 km (72 mi) Rae Bareli–Akbarganj–Faizabad new line and the 134 km (83 mi) Unchahar-Amethi-Sultanpur–Kadipur new line in 2013.[2]

Passenger movement

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Varanasi and Lucknow on this line are amongst the top hundred booking stations of Indian Railway.[4]

Sheds, workshops and manufacturing facilities

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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]

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.[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

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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

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  1. ^ "Oudh and Rohilkhand Railway". Management Ebooks. Archived from the original on 11 January 2014. Retrieved 12 January 2014.
  2. ^ a b "Railway projects and amenities to transform Rae Bareli and surrounding areas". Northern Railway, 17 May 2013. Retrieved 12 January 2014.
  3. ^ "Rlys rolls out schemes in Rae Bareli, Amethi". The Times of India. 17 May 2013. Archived from the original on 14 August 2013. Retrieved 12 January 2014.
  4. ^ "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.
  5. ^ "Sheds and workshops". IRFCA. Retrieved 12 January 2014.
  6. ^ "Production Units & Workshops". Diesel Loco Works, Varanasi. IRFCA. Retrieved 12 January 2014.
  7. ^ "Sonia opens rail coach factory at Rae Bareli". The Hindu. 8 November 2012. Retrieved 12 January 2014.
  8. ^ "IR History: Early History (1832-1869)". IRFCA. Retrieved 12 January 2014.
  9. ^ "The Oudh and Rohilkhand Railway" (PDF). Old Martinian Association. Archived from the original (PDF) on 21 June 2013. Retrieved 12 January 2014.
  10. ^ "Indian Branch Railway". fibis. Retrieved 11 January 2014.
  11. ^ "IR History III : (1900-1947)". IRFCA. Retrieved 12 January 2014.
  12. ^ "Bengal and North-Western Railway". fibis. Retrieved 12 January 2014.
  13. ^ "Geography – Railway Zones". IRFCA. Retrieved 12 January 2014.
  14. ^ "East Central Railway". ECR. Retrieved 12 January 2014.
  15. ^ "North Central Railway". NCR. Retrieved 12 January 2014.
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