Gaya–Mughalsarai section

Gaya–Mughalsarai section including Arrah-Sasaram and Son Nagar-Barkakana branch lines
Overview
Status	Operational
Locale	Bihar, Jharkhand, Uttar Pradesh
Termini	Gaya Mughalsarai
Stations	31
Operation
Opened	1907
Owner	Indian Railway
Operator(s)	East Central Railway
Technical
Line length	197 km (122 mi)
Number of tracks	2
Track gauge	1,676 mm (5 ft 6 in) Broad Gauge
Electrification	1962
Operating speed	up to 160 km/h (99 mph)

Gaya–Mughalsarai Section
Legend
km km     to Mughalsarai–Kanpur section of Howrah–Delhi main line and Howrah–Gaya–Delhi line 0 Mughalsarai    9 Ganikhwaja    17 Chandauli Majhwar  26 Saidraja    Uttar Pradesh Bihar border 34 Karamnasa  Karmanasa River  Arrah   0 Uttar Pradesh Bihar border  Howrah–Delhi main line 39 Dhanichha  Garhani 19 Durgavati River  Samraon 24 46 Durgaoti  Charpokhari Halt 29 55 Bhabua Road  Piro 37 60 Muthani  Hasan Bazar Halt 47 67 Pusauli  Bikramganj 56 78 Kudra  Mani Halt 63 84 Khurmabad Road Halt  Sanjhauli Halt 68 89 Shiusagar Road  Garhnoka 77 94 Kumhau  Khairadih Halt 87 102 Sasaram Sasaram 97 109 Karwandiya  115 Pahleja Halt  Dehri-on-Sone 120   Nehru Setu bridge across Son River 0 Son Nagar    Son Nagar 126 9 Bagaha Bishnupur    Chirailla Halt 131 16 Ankorha Akorha  Anugrah Narayan Road 136 18 Barki Salaiya  Phesar 145 34 Nabinagar Road  Baghoikusa 151 Bihar Jharkhand border  Jakhim 156 42 Kajrat Nawadih  Rafiganj 168 50 Japla  Ismailpur 177 57 Haidarnagar  Gurau 183 62 Kosiara  Paraiya 189 68 Mohammadganj  Kastha 195 75 Satbahani  Gaya 205 80 Untare Road  Asansol–Gaya section 86 Karkatta  90 Sigsigi  to Chopan 97 Garhwa Road  102 Tolra  108 Lalgarh Halt  112 Rajhura  124 Kajri  Amanat River  130 Daltonganj  137 Chianki  Auranga River  145 Kechki         Mangra Halt  157 Barwadih  166 Chhipadohar  174 Hehegara Halt  184 Kumendi  192 Bendi  198 Latehar  204 Demu  212 Richuguta  220 Chetar  230 Tori  Damodar River  243 Mahuamilan  252 McCluskieganj  Pipawar CPP/CHP & colliery sidings   Khalari cement plant  258 Khalari  Hesalong colliery  267 Ray  279 Hendegir  287 Tokisud  294 Patratu  Sayal, Giddi & Religara collieries   Patratu TPS of JSEB   303 Bhurkunda  to Gomoh–Barkakhana branch line 313 Barkakana  to Tatanagar–Bakakana line

The Gaya–Mughalsarai section is a railway line connecting Gaya and Mughalsarai. This 197-kilometre (122 mi) track is part of the Grand Chord, Howrah-Gaya-Delhi line and Howrah-Allahabad-Mumbai line. This section includes Arrah-Sasaram and Son Nagar branch lines. It is under the jurisdiction of East Central Railway.

Grand Chord

Ever since the railway connection of Delhi with Howrah in 1866, the East Indian Railway Company was making regular efforts to reduce the distance of the Howrah–Delhi main line. After a survey in 1888-89 and two more subsequently, a route was determined from Dhanbad to Mughal Sarai via Koderma and Gaya. The major works in this section were a bridge across the Son River at Dehri, and tunnelling and ghat line construction between Gurpa and Gujhandi.^[1] The Grand Chord was opened in 1907. Even when the Grand Chord was under construction, the Son Nagar-Daltonganj branch line was opened in 1902.^[2]

Bridging the Soane/Son

The total length of the Upper Soane Bridge across the Soane, as the river was then called, over abutments is 3,064 metres (10,052 ft).^[3] It was opened for traffic on 27 February 1900. When it was built, it was the longest bridge in India and was believed to be the second longest bridge in the world, short of the Tay bridge near Dundee.^[1][3] Subsequently, longer road bridges were built but it remained the longest rail bridge in India for many years.^[4] The opening of the 4.62 km Vembanad Rail Bridge, connecting the Container Transshipment Terminal on Vallarpadam Island to Edappally, in February 2011, pushed it to the second position.^[5][6]

Electrification

The Gaya–Mughalsarai section was electrified in 1962.^[2] In 1965, Asansol-Bareilly Passenger was the first long-distance train on Eastern Railway hauled by an AC loco.^[7]

Arrah–Sasaram

The Arrah–Sasaram line was opened as a narrow gauge (2 ft 6 in (762 mm)) section of Martin's Light Railways in 1914 and was closed in 1978.^[2][8] A new broad gauge line was laid by Indian Railways from Sasaram to Arrah in 2006-07.^[9]

Speed limits

Most of the Gaya–Mughalsarai section is classified as ‘A’ class line where trains can run up to 160 km per hour but in certain sections speeds may be limited to 120–130 km per hour. The Howrah Rajdhani (between Howrah and New Delhi) travels at an average speed of 85.8 km per hour and the Sealdah Rajdhani (between Sealdah and New Delhi) travels at an average speed of 84.70 km per hour.^[10][11]

Freight corridor

Son Nagar is expected to be connected with Ludhiana as part of the Eastern Corridor. The primary feeder routes for this will be from Sonnagar to Durgapur via Gomoh, Sonnagar to Tatanagar via Garhwa Road, and Barkakana to Bokaro via Chandrapura.^[12]

Railway reorganisation

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 Mughalsarai, 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]

References

1. "As the traffic continued to grow even beyond the capacity of the". Tripod. Retrieved 2011-11-20.
2. R. P. Saxena. "Indian Railway History Time line". Irse.bravehost.com. Retrieved 4 January 2014.
3. O’malley, L.S.S. Bihar and Orissa Gazeteers Sahabad. p. 166, Dehri. Google Books. Retrieved 25 June 2011.
4. "Longest Railway Bridge in India". Colours of India. Retrieved 25 June 2011.
5. "A bridge over Vembanad Lake". The Hindu. Retrieved 25 June 2011.
6. "Longest railway bridge in Kochi". ForumCo.com. Retrieved 25 June 2011.
7. "IR History Part IV (1947-1970". IRFCA (Indian Railways Fan Club). Retrieved 2011-11-20.
8. "Non-IR Railways in India". IRFCA. Retrieved 2011-12-01.
9. "Speech of Shri Lalu Prasad Introducing the Railway Budget 2006-07 On 24th February 2006". New lines. Press Information Bureau. Retrieved 2011-12-01.
10. "Permanent Way". Track Classifications. Retrieved 2012-01-15.
11. "Trivia". Highest speed sections of track. Retrieved 2012-01-15.
12. "Freight Trains". What is dedicated freight corridor?. IRFCA. Retrieved 2011-11-20.
13. "Geography – Railway Zones". IRFCA. Retrieved 28 March 2014.
14. "East Central Railway". ECR. Retrieved 28 March 2014.

External links