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Ludhiana–Fazilka line
Ludhiana–Fazilka line
	Ludhiana Junction an important railway station on Ludhiana–Fazilka line
Overview
Status	Operational
Owner	Indian Railways
Locale	Punjab
Termini	Ludhiana; Fazilka;
Service
System	Electrified
Operator(s)	Northern Railway
Depot(s)	Ludhiana
History
Opened	1905
Technical
Track length	212.8 km (132 mi)
Number of tracks	1 (Single line)
Track gauge	5 ft 6 in (1,676 mm) broad gauge
Electrification	Yes
Operating speed	110 km/h (68 mph)
Highest elevation	Ludhiana 246 m (807 ft), Firozpur 210 m (689 ft) Fazilka 182 m (597 ft)
Route map
Route map
	Legend
	Source: Google Maps ; 74972 Fazilka–Firozpur DMU; 54645 Firozpur–Ludhiana Passenger

The Ludhiana–Fazilka line is a railway line connecting Ludhiana and Fazilka both in the Indian state of the Punjab . The line is under the administrative jurisdiction of Northern Railway.

History

The Southern Punjab Railway Co. opened the 711 km (442 mi) long Delhi–Jind-Bhatinda–Fazilka-Bahawalnagar-Samma Satta line in 1897.^[1] 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.^[2]

Railway 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 711 kilometres (442 mi) long Delhi-Samma Satta & 445 kilometres (277 mi)long Delhi-Raiwind railway lines, which were operational. After partition of India, a 20 kilometres (12 mi) 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 The only train running through these tracks was withdrawn after 1965 war.^[3] 275 kilometres (171 mi) long Amruka-Samma Satta line & 28 kilometres (17 mi) long Kasur-Raiwind lines are operational in Pakistan now.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 16 kilometres (9.9 mi) broad gauge line from Kasur Junction in Pakistan has been closed.^[4] A strategically important 1,681 metres (5,515 ft) 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.^[5]

Loco sheds

Ludhiana diesel shed holds 170+ locos including WDM-2, WDM-3A and WDG-3A. Ludhiana electric loco shed was commissioned in 2001 and houses WAM-4, WAG-5 and WAG-7 locos.^[6]

Developments

The 81 km (50 mi) long 5 ft 6 in (1,676 mm) broad gauge line between Fazilka & Firozpur was laid in 1950, destroyed in 1965 & 1971 wars & finally re-laid in 1972 as a 84.8 km (53 mi) long 5 ft 6 in (1,676 mm) broad gauge line. The 42 km (26 mi) new 1,676 mm (5 ft 6 in)-wide 5 ft 6 in (1,676 mm) broad gauge line between Fazilka and Abohar declared on 2010, was opened in 2012.^[7]

The Indian Railways have been considering proposals for converting the existing 124 km (77 mi) Ludhiana–Firozpur single line into a double line.^[8]

Passenger movement

Ludhiana is the only station on this line which is amongst the top hundred booking stations of Indian Railway.^[9]

Railway reorganisation

Sind Railway (later reorganised as Scinde, Punjab & Delhi Railway) was formed a guaranteed railway in 1856.^[10] It constructed broad-gauge railways from Delhi to Multan via Lahore, and from Karachi to Kotri. Multan and Kotri were connected by ferry service on the Indus River. In 1871–72, Indus Valley Railway was formed to connect Multan and Kotri. At the same time, Punjab Northern State Railway started constructing from Lahore towards Peshawar. In 1886, Sind, Punjab and Delhi Railway was acquired by the state and amalgamated with Indus Valley Railway and Punjab Northern State Railway to form North-Western State Railway.^[11] Southern Punjab Railway was taken over by the state and merged with North Western Railway in 1930.^[12]

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.^[13] In 1952,Northern Railway was formed with a portion of East Indian Railway Company west of Mughalsarai, Jodhpur Railway, Bikaner Railway and Eastern Punjab Railway.^[14]

References

^ "IR History: Early Days II (1870–1899)". Retrieved 20 February 2014.
^ "Chapter VII Communications". Archived from the original on 23 February 2014. Retrieved 20 February 2014.
^ "Bahawalnagar rail junction a relic from 1901". The Nation. 14 November 2011. Retrieved 20 February 2014.
^ Bhuyan, Mohan. "International Links from India". IRFCA. Retrieved 20 February 2014.
^ Sharma, Dinesh K (5 December 2013). "40 years after war, bridge opens near Hussainiwla borer". The Times of India. Archived from the original on 20 February 2014. Retrieved 20 February 2014.
^ "Sheds and workshops". IRFCA. Retrieved 25 January 2014.
^ "Rail link between Abohar, Fazilka opens today". Hindustan Times. 15 July 2012. Archived from the original on 13 March 2014. Retrieved 20 February 2014.
^ "Railways to convert Ludhiana–Ferozepur into double line". The Times of India. 30 December 2009. Archived from the original on 20 February 2014. Retrieved 20 February 2014.
^ "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 20 February 2014.
^ "Sind Railway". fibis. Retrieved 20 February 2014.
^ "Digital South Asia Library". Imperial Gazetteer of India. p. 398. Archived from the original on 2 February 2014. Retrieved 20 February 2014.
^ "Southern Punjab Railway". fibis. Retrieved 20 February 2014.
^ SM Imamul Haque (1989). KB Verma (ed.). Management of Indian Railways, 1989. Mittal Publications,A 1/8 Mohan Garden, New Delhi 110059. p. 136. ISBN 81-7099-183-8. Retrieved 20 February 2014. {{cite book}}: |work= ignored (help)
^ "Geography – Railway Zones". IRFCA. Retrieved 20 February 2014.