Amritsar–Khem Karan line

The Amritsar–Khem Karan line is a railway route on the Northern Railway zone of Indian Railways. This route plays an important role in rail transportation in Punjab state.

Amritsar–Khem Karan line
with Beas Branch line
Overview
StatusOperational
OwnerIndian Railways
LocalePunjab
Termini
Service
Operator(s)Northern Railway
History
Opened4 April 1910 (Main line)
2011 (Beas branch)
Technical
Line lengthMain line 77 km (48 mi)
Tarn Taran–Beas branch line 49 km (30 mi)
Track gauge1,676 mm (5 ft 6 in) Broad Gauge
ElectrificationYes
Operating speed100 km/h
Route map

on Ambala–Attari line
0
Amritsar
NH354-IN.svg NH 354
NH354-IN.svg NH 354
5
Bhagtanwala
NH54-IN.svg NH 54
10
Sangrana Sahib
14
Gohlwar Varpal
18
Dukhnawaran
NH54-IN.svg NH 54
23/0
Tarn Taran
Rure Asal 29
NH54-IN.svg NH 54
Jandoke 34
8
Malmohari
Kairon 38
13
Vain Poin
SH62-IN jct.svg SH 62
21
Goindwal Sahib
Patti 44
28
Khadur Sahib
NH703B-IN.svg NH 703B
32
Saidpur Jalalabad Halt
Boparai 53
36
Bhalojala Halt
Gharyala 57/0
NH3-IN.svg NH 3
Valtoha 65
49
Beas
Rattok Gurudwara 71
on Ambala–Attari line
Khem Karan 77
Kot Budha 10
Satluj River
NH703A-IN.svg NH 703A
Mallanwala Khas 25
on Jalandhar–Firozpur line
Sources:Google Maps,
Amritsar Khem Karan DEMU
Tarn Taran Beas DMU

The corridor passes through the Plain Areas of Punjab and some portion are near the bank of Beas with a stretch of 77 km which connects Amritsar Junction situates on Ambala–Attari line and Khem Karan. It has a branch line that starts from Tarn Taran Junction and ends at Beas Junction with a stretch of 49 km.

History

edit

The main 111 kilometres (69 mi) long railway line from Amritsar Junction to Khem Karan and Kasur via Tarn Taran Junction was originally built by Killick, Nixon and Company with under North Western State Railway Company in Punjab portion as 5 ft 6 in (1,676 mm) broad gauge was constructed on different phases.

  • The first phase 23.4 kilometres (14.5 mi), from Amritsar Junction to Tarn Taran was opened on 21 September 1906.
  • The second phase 19.8 kilometres (12.3 mi), from Tarn Taran to Patti was opened on 30 December 1906.
  • The third phase 33.8 kilometres (21.0 mi), from Patti to Kasur was opened on 4 April 1910.
  • The final phase 34 kilometres (21 mi), from Khem Karan to Kasur was opened on 3 January 1911.[1]

After Partition of India in 1947, 34 kilometres (21 mi) The Khem Karan–Kasur link was totally dismantled[2] and the trains run till Khem Karan.[3][4]

Whereas, the branch line between Tarn Taran Junction and Beas Junction which lies on Ambala–Attari line was opened on different phases.

  • The first phase, between Beas Junction to Goindwal was opened on 18 December 1997.[5]
  • The second phase, between Tarn Taran Junction to Goindwal was approved on 1997[6] and opened on 2000.[7]

Electrification

edit

The electrification was started on 2019,[8] As the Amritsar–Tarn Taran–Beas section[9] and the remaining section as Tarn Taran–Khem Karan section is going to be electrified.[10]

Project

edit

Currently the Patti–Mallanwala Khas rail link was sanctioned on 2013 [11] for another direct link between Amritsar and Firozpur and Rest of India via 1,369 metres (4,491 ft) long Rail cum Road bridge on Sutlej River is under construction.[12]

References

edit
  1. ^ "Administration Report on the Railways in India – corrected up to 31st March 1918; Superintendent of Government Printing, Calcutta; page 110". Retrieved 2016-02-16.
  2. ^ "International links with India". IRFCA.
  3. ^ "Separated by Partition, reunited by rail". Hindustan Times.
  4. ^ "District Census Handbook Tarn Taran" (PDF). Government of India.
  5. ^ "Manisha Sharma vs Union Of India And Ors. on 21 December, 2012". Indian Kanoon.
  6. ^ "Ludhiana rail link gets underway". Tribune India. Retrieved 2012-08-14.
  7. ^ "Duronto, finally, links Chandigarh to Amritsar". Retrieved 2011-08-25.
  8. ^ "MP urges Goyal to initiate work on Patti-Ferozepore rail line". Tribune India.
  9. ^ "Railways releases Rs.120 crore for track electrification". Tribune India.
  10. ^ "Electrification of rly tracks in the pipeline". Tribune India.
  11. ^ "Questions and Answers in Lok sabha for railway projects" (PDF). Government of India.
  12. ^ "Patti-Makhu rail link hanging fire for 7 years". Hindustan Times.