Barkakana–Son Nagar line

The Barkakana–Son Nagar line is an Indian railway line connecting Barkakana and Son Nagar on the Gaya–Mughalsarai section of the Grand Chord. This 313-kilometre (194 mi) track is under the jurisdiction of East Central Railway.

Barkakana–Son Nagar line (including Ranchi–Tori line and Garhwa Road–Billi line)
Son Nagar Junction the starting point of Barkakana–Son Nagar line
Overview
Status	Operational
Owner	Indian Railways
Locale	Bihar, Jharkhand
Termini	Barkakana Son Nagar
Stations	41
Service
System	Electrified
Operator(s)	East Central Railway
History
Opened	1907
Technical
Line length	313 km (194 mi)
Number of tracks	2
Track gauge	5 ft 6 in (1,676 mm) broad gauge
Electrification	electrified in 1962
Operating speed	up to 110 km/h (68 mph)
Route map km 0 Son Nagar Mughalsarai Jn. · Gaya Jn. 8 Baghabishnupur 16 Ankorah 22 Barkisalaiya 30 Nabinagar Road Bihar Jharkhand border 39 Kajrat Nawadih 46 Japla 53 Haidar Nagar 58 Kosiara 65 Mohammad Ganj 71 Satbahini 77 Untari Road 82 Karkatta 87 Sigsigi to Chunar 135 Billi to Singrauli 132 Salai Banwa 124 Paras Pani 119 Gurmura 110 Jogidih 100 Renukut 93 Muirpur Road 85 Jharokhas 78 Dudhinagar Kanhar River 66 Mahuariya 56 Wyndhamganj Uttar Pradesh Jharkhand border 44 Nagaruntari 32 Ramna MBRL siding Banki River 21 Meralgram 10 Garhwa North Koel River 93 0 Garhwa Road 99 Tolra 104 Lalgarh Bihar Halt 109 Rajhura Amanat River 120 Kajri to Rafiganj (planned) 126 Daltonganj 134 Chianki Auranga River 141 Kechki 148 Mangra Halt to Ambikapur (planned) 154 Barwadih 162 Chhipadohar 171 Hehegara Halt 181 Kumendi 188 Bendi 194 Latehar 201 Demu 209 Richughuta 217 Chetar 227 0 Tori Tori–Shivpur–Koderma line 14 Bodagram 30 Barkichampi 36 Hendlaso Bhogta Bagicha Hindalco Siding 44 Lohardaga 53 Irgaon 58 Akashi 64 Nagjua 72 Narkopi 82 Tangerbansli 89 Itki 98 Piska to Lodhma (planned) Hatia–Rourkela line 109 Argora 111 Ranchi Netaji S.C.Bose Gomoh–Hatia line Barkakana–Ranchi line 233 Mahuamilan Damodar River 247 Nindra 249 McCluskieganj Piparwar CCP/CHP Siding Damodar River Khalari Cement Plant siding 255 Khalari Hesalong Colliery siding 261 Ray 269 Kole Block Halt 275 Hendegir 278 Chhapar Halt 283 Tokisud Religara Colliery siding Giddi Colliery siding Damodar River 290 Patratu Sayal Colliery siding JSEB Thermal Power Station Saunda Colliery siding JSPL Steel and Power plant 299 Bhurkunda to Gomoh/ Koderma 308 Barkakana Barkakana–Ranchi line Barkakana–Muri–Chandil line

History

In 1902, a branch line of EIR was opened from Sone East Bank (later renamed Son Nagar) to Daltonganj. With the development of South Karanpura Coalfield, the Central India Coalfields Railway opened a line from Gomoh to Barkakana in 1927 and from Barkakana to Daltonganj in 1929. These lines were subsequently taken over by EIR.

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). 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. Subsequently, longer road bridges were built but it remained the longest rail bridge in India for many years. 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.

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.

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. East Central Railway was created in 1996–97.