Marwar Junction–Munabao line

The Marwar Junction–Munabao line connects Marwar Junction, on the Jaipur–Ahmedabad line to Munabao, the last station in India, near the India–Pakistan border. Both are in the Indian state of Rajasthan. There is a link to Jodhpur. This line operates under the jurisdiction of North Western Railway zone.

Marwar Junction–Munabao line
Overview
StatusOperational
OwnerIndian Railways
LocaleThar desert, Rajasthan
Termini
Service
Operator(s)North Western Railway zone
History
Opened1902; 122 years ago (1902)
Technical
Track lengthMarwar Junction–Munabao: 370 km (230 mi)
Luni–Jodhpur: 30 km (19 mi)
Track gauge1,676 mm (5 ft 6 in)
ElectrificationYes
Operating speed100 Km/HR
Highest elevationMarwar Junction 267 m (876 ft)
Route map

km
to Karachi via Hyderabad
Zero Point
India–Pakistan border
370
Munabao
361
Jaisinder
342
Gadra Road
324
Gagariya
306
Ramsar
293
Bhachhbar
280
Jasai
206
Barmer
NH25-IN.svg NH 25
NH68-IN.svg NH 68
242
Uttarlai
NH25-IN.svg NH 25
229
Kawas
218
Baniya Sanda Dhora
State Highway 40
205
Baytu
194
Bhimarlal
182
Gole
173
Tilwara
170
Khed Temple (Halt)
Pachpadra
NH25-IN.svg NH 25
155
Balotra
146
Janiyana
136
Parlu
to Bhildi
on Gandhidham–Palanpur section
122
Samdari
111
Ajit
106
Miyonka Bara
99
Dundara
87
Dudia
81
Sutlana
73
Luni
78
Hanwant
87
Salawas
Jojari River
97
Basni
100
Bhagat Ki Kothi
103
Jodhpur
to Jodhpur–Bathinda line
Luni River
60
Rohat
State Highway 64
52
Pirudelsha (Halt)
46
Kirala
NH62-IN.svg NH 62
31
Pali Marwar
NH62-IN.svg NH 62
20
Bomadra
11
Rajkiawas
State Highway 61
0
Marwar Junction
on Jaipur–Ahmedabad line

History

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A 1,000 mm (3 ft 3+38 in)-wide metre-gauge line from Marwar Junction to Pali was built by the Rajputana Railway in 1882. It was extended to Luni in 1884 and Jodhpur in 1885. It formed the first Jodhpur Railway. It later became part of Jodhpur–Bikaner Railway.[1][2]

A metre-gauge line from Luni to Shadipalli, in Sind, was built across the Thar desert in 1902 by Jodhpur–Bikaner Railway and the line from Shadipalli to Hyderabad (now in Pakistan) was regauged from 1,676 mm (5 ft 6 in) broad gauge to 1,000 mm (3 ft 3+38 in) meter gauge in 1901.[3]

The Luni–Barmer–Munabao section was converted to 1,676 mm (5 ft 6 in)-wide broad gauge in 2004.[4] The Jodhpur–Luni–Marwar Junction section was converted to broad gauge in early 2000s.[5]

Border crossing

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According to a 1929 issue of the Railway Gazette, the Sind Mail used to run on this route between Ahmedabad and Hyderabad, Sind. The route was in use with through services between Jodhpur and Karachi till around 1965. On the Pakistan side, Khokhrapar was the terminus of a branch line from Hyderabad, Sind via Mirpur Khas, 135 km from the border.[4]

The rail link across Munabao-Khokhrapar border was restored in 2006. It reduced considerably the travel distance and time for people travelling to and from southern parts of Pakistan, particularly Mohajirs in Sind, and central and southern India. They otherwise would have had to use the longer route via Wagah-Attari. As per the agreement between Indian and Pakistan railways, the Thar Express travels once a week from Karachi during a six-month block, crosses the international border, and the passengers change over to an Indian train at Munabao for their onward journey to Jodhpur.[6] Service on the Munabao-Khokhrapar link of the India–Pakistan border was suspended on 24 August 2006 following incessant rain and water-logging on the Indian side and restored on 17 February 2007. Pakistan Railways have set up a new railway station at Zero Point[7][8]

Passenger movement

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

Sheds and workshops

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The former metre-gauge workshop at Jodhpur now performs periodic overhauling of broad-gauge passenger coaches. The former metre-gauge diesel shed at Bhagat ki Kothi was converted to broad-gauge shed in the 1990s. It houses 133+ electro-motive diesel locos. It is home to WDG-4, WDP-4, WDM-2. WDM-3A and WDG-3A locomotives.[10]

References

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  1. ^ "Jodhpur–Bikaner Railway". fibis. Archived from the original on 2 February 2014. Retrieved 30 April 2014.
  2. ^ "IR History: Part II (1870–1899)". IRFCA. Retrieved 30 April 2014.
  3. ^ "IR History: Part III (1900–1947)". IRFCA. Retrieved 30 April 2014.
  4. ^ a b "Geography:International". IRFCA. Retrieved 30 April 2014.
  5. ^ "Overview of Jodhpur Division: Historical Perspective" (PDF). North Western Railway. Retrieved 30 April 2014.
  6. ^ Iqbal, Mohammed (5 December 2010). "Thar Express survives 'terror attack'". The Hindu. Retrieved 30 April 2014.
  7. ^ "IR History: Part VII (2000-present)". IRFCA. Retrieved 30 April 2014.
  8. ^ "Khokhrapar station to be operational soon". The News, 12 December 2006. Archived from the original on 13 March 2014. Retrieved 30 April 2014.
  9. ^ "Indian Railways Passenger Reservation Enquiry". Availability in trains for Top 100 Booking Stations of Indian Railways. Archived from the original on 10 May 2014. Retrieved 30 April 2014.
  10. ^ "Sheds and workshops". IRFCA. Retrieved 30 April 2014.
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