Malakwal–Khushab Branch Line

Malakwal–Khushab Branch Line
ملکوال-خُوشاب فرعی ریلوے خط‬
Overview
Other name(s) Sind–Sagar Railway
Status Operational
Termini Malakwal Junction
Khushab Junction
Stations 14
Operation
Opened 1 May 1887 (1887-05-01)
Owner Pakistan Railways
Operator(s) Pakistan Railways
Technical
Line length 92 km (57 mi)
Track gauge 1,676 mm (5 ft 6 in)
Operating speed 105 km/h (65 mph) (Current)
160 km/h (99 mph) (Proposed Upgrade)[1]

Malakwal–Khushab branch line (Urdu: ملکوال-خُوشاب فرعی ریلوے خط‬‎) is one of several branch lines in Pakistan, operated and maintained by Pakistan Railways. The line begins from Malakwal Junction station and ends at Khushab Junction station.[2] The total length of this railway line is 92 kilometers (57 mi). There are 14 railway stations from Malakwal Junction to Khushab Junction.[3] At present, rail traffic on this line is suspended.[4]

History

The Malakwal–Khushab branch line was built as part of the Sind–Sagar Railway between 1884 and 1939. In May 1887, the Victoria Bridge was completed over the Jhelum river between Malakwal and Chak Nizam and a railway line was constructed from Malakwal to Khushab. The line was conceived to haul freight from the mining rich region and served two important smaller railways: the Gharibwal Cement Works Railway and the Dandot Light Railway (serving the Khewra Salt Mine). In 1939, the Victoria bridge had to be completely re-girdered on the old piers when the bridge proved to be incapable of taking increased rail traffic.

Dandot Light Railway

The Dandot Light Railway opened in 1905 as a 10 kilometres (6.2 mi) 610 mm (2 ft) narrow gauge railway from Dandot railway station to Chalisa Junction railway station. It was built to serve the Khewra Salt Mine.[5][6]

Gharibwal Cement Works Railway

The Gharibwal Cement Works Railway opened in May 1886 as a 27 kilometres (17 mi) 1,676 mm (5 ft 6 in) railway from Haranpur Junction to Gharibwal. It was built to serve the Gharibwal quarry.[7]

Stations

References

  1. ↑ Pakistan Railways: A Performance Analysis - Citizens’ Periodic Reports on the Performance of State Institutions (PDF). Islamabad: PILDAT. December 2015. p. 21. ISBN 978-969-558-589-4. Archived from the original (PDF) on January 24, 2016. Retrieved August 18, 2016.
  2. ↑ http://www.internationalsteam.co.uk/tales/lythgoe05.htm
  3. ↑ Pakistan Railways Time & Fare Table 2015 (PDF) (in English and Urdu) (October 2015 ed.). Pakistan: National Book Foundation. pp. 66–67 (10–11). Archived from the original (PDF) on August 18, 2016. Retrieved 18 August 2016.
  4. ↑ https://www.dawn.com/news/1093434
  5. ↑ https://books.google.com/books?id=24iKabhn4fcC&pg=PA60&lpg=PA60&dq=dandot+railway&source=bl&ots=8_RZmqiRbH&sig=hjutnYYyVSJuMKBElJiQ8uAxFU8&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwiA2N_tirHTAhVMxoMKHfexDgUQ6AEIRDAG
  6. ↑ http://www.rolandziegler.de/Railtours/pakistan96/rb-pak96.html
  7. ↑ http://odysseuslahori.blogspot.com/2013/08/Malakwal-Gharibwal.html
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