Jalandhar–Jammu line

The Jalandhar–Jammu line is a railway line connecting Jalandhar Cantonment and Jalandhar City in the Indian state of Punjab with Jammu Tawi in Jammu & Kashmir. The line is under the administrative jurisdiction of Northern Railway. This line was made after Indian Independence in 1947. Normally before partition of India & creation of Pakistan, trains to Jammu Tawi in Jammu & Kashmir from Delhi used to run via Panipat, Ambala Cantonment, Ludhiana, Jalandhar City, Amritsar, Lahore, Narowal & Sialkot. But after partition & creation of Pakistan in 1947, the Sialkot - Jammu Tawi Old line was dismantled & closed permanently. Jammu & Kashmir became cut off from rest of India. Hence in the year 1949, it was decided to extend the line from Jalandhar City to Mukerian till Pathankot and after the Indo-Pakistani War of 1965, railway line to Jammu Tawi was constructed. This 216 km (134 mi) railway line is a important strategic connectivity for Indian Military & Defence.

Jalandhar–Jammu line
Overview
StatusOperational
LocalePunjab, Jammu & Kashmir
TerminiJalandhar City
Jammu Tawi
Operation
Opened1971
OwnerIndian Railway
Operator(s)Northern Railway
Technical
Track length216 km (134 mi)
Number of tracks2
Track gauge1,676 mm (5 ft 6 in) broad gauge
Electrificationcompleted
Operating speedup to 130 km/hr (Jalandhar–Pathankot section)
Highest elevationJalandhar Cantonment 256 m (840 ft), Pathankot Cantonment 352 m (1,155 ft), Jammu Tawi 414 m (1,358 ft)

History

The line from Jalandhar City to Mukerian City was constructed in 1915.[1] The Mukerian city to Pathankot jn line was built in 1952. The construction of the Pathankot–Jammu Tawi line was initiated in 1965, after the Indo-Pakistani War of 1965, and opened in 1971.[2] Railway tracks between Jalandhar and Jammu Tawi have been doubled.[3] Electrification of railway track between Jalandhar and Jammu Tawi was completed in 2014.[4]

Speed limit

The Delhi - Jalandhar Cantonment is classified as a "Group B" line and can take speeds up to 140 km/h (85 mph).[5]

Passenger movement

Jalandhar City and Jammu Tawi, on this line, are amongst the top hundred booking stations of Indian Railway.[6]

DMU shed

India’s first and largest DMU shed at Jalandhar holds 90 units placed in service in rural Punjab. It also houses two BEML built rail buses which operate on the Beas–Goindwal Sahib line.[7]

Loco sheds

Jammu has a trip shed for visiting locos where WDS-4 locos belonging to Shakurbasti shed are retained for long periods. Pathankot Cantonment (Chakki Bank) had a steam shed which has now been decommissioned.[7] Jalandhar City & Ludhiana have Electric Loco Sheds.

Railway Bridges

There are many Major & Minor Bridges in the Jalandhar City - Jammu Tawi Railway Line. The most important bridges are The 1.38 km (1 mi) long Beas River Bridge at Mirthal, The 0.225 km (0 mi) long Chakki River Bridge at Pathankot, The 2.16 km (1 mi) long Ravi River Bridge at Madhopur, The 1.23 km (1 mi) long Bridge on Degh Nalah at Ghagwal, The 1.09 km (1 mi) long Bridge on Basantar River at Samba & The 1.00 km (1 mi) long Bridge on River Unjh at Vijaypur Jammu.

Railway reorganisation

Sind Railway (later reorganised as Sind, Punjab and Delhi Railway) was formed a guaranteed railway in 1856. 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.[8]

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.[9] 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.[10]

References
  1. "Hoshiarpur – Punjab District Gazetteers". Chapter VII Communications – Railways. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 9 February 2014.
  2. "IR History: Part V (1970-1995)". IRFCA. Retrieved 9 February 2014.
  3. "Jalandhar-Udhampur Railway Track to be Electrified". Jalandhar, Punjab, India. Retrieved 3 January 2014.
  4. "Electric engine train on Pathankot-Jammu Tawi track from next month - Latest News & Updates at Daily News & Analysis". dnaindia.com. 22 July 2014. Retrieved 7 April 2018.
  5. "Chapter II – The Maintenance of Permanent Way". IRFCA. Archived from the original on 3 December 2013. Retrieved 9 February 2014.
  6. "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 10 February 2014.
  7. "Sheds and workshops". IRFCA. Retrieved 5 February 2014.
  8. "Digital South Asia Library". Imperial Gazetteer of India, v. 3, p. 398. Archived from the original on 2 February 2014. Retrieved 31 January 2014.
  9. SM Imamul Haque. "Management of Indian Railways, 1989". Readings in Indian Railway Finance by KB Verma, P 136. Mittal Publications,A 1/8 Mohan Garden, New Delhi 110059. ISBN 81-7099-183-8. Retrieved 31 January 2014.
  10. "Geography – Railway Zones". IRFCA. Retrieved 31 January 2014.
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