Jaynagar–Bardibas railway line

The Jaynagar–Janakpur–Bardibas railway line (Hindi/ Nepali: जयनगर–जनकपुर–बर्दीबास रेलवे) is a cross-border railway line between India and Nepal.[2] The railway links Bhangaha with Jaynagar, crossing the India–Nepal border at Inarwa.[3] An extension to Bardibas is under way.[3] It is the only operational railway line in Nepal.[4]

Jaynagar–Janakpur–Bardibas railway
Overview
Other name(s)Bardibas - Jayanagar line
Native nameबर्दिबास जयनगर रेलमार्ग
StatusOperating
LocaleIndian state of Bihar and Nepalelse province of Madhesh Province
Termini
StationsInarwa, Khajuri, Baidehi, Parbaha, Janakpur, Kurtha, Khutta Pipradhi, Loharpatti, Singyahi, Bhangaha
Service
TypeDiesel Electric Multiple Unit (DEMU)
SystemIndian Railway & Nepal Railway
ServicesBhangaha-Kurtha-Janakpur-Jayanagar
History
Opened1937 (1937)
Upgradation2014 - 2019
Reopened2022
Inaugurated bySher Bahadur Deuba
(As PM of Nepal)
Narendra Modi
(As PM of India)
Technical
Line length68.7 km (42.7 mi)(currently 52 km is operational)
Track gauge5 ft 6 in (1,676 mm)
ElectrificationNo, Planned in future
Operating speed69 mph (111 km/h)up to 120 km/h [1]
Route map
Jaynagar-Bardibas
km
 Station
objects
INR Ter. (JYG)
NRW Ter. (JYG)
3
India
Nepal
border
3.2
 Inarwa
7.8
 Khajuri
13.3
 Mahinathpur
17.7
 Baidehi
21.7
 Parbaha
23
Postal Highway
23.5
Jaladh khola
28.4
 Janakpurdham
33.1
 Kurtha
34.2
 Pipradhi
36.2
Bighi river
37.8
 Khutta Pipradhi
42.5
 Loharpatti
47.6
 Singyahi
51.2
 Bhangaha
51.8
Rato river
 Bijayalpura
Bardibas

Sections

The railway line was upgraded splitting into three sections spanning total 68.7 km of distance. Out of which first two sections are completed up to Bhangaha where trains are running regularly. Now only remaining section to construct is the Bhangaha–Bardibas section. [5]

Completed Jaynagar–Bhangaha section

The Jaynagar–Kurtha section was upgraded under the government of India's grant assistance of NPR 8.77 billion.[6][7] The section is 35 km. long and it has 7 stations from Jaynagar to Kurtha. The Jaynagar railway station is the first station that is inside India. After 3 km of distance from the Jaynagar railway station, the international border is located. After some distance from the border, the first railway station inside Nepal comes on this railway line. Inarwa railway station is the first railway station on this section. Kurtha–Bhangaha section is a 17 km long railway line[8] The prime minister of India Mr. Narendra Modi and the prime minister of Nepal Mr. Pushpa Kamal Dahal on 1st June 2023 jointly unveiled the e-plaque of the Kurtha-Bhangaha section of the Railway. [9] Trains started to run on Extended (additional) stations from 16 June of 2023[10]

Stations between Jaynagar to Bhangaha:

Bhangaha–Bardibas section

The work on Bhangaha–Bardibas section has not yet started. The land acquisition for the project is not yet completed. New line will be constructed till Bardibas after Government of Nepal hands over the land for the project.[8]

An abandoned narrow gauge NJJR engine at Janakpur

History

Constructed as second railway line in Nepal of narrow gauge 2 ft 6 in (762 mm) in 1937. The line was Named Nepal Janakpur Jaynagar Railway (NJJR). Initially it was used by Britishers to carry timber from the then heavily forested areas of Janakpur in the Kingdom of Nepal to Jainagar (India).[11] [12] When all the timber in the area cut, the station was opened for the passenger. Soon Nepalese villagers around Janakpur found it handy for commuting to their local town and go to India. [13] Janakpur being the birth place of Sita, is a holy and popular pilgrimage destination for lots of travelers within Nepal and India. So Indian visitors also started to visit Janakpur by this train line. The train service on this line was halted in 2014 to convert it into broad gauge.[14]

The Broad gauge 5 ft 6 in (1,676 mm) railway project was started in 2014 when Nepali Congress leader Bimalendra Nidhi was Minister for Physical Infrastructure and Transport in Sushil Koirala cabinet.[4][15][16]

A Nepal Railway train on its inaugural run after the rail line's upgradation.
A Nepal Railway train on its inaugural run after the rail line's upgradation.

Re operation, 2022

The test operation has completed, and officially inaugurated by Nepali Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on 2 April 2022.[17][18][19] It was fully operational for passenger service on 3 April 2022.[20] [21]

See also

References
  1. "जनकपुर-जयनगर रेल्वे ट्रयाकको परीक्षण सम्पन्न, सञ्चालन हुने टुंगो छैन". Farakdhar || Nepal's Online Magazine. Retrieved 7 January 2023.
  2. "Kurtha-Jayanagar train service test successful". Nepal News. Retrieved 16 January 2022.
  3. Murr, Michael. "Michaels WebSite". www.michael-murr.de. Retrieved 16 January 2022.
  4. "Department of Railways". www.dorw.gov.np. Retrieved 16 January 2022.
  5. "Indian Railway conducts trial run on Jaynagar Bardibas project section". www.railwaytechnology.com. 20 July 2021. Retrieved 14 April 2022.
  6. "PM Modi, Nepal's Deuba inaugurate Jaynagar-Kurtha railway service". Hindustan times. 2 April 2022. Retrieved 14 April 2022.
  7. "India Hands Over Jaynagar-Kurtha Cross-Border Rail Link To Nepal". NDTV. 22 October 2021. Retrieved 14 April 2022.
  8. "India- Nepal railway service: The projects, route, cost in 10 points". The Times of India. 1 April 2022. Retrieved 22 April 2022.
  9. "PM Modi, Nepal counterpart Dahal jointly flag off cargo train from Bathnaha to Nepal". argusrnglish. 1 June 2023. Retrieved 1 June 2023.
  10. "Train service extended: Janakpur-Jayanagar route now includes Bhangha in Mahottari". my Republica. 16 June 2023. Retrieved 16 June 2023.
  11. "The Janakpur Railway - The longest railway line of Nepal". michael-murr.de. Retrieved 4 August 2018.
  12. "Railway In Nepal : History Of The First Ever Train That Arrived to Nepal". Notes Nepal. 11 November 2020. Retrieved 26 April 2022.
  13. "Report on the National Transport System for Nepal published in 1965" (PDF). world bank. 1965. Retrieved 5 April 2022.
  14. "A Look Inside Nepal's Abandoned Railway to India". Bloomberg. 19 June 2017. Retrieved 26 April 2022.
  15. "Train To Himalayas India Nepal Passenger Rail Service Begins Today Here All You Need To Know". www.india.com. 2 April 2022. Retrieved 2 April 2022.
  16. "Nepal, India PMs likely to jointly inaugurate cross-border railway link". WION. Retrieved 2 April 2022.
  17. "Deuba, Modi flag off Kurtha-Jayanagar railway from Delhi". kathmandupost.com. Retrieved 7 January 2023.
  18. Samiti, Rastriya Samachar (19 July 2021). "Speed trial run conducted on Janakpur-Jayanagar railway track". The Himalayan Times. Retrieved 16 January 2022.
  19. "North has renewed cross-border train pledge, but progress slow on the ground". kathmandupost.com. Retrieved 16 January 2022.
  20. "Janakpur-Jayanagar Railway to come into operation from Sunday". My Republica. Retrieved 7 January 2023.
  21. Samiti, Rastriya Samachar (2 April 2022). "Kurtha-Jayanagar railway service to launch today". The Himalayan Times. Retrieved 7 January 2023.
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