Katihar–Siliguri line

The Katihar–Siliguri line is a railway line connecting Katihar in the Indian state of Bihar with Siliguri Junction in West Bengal, via Barsoi, Dalkhola, Kishanganj, Aluabari Road Junction, Thakurganj, Adhikari, Naxalbari, Bagdogra and Matigara. It was a metre-gauge track that was converted to 1,676 mm (5 ft 6 in) 5 ft 6 in (1,676 mm) broad gauge in 2011.

Katihar–Siliguri line
Kishanganj Junction an Important railway station on Katihar–Siliguri line
Overview
StatusOperational
OwnerIndian Railways
LocaleNorth BengalBihar
Termini
Stations35
Service
Operator(s)Northeast Frontier Railway
History
Opened1958
Technical
Line length203.7 kilometres (126.6 mi)
Track gauge1,676 mm (5 ft 6 in) 5 ft 6 in (1,676 mm) broad gauge
Route map

km
km
UpperLeft arrow
UpperRight arrow
00
0
Katihar Junction
Down arrow
Maniyan
06
4
Nayatola
Kuretha
11
9
Dandkhora
Sahja Halt
15
12
Gorphar
Pranpur Road
18
Labha
23
16
Sonaili
Dilli Dewan Ganj
26
19
Bishanpur Halt
Left arrow
23
Jhaua
Babhangaon Halt
32
25
Meenapur
Khurial
35
Kamalpur Halt
38
Azamnagar Road
43
29
Salmari
Bhawanipur Bihar Halt
47
34
52
Mukuria
38
Barsoi
Left arrow
43
Khempur
46
Sanjay Gram
50
Sudhani
56
Ajhrail
59
Telta
Left arrow
67
Dalkhola
74
Surja Kamal
82
Kanki
87
Hatwar
93
Tauheed Halt
96
0
Kishanganj
planned connection
Kishanganj City
97
4
Mahangaon
12
Kuttihat
Panjipara
104
18
Majgaon
Ikarchala
108
20
Majhok Halt
Gaisal
113
26
Routa
Dhantola
115
35
Taslim Nagar
Gunjaria
118
40
Pora Halt
Aluabari Road Junction
126
45
Khata Halt
Up arrow
50
Jalalgarh
Pothia
131
Down arrow
Taiabpur
139
Thakurganj
146
0
planned connection
Dhulabari
131
3
Bhogoabar
Mangurjan
137
9
Kooagaon Halt
15
Pawakhali
29
Tulsia
Tin Mile Hat
143
37
Bibiganj
Dumdangi
152
44
Taragach Halt
54
Kaliaganj
Chattarhat
161
64
Bardha Halt
75
Lakshmipur
Piprithan
152
84
Khawaspur Halt
Galgalia
158
90
Bansbari
97
Rahamatpur
Adhikari
167
Up arrow
Batasi
170
100
Arariya
Naksalbari
179
Down arrow
Hatighisa
183
Bagdogra Airport Bagdogra
192
Nijbari
168
Rangapani
175
196
Raja Rammohanpur Halt
New Jalpaiguri Junction
182
Left arrow
Siliguri Town
186
198
Matigara
Siliguri Junction
189
202
Panchai River
LowerLeft arrow
Siliguri-Kishanganj
closed NG section
Panchnai Junction
204
Right arrow
Down arrow
Down arrow
Siliguri-Gielkhola
closed NG section
km
km

Another railway line with a slightly different route with shorter distance exists between Siliguri Junction and Aluabari Road Junction (Islampur) and its details are available in Howrah–New Jalpaiguri line article.

History

Early developments

Railway developments in the area started in the 1880s. East Indian Railway Company opened the Manihari–Katihar–Kasba section in 1888 and the North Bengal Railway opened the Katihar–Raiganj section the same year. The Barsoi–Kishanganj section opened in 1889. All these lines were metre-gauge lines. Darjeeling Himalayan Railway, operating narrow-gauge lines, extended their operations from Siliguri to Kishenganj in 1915.

Siliguri was connected to Calcutta (now spelt as Kolkata) via the eastern part of Bengal since 1878 (for details see Howrah–New Jalpaiguri line). However, with the partition of India in 1947, railway services in the region were completely disrupted. In 1949, the 108 kilometres (67 mi) narrow gauge Siliguri–Kishanganj section was upgraded to metre gauge. Thus there was a direct metre-gauge connection from Manihari to Siliguri via Katihar.[1] A generally acceptable route to Siliguri was via Sahibganj loop to Sakrigali ghat. Across the Ganges by ferry to Manihari Ghat. Then metre gauge via Katihar and Barsoi to Kishanganj and finally narrow gauge to Sliguri,[2] before Kishanganj–Siliguri was converted to metre gauge. This, therefore, remains a historic route, even though for a short period.[1]

Surviving as a metre-gauge line in the broad-gauge era

In the sixties, new 5 ft 6 in (1,676 mm) broad gauge lines were laid in the area and in 1971 with the rail bridge over Farakka Barrage, Siliguri was once again directly connected with Calcutta (now spelt as Kolkata) by 576 kilometres (358 mi) long broad-gauge track. A section of the broad-gauge line from Mukuria to Aluabari Road ran alongside the metre-gauge line. The metre-gauge line survived for many years until 2011.[1]

An Indian Railways Fan Club enthusiast reported (in June 2005): "Near Siliguri, a MG line emerges to the right, on a somewhat high embankment and continues to run parallel to the road. This is the Siliguri–Kishanganj–Katihar MG line which still exists. Bagdogra is a station on this line, in fact the airport's runway almost ends within station limits! Both road and rail curve northwards but then diverge with the road crossing over the railway tracks. This overpass is above the Siliguri–New Mal Junction–Alipurduar Junction–Samuktala Road line and the DHR. The former was MG in 2000 and is BG now."

Gauge conversion

The Siliguri–Katihar line was the last surviving metre-gauge line in the area. The Aluabari Road–Katihar section already had a broad-gauge line running alongside the metre-gauge line. The 76 kilometres (47 mi) long Aluabari Road–Siliguri section needed to be converted. Conversion work was taken up in 2008, train services in the section was suspended and conversion work completed early in 2011.[3][4][5]

References

  1. "India: the complex history of the junctions at Siliguri and New Jalpaiguri". IRFCA. Retrieved 12 November 2011.
  2. "my school i wish". Madhyamgram Re-visited after 15 years. Retrieved 23 January 2011.
  3. "Delayed but new route helps trains". The Telegraph. 29 September 2011. Archived from the original on 13 April 2014. Retrieved 10 December 2011.
  4. "Railways to partially restore Siliguri–Bagdogra service". The Times of India. 16 March 2010. Archived from the original on 3 January 2013. Retrieved 10 December 2011.
  5. "IRFCA photo gallery". IRFCA. Retrieved 10 December 2011.

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