Kamal Guha at 07:13, 26 June 2023

2023-06-26T07:13:03Z

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{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2015}}
{{Use Indian English|date=September 2015}}
{{Infobox rail line
| box_width = 28em
| name = Asansol–Patna section
| color =
| logo = 
| logo_width = 100 px
| image = Kiul Junction railway station IMG 20191101 142219-1.jpg
| image_width =
| caption = Kiul Junction is an important railway station at Asansol–Patna section
| type =
| system =
| status = Operational
| locale = [[West Bengal]], [[Jharkhand]], [[Bihar]]
| start = {{stnlnk|Asansol}}
| end = [[Patna Junction railway station|Patna]]
| stations =
| routes =
| daily_ridership =
| open = 1871
| close =
| owner = [[Indian Railways]]
| operator = [[Eastern Railway zone|Eastern Railway]], [[East Central Railway zone|East Central Railway]]
| character =
| depot =
| stock =
| linelength = {{convert|331|km|mi|0|abbr=on}}
| tracklength =
| tracks = 2
| gauge = {{Track gauge|5ft6in|lk=on}} [[broad gauge]]
| old_gauge =
| minradius =
| racksystem =
| electrification = [[25 kV AC railway electrification|25 kV 50 Hz AC]] [[Overhead line|OHLE]] in 1960–61 and during 1994–95 and 2000–01
| speed = up to 130 km/h
| elevation =
| website =
| map = {{Asansol–Patna section|inline=1}}
| map_state = collapsed
}}
The '''Asansol–Patna section''' is a [[railway line]] connecting {{stnlnk|Asansol}} in the Indian state of [[West Bengal]] and [[Patna Junction railway station|Patna]] in [[Bihar]]. The {{convert|331|km|mi|0|abbr=on}} line passes through the fringe areas of West Bengal, a portion of [[Santhal Parganas]] in [[Jharkhand]] and the [[Indo-Gangetic Plain|Gangetic Plain]] in Bihar.

==History==
The first rail track between Howrah and Delhi was via what was later named as [[Sahibganj loop]] and the first through train on the route was run in 1864. The Kiul–Patna sector was ready around 1862. A "shorter main line" connecting Raniganj and [[Kiul Junction]] was in position in 1871 and the opening of the [[Grand Chord]] in 1907 shortened the distance from Howrah to Delhi even further.<ref>Indian Railway History Time line by R. P. Saxena</ref><ref>{{cite web| url = http://www.irfca.org/faq/faq-hist.html|title =IR History: Early days I (1832–1869) | publisher= IRFCA| access-date = 28 March 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite web| url = http://www.irfca.org/faq/faq-history2.html|title = IR History: Early days II (1870–1899)| access-date = 28 March 2014}}</ref>

==Electrification==
The Asansol–Sitarampur sector was electrified in 1960–61 and the rest of the Asansol–Patna section was electrified during the period 1994–95 to 2000–2001. Sector-wise progress was as follows: Sitarampur–Chittaranjan 1994–95, Chittaranjan–Jamtara 1995–96, Jamtara–Jasidih 1996–97, Jasidih–Narganjo 1997–98, Narganjo–Jhajha 1998–99, Jhajha–Kiul in 1997–98, Kiul–Mankatha 1999–2000, Mankatha–Barhaiya 2000–01, Barhaiya–Mokama 1999–2000 Mokama–Fatuha 1998–99, Fatuha–Danapur 1999–2000.<ref>{{cite web| url = http://www.irfca.org/docs/electrification-history.html |title =History of Electrification | publisher= IRFCA| access-date = 28 March 2014 }}</ref>

==Speed limit==
The entire Sitarampur–Patna–Mughalsarai line is classified as "B Class" line, where trains can run at speeds up to 130 km/h.<ref>{{cite news |url= http://www.irfca.org/faq/faq-pway.html |title=Permanent Way| work= Track Classifications|access-date=28 March 2014}}</ref>

==Passenger movement==
[[Patna Junction railway station|Patna]] and {{stnlnk|Asansol}}, on this line, are amongst the top hundred booking stations of Indian Railway.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.indianrail.gov.in/7days_Avl.html |title=Indian Railways Passenger Reservation Enquiry |work=Availability in trains for Top 100 Booking Stations of Indian Railways |publisher=IRFCA |access-date=28 March 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140510115649/http://www.indianrail.gov.in/7days_Avl.html |archive-date=10 May 2014 |df=dmy }}</ref>

==Sheds and workshops==
[[Chittaranjan Locomotive Works]], one of the largest electric locomotive manufacturers in the world, is located on this line. Initially started for manufacturing steam locomotives, it went into production on 26 January 1950, the day when India became a republic. It now produces AC and DC locomotives and accessories.<ref>{{cite web| url = http://www.clw.indianrailways.gov.in/| title = Chittaranjan Locomotive Works| publisher = Indian Railwaya| access-date = 26 March 2014| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20140319005303/http://www.clw.indianrailways.gov.in/| archive-date = 19 March 2014| url-status = dead}}</ref>

Asansol is home to the oldest electric loco shed of Indian Railways. It houses [[Indian locomotive class WAG-5|WAG-5]] and [[Indian locomotive class WAM-4|WAM-4]] electric locomotives.<ref name=shed>{{cite web| url = http://www.irfca.org/faq/faq-shed.html |title = Sheds and Workshops| publisher= IRFCA| access-date = 26 March 2014}}</ref>

==Railway reorganisation==
In 1952, [[Eastern Railway zone|Eastern Railway]], [[Northern Railway zone|Northern Railway]] and [[North Eastern Railway zone|North Eastern Railway]] were formed. Eastern Railway was formed with a portion of [[East Indian Railway]], east of Mughalsarai and [[Bengal Nagpur Railway]]. Northern Railway was formed with a portion of East Indian Railway Company west of Mughalsarai, Jodhpur Railway, Bikaner Railway and Eastern Punjab Railway. North Eastern Railway was formed with [[Oudh and Tirhut Railway]], Assam Railway and a portion of [[Bombay, Baroda and Central India Railway]].<ref>{{cite web| url = http://www.irfca.org/faq/faq-geog.html#newzone |title = Geography – Railway Zones| publisher= IRFCA| access-date = 28 March 2014}}</ref> East Central Railway was created in 1996–97.<ref>{{cite web| url = http://www.ecr.indianrailways.gov.in/ |title = East Central Railway| publisher= ECR| access-date = 28 March 2014}}</ref>

==See also==
*[[Patna–Digha Ghat line]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
*[http://indiarailinfo.com/arrivals/patna-junction-pnbe/332 Trains at Patna]
*[http://indiarailinfo.com/arrivals/asansol-junction-asn/7 Trains at Asansol]

|{{Railways in Eastern India}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Asansol - Patna section}}
[[Category:5 ft 6 in gauge railways in India]]
[[Category:Asansol railway division|*]]
[[Category:Danapur railway division|*]]
[[Category:Rail transport in West Bengal]]
[[Category:Rail transport in Jharkhand]]
[[Category:Railway lines in Bihar]]
[[Category:Transport in Asansol]]
[[Category:1871 establishments in India]]

Asansol Patna section - Revision history

Kamal Guha at 07:13, 26 June 2023