Editing Muzaffarpur–Gorakhpur line (via Hajipur, Raxaul and Sitamarhi)

{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2015}}
{{Use Indian English|date=September 2015}}
{{Infobox rail line
 | box_width   = 32em
 | name        = Muzaffarpur–Gorakhpur line
 | color       =
 | logo        = <!-- Commented out: [[File:Indian Railway.svg|200px|Indian Railways Logo]] -->
 | logo_width  =
 | image       = 
 | image_width = 
 | caption     = 
 | type        = 
 | system      = Electrified (only for Barauni–Samastipur–Muzaffarpur–Hajipur and Muzaffarpur–Gorakhpur via Sagauli line [[Chhapra]]–[[Gorakhpur]] route)
 | status      = Operational
 | locale      = [[Bihar]] and [[Uttar Pradesh]]
 | start       = [[Muzaffarpur]]
 | end         = [[Gorakhpur]]
 | stations    = 
 | routes      = via [[Hajipur]], [[Raxaul]] and [[Sitamarhi]]. 
 | daily_ridership   =
 | open        = [[Muzaffarpur]]–[[Hajipur]] (in 1884), [[Muzaffarpur]]–[[Sitamarhi]] (in 2013)
 | close       =
 | owner = [[Indian Railways]]
 | operator    = [[East Central Railway zone|East Central Railway]], [[North Eastern Railway zone|North Eastern Railway]]
 | character   =
 | depot       =
 | stock       = 
 | linelength  = 
 | tracklength =
 | tracks     = 
 | gauge       = {{Track gauge|5ft6in|lk=on}} [[broad gauge]]<br/>{{track gauge|1000mm|allk=on}} <br/>Some gauge conversions in progress 
 | old_gauge      =
 | minradius   =
 | racksystem  =
 | electrification          = [[25 kV AC railway electrification|25 kV 50 Hz AC]] [[Overhead line|OHLE]] (only for [[Muzaffarpur]]–[[Hajipur]]–[[Chhapra]]–[[Gorakhpur]] route)
 | speed       = up to 130 kmph
 | elevation   = 69 metres
 | website     =
 | map         = 
 | map_state   = 
}}

The '''Muzaffarpur–Gorakhpur line (via Hajipur, Raxaul and Sitamarhi)''' is a set of three lines connecting [[Muzaffarpur]] in the Indian state of [[Bihar]] with [[Gorakhpur]] in [[Uttar Pradesh]]. The lines run in an east–west direction between the [[Gandak]] and India–[[Nepal]] border, covering [[North Bihar]] west of the [[Koshi River|Kosi river]] and eastern [[Uttar Pradesh]]. The southernmost of the three lines connects via [[Hajipur Junction]], [[Sonpur Junction]] and [[Chhapra]]. The central line connects via [[Motihari]] (also to [[Raxaul]]) and [[Sugauli]]. The northern line connects via [[Sitamarhi]] (newly constructed single diesel BG) and [[Raxaul]]. The lines have interconnections between them and the northern line has extensions to places near the India–Nepal border.

==History==

Railway lines in the area were pioneered by Tirhut Railway and the Bengal and North Western Railway lines in the 19th century.  In his book ''The Indian Empire, Its People, History and Products'' (first published in 1886) W.W.Hunter, says "The Tirhut State Railway with its various branches  intersects Northern Behar and is intended to extend to the Nepal frontier  on one side and to Assam on the other."<ref>{{cite book |url= https://books.google.com/books?id=yUhvfR1S_UEC&q=Tirhut+Railway&pg=PA547 |title= The Indian Empire, Its People, History and Products |author= W.W.Hunter |year= 2005 | page=547|isbn= 9788120615816 | access-date=2012-11-06 }}</ref>

The area was developed with [[metre-gauge]] tracks. The {{convert|229|km|mi|0|abbr=on}} Samastipur–Narkatiaganj loop was developed in stages between 1875 and 1907. The Samastipur–Darbhanga line was opened for famine relief in 1874 and opened to the public on 1 November 1875. The {{convert|72|km|mi|0|abbr=on}}-long Nirmali branch (Darbhanga–Nirmali) between 1883 and 1886. The Barauni–Bachhwara line was opened in 1883. The Bachhwara–Bagaha line was developed in stages between 1883 and 1907. The Sakri–Jainagar branch was opened in 1905. The {{convert|51|km|mi|0|abbr=on}}-long Hajipur–Muzaffarpur line was opened in 1884. The {{convert|270|km|mi|0|abbr=on}}-long Tirhut main line from Katihar to Sonpur was developed in stages between 1887 and 1901.<ref name=ner/> The {{convert|105|km|mi|0|abbr=on}}-long Chhapra–Thawe line was opened in 1910. The {{convert|320|km|mi|0|abbr=on}}-long Chhapra–Allahabad line was developed between 1891 and 1913. The Maharajganj branch line was opened in 1907. The Siwan–Kaptanganj line was opened between 1907 and 1913. The {{convert|127|km|mi|0|abbr=on}}-long Bhatni–Varanasi Chord was opened between 1896 and 1899.<ref name=ner/> The Jhanjharpur–Laukaha Bazar line was opened in 1976.<ref name=ner>{{cite web |url= http://indianrailwaynotes.files.wordpress.com/2010/07/north-eastern-railway.pdf|title= Indian Railways line history; 2. North Eastern Railway |access-date=2012-11-06 }}</ref>

The lines were converted to {{track gauge|1676mm}} [[broad gauge]] in phases starting from early 1980s. Samastipur to Darbhanga (metre to broad gauge) was converted around 1983. Siwan to Thawe (metre to broad gauge) was converted in early 2006. Gauge conversion of the {{convert|268|km|abbr=on}}-long Jainagar–Darbhanga–Narkatiaganj line that was started in 2011 was completed to Raxaul in February 2014 and to Narkatiaganj in 2017. The Sakri–Laukaha Bazar–Nirmali conversion is under process.<ref name=ner/><ref>{{cite web |url= https://www.scribd.com/doc/95563059/Railway-Congestion |title= Fourth Report on Development of Alternative Routes for Decongesting Existing Routes |author= Railway Convention Committee (1999)|publisher= Lok Sabha Secretariat, December 2001| access-date=2012-11-06 }}</ref>

==Electrification==

The electrification work was completed for the entire section in December 2014.

==Sections==

* [[Barauni–Samastipur section]]
* [[Samastipur–Muzaffarpur section]]
* [[Muzaffarpur–Hajipur section]]
* [[Muzaffarpur–Gorakhpur main line ]]

The {{convert|59|km|abbr=on}} long existing Chhapra–Hajipur line was being doubled.<ref name=ecr>{{cite web |url= http://www.indianrailways.gov.in/railwayboard/uploads/directorate/finance_budget/RailBudget_11-12/ECR.pdf|title= Assets-Acquisition, Construction and Replacement for 2011-12|publisher= East Central Railway | access-date=2012-11-06 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.indianrailways.gov.in/railwayboard/uploads/directorate/finance_budget/Budget12-13/works/ECR/ECR.pdf |title= Assets-Acquisition, Construction and Replacement for 2012-13|publisher= East Central Railway | access-date=2012-11-06 }}</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{Railways in Bihar}}
|{{Railways in Eastern India}}
{{Purnia Division topics}}
{{Tirhut Division topics}}
{{Saran Division topics}}
{{Gorakhpur division topics}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Muzaffarpur-Gorakhpur line (via Hajipur, Raxaul and Sitamarhi)}}
[[Category:5 ft 6 in gauge railways in India]]
[[Category:Railway lines in Bihar]]
[[Category:Sonpur railway division|*]]
[[Category:Lucknow NER railway division|*]]
[[Category:Samastipur railway division|*]]
[[Category:Railway lines in Uttar Pradesh]]