CelestaWolf314 at 09:24, 31 March 2026

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{{Short description|Railway line in India}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2015}}
{{Use Indian English|date=September 2015}}
{{Infobox rail line
| box_width = 28em
| name = Asansol–Gaya section
| color = 800000
| logo = 
| logo_width = 100 px
| image = Dhanbad Junction platformboard.jpg
| image_width = 330
| caption = [[Dhanbad Junction railway station|Dhanbad Junction]] is an important railway station on Asansol–Gaya section
| type =
| system = Electrified
| status = Operational
| locale = [[West Bengal]], [[Jharkhand]], [[Bihar]]
| start = {{stnlnk|Asansol}}
| end = [[Gaya Junction railway station|Gaya]]
| stations = 38
| routes =
| daily_ridership =
| open = 1907
| close =
| owner = [[Indian Railways]]
| operator = [[Eastern Railway zone|Eastern Railway]], [[East Central Railway zone|East Central Railway]]
| character =
| depot =
| stock =
| linelength = {{convert|267|km|mi|0|abbr=on}}
| tracklength =
| tracks = 2
| gauge = {{Track gauge|5ft6in|lk=on}} [[broad gauge]]
| old_gauge =
| minradius =
| racksystem =
| electrification = Yes
| speed = 130 km/h
| elevation =
| website =
| map = {{Asansol–Gaya section}}
| map_state = collapsed
}}
The '''Asansol–Gaya section''' is a [[railway line]] connecting {{stnlnk|Asansol}} and [[Gaya Junction|Gaya]] in India. This {{convert|267|km|mi|adj=mid|-long}} track is part of the [[Grand Chord]], [[Howrah–Gaya–Delhi line]] and [[Howrah–Allahabad–Mumbai line]]. This section includes the NSC Bose Gomoh–Barkakana line. It is under the jurisdiction of [[Eastern Railway zone|Eastern Railway]] and [[East Central Railway zone|East Central Railway]]. The section links to [[South Eastern Railway zone|South Eastern Railway]] through {{stnlnk|Bokaro Steel City}} and {{stnlnk|Adra}}.

==History==

===Main line===
The [[Bardhaman–Asansol section|Bardhaman–Asansol line]] was first extended to Barakar in 1858 and then in 1894 [[East Indian Railway Company]] extended the line to [[Jharia]] and [[Katras]], opening up the Jharia Coalfield. Dhanbad emerged as a premier coal loading area.<ref name=timeline>{{cite web|first=R. P.| last=Saxena|title=Indian Railway History Time line|url=http://irse.bravehost.com/IRHTML.htm|work=Irse.bravehost.com|access-date=3 January 2014| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120229092028/http://irse.bravehost.com/IRHTML.htm| archive-date=29 February 2012}}</ref> One railway-related source says that the line from Sitarampur to Dhanbad was built in 1880.<ref name=grandchord>{{cite web| url = http://eastrailindia.tripod.com/grandchord.html |title = As the traffic continued to grow even beyond the capacity of the| publisher=Tripod| access-date=20 November 2011}}</ref>

====Gurpa-Gujhandi====
Once the rail link from Howrah to Delhi was completed in 1866, the East Indian Railway was making constant endeavour to reduce the distance of the [[Howrah–Delhi main line]]. After several surveys, one in 1888–89 and two more subsequently, a route was determined from Dhanbad to Mughal Sarai via Koderma and Gaya. The major works in this section were a bridge across the [[Son River]] at [[Dehri]], and tunnelling and ghat line construction between Gurpa and Gujhandi.<ref name=grandchord/>

The {{convert|22|km|adj=on}} Gujhandi (altitude 370 m)–Gurpa (altitude 193 m) section, {{convert|10|km}} west of [[Koderma]], is a ghat (mountain/hill slope), with the [[Chota Nagpur Plateau#Koderma plateau|Koderma Plateau]] sloping down to the Gaya plain.<ref>{{cite web| url = http://indiarailinfo.com/station/map/1428 |title = Satellite Map of Koderma railway station | website= India Rail Info |access-date=18 November 2011}}</ref>

The Grand Chord was opened on 6 December 1906 by [[Gilbert Elliot-Murray-Kynynmound, 4th Earl of Minto|Lord Minto]], then [[Viceroy]] and [[Governor General]] of India with a function at Gujahandi. The Viceroy and Lady Minto travelled to Gaya, from where they travelled in a special observation car to Gujhandi. Two special trains, running from Howrah, carried the invitees. The Viceroy screwed on a silver bolt with a silver spanner to formally complete the line.<ref name=grandchord/>

A repeat of the historic event was organized by East Central Railway on 6 December 2006, with a special heritage train "Grand Chord ki Rani", pulled by a 1965 steam engine, carrying the guests from Gaya to Gujhandi.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.telegraphindia.com/1061207/asp/jharkhand/story_7104699.asp |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130104202803/http://www.telegraphindia.com/1061207/asp/jharkhand/story_7104699.asp |url-status=dead |archive-date=4 January 2013 | title=Grand rerun of Raj rail route – Railways enact Lord Minto's flag-off at Gujhandi to celebrate 100 years of Dhanbad-Gaya chord line|work=[[The Telegraph (Kolkata)|The Telegraph]]|location=Kolkata|date=7 December 2006| first=Resham| last=Mukherjee}}</ref>

===Branch lines===
Several years before the Grand Chord was built, a connection from the Howrah–Delhi main line to Gaya was developed in 1900 (presumably the Patna–Gaya line) and the South Bihar Railway Company (operated by EIR) had laid a line from [[Lakhisarai]] to Gaya in 1879.<ref name=timeline/> Track doubling of the {{convert|130|km|mi|adj=mid|-long}} Kiul–Gaya section was announced in the [[Railway Budget]] for 2010–2011.<ref>{{cite web| url = http://news.jaibihar.com/rail-budget-2010-2011-bihars-gain/201017419.html |title = Rain Budget 2010-2011: Bihar's gain | publisher=Jai Bihar| date=25 February 2010 |access-date=20 November 2011}}{{dead link|date=December 2016}}</ref>

The [[Bengal Nagpur Railway]] system was connected to the [[East Indian Railway Company]] lines in 1889, thus connecting Asansol to {{stnlnk|Adra}}. In 1907 Adra was connected to the [[Grand Chord]] at [[Gomoh]].<ref name=timeline/>

The construction of the {{convert|143|km|mi|adj=mid|-long}} Chandrapura–Muri–Ranchi–Hatia line started in 1957 and was completed in 1961.<ref>{{cite book| url = https://books.google.com/books?id=v21-4YYgocUC&q=Muri-Chandrapura+line&pg=PA60 |title = Transport Geography of India: Commodity Flow and the Regional Structure of Indian Economy| page=60|first1=Moonis| last1=Raza| first2=Yash| last2=Aggarwal|publisher= Concept Publishing Company| isbn = 81-7022-089-0|access-date= 20 April 2013| via=Google Books| year=1999| orig-year=1986}}</ref>

In 1902, a branch line of EIR was opened from Sone East Bank (later renamed {{stnlnk|Son Nagar}}) to Daltonganj. With the development of [[South Karanpura Coalfield]], the Central India Coalfields Railway opened a line from Gomoh to {{stnlnk|Barkakana}} in 1927 and from Barkakana to Daltonganj in 1929. These lines were subsequently taken over by [[East Indian Railway Company|EIR]].<ref name=timeline/>

==Electrification==
Electrification of the stretch of mainline of this section from {{stnlnk|Asansol}} to [[Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose Gomoh railway station|Netaji SC Bose Gomoh]] was completed in 1960–61. Electrification of the stretch from Netaji SC Bose Gomoh to [[Gaya Junction railway station|Gaya]] was completed in 1961–62.<ref name=electric>{{cite web| url = http://irfca.org/docs/electrification-history.html |title = History of Electrification | publisher= IRFCA| access-date= 24 April 2013}}</ref>

On the Gomoh–Barkakana branch line electrification was done from both ends: Gomoh to Phusro in 1986–87, Barkakana to Danea in 1996–97, Danea to Gomia and Gomia to Jarandih in 1997–98.<ref name=electric/>

In 1965, Asansol–Bareilly Passenger was the first long-distance train on Eastern Railway to be hauled by an AC loco.<ref>{{cite web| url = http://www.irfca.org/faq/faq-history4.html |title = IR History Part IV (1947–1970)| publisher= IRFCA (Indian Railways Fan Club)|access-date=12 November 2011}}</ref>

The Gaya–Jahanabad sector was electrified in 2002–2003.<ref name="electric"/> Completion of electrification of the {{convert|97|km|mi|adj=mid|-long}} Patna–Gaya rail route before the end of 2003 was announced by the railway minister [[Nitish Kumar]].<ref>{{cite news| url = http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2002-02-15/patna/27131289_1_gaya-railway-minister-nitish-kumar | archive-url = https://archive.today/20120710104136/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2002-02-15/patna/27131289_1_gaya-railway-minister-nitish-kumar | url-status = dead | archive-date = 10 July 2012 |title = Patna–Gaya rail electrification by end of 2003 | access-date=20 November 2011| work = [[The Times of India]] | date=15 February 2002}}</ref>

==Loco sheds==
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=10 April 2013}}</ref>

[[Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose Gomoh railway station|Netaji SC Bose Gomoh]] has an electric loco shed with capacity to hold 125+ locos. Locos housed at the shed include WAG-7, WAG-9, WAG-9I, WAP-7. WAP-7 locos serve the prestigious [[Howrah Rajdhani Express]].<ref name=shed/>

{{stnlnk|Bokaro Steel City}} has a diesel loco shed with WDM-2 and WDM-3A locos. It has a large yard for [[Bokaro Steel Plant]].<ref name=shed/>

==Speed limits==
Most of the Asansol–Gaya section is classified as ‘A’ class line where trains can run up to 160 km per hour but in certain sections speeds may be limited to 120–130 km per hour. The Howrah Rajdhani (between Howrah and New Delhi) travels at an average speed of 85.8 km per hour and the Sealdah Rajdhani (between Sealdah and New Delhi) travels at an average speed of 84.70 km per hour.<ref>{{cite news |url= http://www.irfca.org/faq/faq-pway.html |title=Track Classifications: Permanent Way| publisher=IRFCA| access-date=15 January 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url= http://www.irfca.org/faq/faq-trivia.html#fasttrack| title=Trivia: Highest speed sections of track| publisher=IRFCA| access-date=15 January 2012}}</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 Company]], 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| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160519232432/http://www.ecr.indianrailways.gov.in/| archive-date=19 May 2016}}</ref>

== Trains ==
The following trains are famous trains of this section

* [[Netaji Express]]
* [[Garba Superfast Express]]
* [[Pratap Express]]
* [[Shabd Bhedi Superfast Express]]
* [[Ajmer–Sealdah Express]]
* [[Howrah-Bikaner Superfast Express]]
* [[Howrah-Jodhpur Express]]
* [[Howrah-Mumbai CSMT Mail (via Gaya)]]
* [[Howrah-Gaya Vande Bharat Express]]
* [[Howrah–Lalkuan Express]]
* [[Howrah-Bikaner Weekly Superfast Express]]
* [[Poorva Express (via Gaya)]]
* [[Durgiana Express]]
* [[Kolkata–Agra Cantonment Express]]
* [[Kolkata-Jammu Tawi Express]]
* [[Kolkata-Gwalior Superfast Express]]
* [[West Bengal Sampark Kranti Express]]
* [[Jallianwalla Bagh Express]]
* [[Sealdah-Jammu Tawi Humsafar Express]]
* [[Howrah-New Delhi Rajdhani Express (via Gaya)]]
* [[Sealdah-New Delhi Rajdhani Express]]
* [[Parasnath Express]]
* [[Howrah–Agra Cantonment Chambal Express]]
* [[Howrah–Gwalior Chambal Express]]
* [[Howrah–Mathura Chambal Express]]
* [[Shipra Express]]
* [[Howrah-Barmer Superfast Express]]
* [[Doon Express]]

While There are also a lot of Passenger and Express trains that serves the section.

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
{{external media
| float=right
| video1= [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LXk3TpLD3RM Gurpa Gajhandi Ghat Section (Part I)]
| video2= [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XJMVpABrnBk Gurpa Gajhandi Ghat Section (Part II)]
}}

|{{Railways in Eastern India}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Asansol-Gaya section}}
[[Category:5 ft 6 in gauge railways in India]]
[[Category:Asansol railway division|*]]
[[Category:Railway lines in Bihar]]
[[Category:Transport in Asansol]]
[[Category:Dhanbad railway division|*]]

Asansol–Gaya section - Revision history

CelestaWolf314 at 09:24, 31 March 2026