imported>Colonies Chris: /* Surviviving as a metre-gauge line in the broad-gauge era */ sp

2021-07-28T20:20:12Z

Surviviving as a metre-gauge line in the broad-gauge era: sp

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	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 {{convert\|108\|km}} narrow gauge Siliguri–Kishanganj section was upgraded to metre gauge. Thus there was a direct metre-gauge connection from Manihari to Siliguri via Katihar.<ref name=njp>{{cite web\| url = http://www.irfca.org/docs/rinbad-siliguri.html\|title = India: the complex history of the junctions at Siliguri and New Jalpaiguri \| publisher= IRFCA\|access-date = 2011-11-12 }}</ref> 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,<ref>{{cite web\| url = http://goethals1907-2007.blogspot.com/2007_10_01_archive.html \|title = my school i wish \|work = Madhyamgram Re-visited after 15 years \|access-date = 2011-01-23 }}</ref> before Kishanganj–Siliguri was converted to metre gauge. This, therefore, remains a historic route, even though for a short period.<ref name=njp/>		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 {{convert\|108\|km}} narrow gauge Siliguri–Kishanganj section was upgraded to metre gauge. Thus there was a direct metre-gauge connection from Manihari to Siliguri via Katihar.<ref name=njp>{{cite web\| url = http://www.irfca.org/docs/rinbad-siliguri.html\|title = India: the complex history of the junctions at Siliguri and New Jalpaiguri \| publisher= IRFCA\|access-date = 2011-11-12 }}</ref> 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,<ref>{{cite web\| url = http://goethals1907-2007.blogspot.com/2007_10_01_archive.html \|title = my school i wish \|work = Madhyamgram Re-visited after 15 years \|access-date = 2011-01-23 }}</ref> before Kishanganj–Siliguri was converted to metre gauge. This, therefore, remains a historic route, even though for a short period.<ref name=njp/>

	===~~Surviviving~~ as a metre-gauge line in the broad-gauge era===		===Surviving as a metre-gauge line in the broad-gauge era===
	In the sixties, new {{Track gauge\|5ft6in\|lk=on}} [[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 {{convert\|576\|km}} 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.<ref name=njp/>		In the sixties, new {{Track gauge\|5ft6in\|lk=on}} [[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 {{convert\|576\|km}} 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.<ref name=njp/>

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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 = 32em
| name = Katihar–Siliguri line
| color =
| logo =
| logo_width =
| image = Kishanganj RS nameplate.JPG
| image_width =
| caption = Kishanganj Junction an Important railway station on Katihar–Siliguri line
| type =
| system =
| status = Operational
| locale = [[North Bengal]]–[[Bihar]]
| start = {{stnlnk|Katihar}}
| end = {{stnlnk|Siliguri Junction}}
| stations = 35
| routes =
| open = 1958
| close =
| owner = [[Indian Railways]]
| operator = [[Northeast Frontier Railway zone|Northeast Frontier Railway]]
| character =
| depot =
| stock =
| linelength = {{convert|203.7|km}}
| tracklength =

| gauge = {{track gauge|1676mm}} {{Track gauge|5ft6in|lk=on}} [[broad gauge]]
| minradius =
| racksystem =
| speed =
| elevation =
| website =
| map = {{Katihar–Siliguri line}}
| map_state = collapsed
}}

The '''Katihar–Siliguri line''' is a railway line connecting {{stnlnk|Katihar}} in the Indian state of [[Bihar]] with {{stnlnk|Siliguri Junction}} in [[West Bengal]], via [[Kishanganj]], Aluabari Road Junction (Islampur), [[Thakurganj]], {{stnlnk|Adhikari}}, {{stnlnk|Naxalbari}} and [[Bagdogra]]. It was a [[Metre-gauge railway|metre-gauge]] track that was converted to {{track gauge|1676mm}} {{Track gauge|5ft6in|lk=on}} [[broad gauge]] in 2011.

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 {{convert|108|km}} narrow gauge Siliguri–Kishanganj section was upgraded to metre gauge. Thus there was a direct metre-gauge connection from Manihari to Siliguri via Katihar.<ref name=njp>{{cite web| url = http://www.irfca.org/docs/rinbad-siliguri.html|title = India: the complex history of the junctions at Siliguri and New Jalpaiguri | publisher= IRFCA|access-date = 2011-11-12 }}</ref> 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,<ref>{{cite web| url = http://goethals1907-2007.blogspot.com/2007_10_01_archive.html |title = my school i wish |work = Madhyamgram Re-visited after 15 years |access-date = 2011-01-23 }}</ref> before Kishanganj–Siliguri was converted to metre gauge. This, therefore, remains a historic route, even though for a short period.<ref name=njp/>

===Surviviving as a metre-gauge line in the broad-gauge era===
In the sixties, new {{Track gauge|5ft6in|lk=on}} [[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 {{convert|576|km}} 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.<ref name=njp/>

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 {{convert|76|km}} 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.<ref>{{cite web| url = http://www.telegraphindia.com/1110929/jsp/siliguri/story_14566478.jsp |title = Delayed but new route helps trains| work= The Telegraph|date=29 September 2011|access-date = 2011-12-10 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news| url = http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2010-03-16/patna/28119519_1_kishanganj-railway-station-train-services | archive-url = https://archive.today/20130103123716/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2010-03-16/patna/28119519_1_kishanganj-railway-station-train-services | url-status = dead | archive-date = 2013-01-03 |title = Railways to partially restore Siliguri–Bagdogra service | access-date = 2011-12-10 | work = [[The Times of India]] | date=2010-03-16}}</ref><ref>{{cite web| url = http://www.irfca.org/gallery/Trips/east/eastward-ho/103_mg-line-aluabari-rd.jpg.html |title = IRFCA photo gallery| publisher= IRFCA|access-date = 2011-12-10 }}</ref>

==References==
{{reflist}}

|{{Railways in Eastern India}}
{{Railways in North-East India}}
{{Purnia Division topics}}
{{Darjeeling}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Katihar - Siliguri line}}
[[Category:5 ft 6 in gauge railways in India]]
[[Category:Transport in Siliguri]]
[[Category:Rail transport in West Bengal]]
[[Category:Railway lines in Bihar]]
[[Category:Transport in Katihar]]
[[Category:Railway lines opened in 1878]]
[[Category:1878 establishments in India]]

Katihar–Siliguri line - Revision history

imported>Colonies Chris: /* Surviviving as a metre-gauge line in the broad-gauge era */ sp

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