Amit00 at 15:56, 11 April 2026

2026-04-11T15:56:01Z

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{{Short description|Indian railway line}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2016}}
{{Use Indian English|date=January 2016}}
{{Infobox rail line
| box_width = 28em
| name = Ludhiana–Fazilka line
| color =
| logo = 
| logo_width = 100 px
| image = Firozpur cantt railway station.jpg
| image_width = 330
| caption = [[Firozpur Cantonment railway station|Firozpur Cantt Junction]] is an important railway station on Ludhiana–Fazilka line
| type =
| system = Electrified
| status = Operational
| locale = [[Punjab]]
| start = {{stnlnk|Ludhiana}}
| end = {{stnlnk|Fazilka}}
| stations =
| routes =
| daily_ridership =
| open = 1905
| close =
| owner = [[Indian Railways]]
| operator = [[Northern Railway zone|Northern Railway]]
| character =
| depot = Ludhiana
| stock =
| linelength =
| tracklength = {{convert|212.8|km|mi|0|abbr=on}}
| tracks = 1 (Single line)
| gauge = {{Track gauge|5ft6in|lk=on}} [[broad gauge]]
| old_gauge =
| minradius =
| racksystem =
| electrification = Yes
| speed = {{cvt|110|km/h}}
| elevation = Ludhiana {{convert|246|m|ft|0|abbr=on}}, Firozpur {{convert|210|m|ft|0|abbr=on}} Fazilka {{convert|182|m|ft|0|abbr=on}}
| website =
| map = {{Ludhiana–Fazilka line}}
| map_state = collapsed
}}
The '''Ludhiana–Fazilka line''' is a railway line connecting {{stnlnk|Ludhiana}} and {{stnlnk|Fazilka}} both in the Indian [[States and territories of India|state]] of the [[Punjab, India|Punjab]] . The line is under the administrative jurisdiction of [[Northern Railway zone|Northern Railway]].

==History==
The Southern Punjab Railway Co. opened the {{convert|711|km|mi|0|abbr=on}} long [[Delhi]]–[[Jind]]-[[Bhatinda]]–[[Fazilka]]-[[Bahawalnagar]]-[[Samma Satta]] line in 1897.<ref>{{cite web|url= http://www.irfca.org/faq/faq-history2.html |title= IR History: Early Days II (1870–1899) | access-date=20 February 2014}}</ref> The line passed through [[Rohtak]]-[[Jind]]-[[Bhatinda]]-Muktasar-Fazilka-[[Bahawalnagar]] and provided direct connection through [[Samma Satta]] (now in Pakistan) to Karachi. The extension from the Macleodganj (later renamed Mandi Sadiqganj and now in Pakistan) railway line to Ambala via Qasamwala-Hindumalkote-[[Abohar]]-[[Bhatinda]]-[[Patiala]] was opened by the same company in 1902.<ref>{{cite web|url= http://punjabrevenue.nic.in/muktsar/Chapter%207.htm|title= Chapter VII Communications|access-date= 20 February 2014|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20140223172820/http://punjabrevenue.nic.in/muktsar/Chapter%207.htm|archive-date= 23 February 2014|url-status= dead}}</ref>

==Railway border crossings==
Fazilka and Hussainiwala on this line are two defunct railway border crossing points on the India–Pakistan border. Before [[partition of India]] in 1947, there were {{convert|711|km|mi}} long [[Delhi]]-[[Samma Satta]] & {{convert|445|km|mi}}long [[Delhi]]-[[Raiwind]] railway lines, which were operational. After [[partition of India]], a {{convert|20|km|mi}} line linked Amruka on the Pakistan side of the India–Pakistan border, opposite Fazilka, towards [[Samma Satta]]. The only train running through these tracks was withdrawn after 1965 war.<ref>{{cite web|url= http://www.nation.com.pk/national/14-Nov-2011/Bahawalnagar-rail-junction-a-relic-from-1901|title=Bahawalnagar rail junction a relic from 1901 |work= The Nation|date= 14 November 2011| access-date=20 February 2014}}</ref> {{convert|275|km|mi}} long Amruka-[[Samma Satta]] line & {{convert|28|km|mi}} long [[Kasur]]-[[Raiwind]] lines are operational in Pakistan now. The [[Hussainiwala]]–[[Ganda Singh Wala]] railway crossing, near Firozpur, became defunct with the [[partition of India]]. The {{convert|16|km|mi}} broad gauge line from Kasur Junction in Pakistan has been closed.<ref>{{cite web|url= http://www.irfca.org/docs/international-links.html |title= International Links from India |first= Mohan|last= Bhuyan| publisher= IRFCA| access-date=20 February 2014}}</ref> A strategically important {{convert|1681|m|ft}} Kaiser-E-Hind [[Rail-cum-Road Bridge]] was blown up during the [[Indo-Pakistani War of 1971]] at Hussainiwala, and was never rebuilt. In 2013, Sutlej Barrage Bridge on Hussainiwala was opened after restructuring.<ref>{{cite web|url= https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/40-years-after-war-bridge-opens-near-Hussainiwala-border/articleshow/26872284.cms|archive-url= https://archive.today/20140220024952/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2013-12-05/india/44806162_1_bridge-hussainiwala-border-security-force|url-status= live|archive-date= 20 February 2014|title= 40 years after war, bridge opens near Hussainiwla borer |first=Dinesh K|last= Sharma |date=5 December 2013|work= [[The Times of India]]| access-date=20 February 2014}}</ref>

==Loco sheds==
Ludhiana diesel shed holds 170+ locos including WDM-2, WDM-3A and WDG-3A. Ludhiana electric loco shed was commissioned in 2001 and houses WAM-4, WAG-5 and WAG-7 locos.<ref name=sheds>{{cite web |url= http://www.irfca.org/faq/faq-shed.html |title= Sheds and workshops|publisher= IRFCA| access-date = 25 January 2014}}</ref>

==Developments==
The {{convert|81|km|mi|0|abbr=on}} long {{Track gauge|5ft6in|lk=on}} [[broad gauge]] line between [[Fazilka]] & [[Firozpur]] was laid in 1950, destroyed in 1965 & 1971 wars & finally re-laid in 1972 as a {{convert|84.8|km|mi|0|abbr=on}} long {{Track gauge|5ft6in|lk=on}} [[broad gauge]] line. The {{convert|42|km|mi|0|abbr=on}} new {{track gauge|1676mm}}-wide {{Track gauge|5ft6in|lk=on}} [[broad gauge]] line between Fazilka and Abohar declared on 2010, was opened in 2012.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.hindustantimes.com/news-feed/chunk-ht-ui-punjabsectionpage-latestnews/rail-link-between-abohar-fazilka-opens-today/article1-889593.aspx |title=Rail link between Abohar, Fazilka opens today |work=Hindustan Times|date=15 July 2012 |access-date=20 February 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140313024903/http://www.hindustantimes.com/news-feed/chunk-ht-ui-punjabsectionpage-latestnews/rail-link-between-abohar-fazilka-opens-today/article1-889593.aspx |archive-date=13 March 2014 }}</ref>

The Indian Railways have been considering proposals for converting the existing {{convert|124|km|mi|0|abbr=on}} Ludhiana–Firozpur single line into a double line.<ref>{{cite web|url= https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/ludhiana/Railways-to-convert-Ludhiana-Ferozepur-into-double-line/articleshow/5396438.cms |archive-url= https://archive.today/20140220024919/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2009-12-30/ludhiana/28070150_1_passenger-trains-superfast-trains-ludhiana-ferozepur |url-status= live |archive-date= 20 February 2014 |title=Railways to convert Ludhiana–Ferozepur into double line |date=30 December 2009|work= [[The Times of India]] | access-date=20 February 2014}}</ref>

==Passenger movement==
{{stnlnk|Ludhiana}} is the only station on this line which is 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=20 February 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 }}</ref>

==Railway reorganisation==
Sind Railway (later reorganised as [[Scinde, Punjab & Delhi Railway]]) was formed a guaranteed railway in 1856.<ref>{{cite web| url = http://wiki.fibis.org/index.php/Sind_Railway |title=Sind Railway| publisher= fibis| access-date = 20 February 2014}}</ref> It constructed broad-gauge railways from Delhi to Multan via Lahore, and from Karachi to Kotri. Multan and Kotri were connected by ferry service on the [[Indus River]]. In 1871–72, Indus Valley Railway was formed to connect Multan and Kotri. At the same time, Punjab Northern State Railway started constructing from Lahore towards Peshawar. In 1886, Sind, Punjab and Delhi Railway was acquired by the state and amalgamated with Indus Valley Railway and Punjab Northern State Railway to form [[North Western Railway (British India)|North-Western State Railway]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://dsal.uchicago.edu/REFERENCE/gazetteer/text.html?objectid=DS405.1.I34_V03_433.gif |title=Digital South Asia Library |work=Imperial Gazetteer of India|volume=3|page=398 |access-date=20 February 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140202101415/http://dsal.uchicago.edu/REFERENCE/gazetteer/text.html?objectid=DS405.1.I34_V03_433.gif |archive-date=2 February 2014 }}</ref> Southern Punjab Railway was taken over by the state and merged with [[North Western Railway (British India)|North Western Railway]] in 1930.<ref>{{cite web|url= http://wiki.fibis.org/index.php/Southern_Punjab_Railway|title= Southern Punjab Railway | publisher= fibis | access-date=20 February 2014}}</ref>

With the [[partition of India]] in 1947, North Western Railway was split. While the western portion became Pakistan West Railway, and later [[Pakistan Railways]], the eastern part became Eastern Punjab Railway.<ref>{{cite book |url= https://books.google.com/books?id=8v-zRmScc0MC&q=Eastern+Punjab+Railway&pg=PA136 |title=Management of Indian Railways, 1989|isbn= 81-7099-183-8| work=Readings in Indian Railway Finance|editor=KB Verma|page=136|last=SM Imamul Haque|year=1989| publisher= Mittal Publications, A 1/8 Mohan Garden, New Delhi 110059| access-date = 20 February 2014}}</ref> In 1952,[[Northern Railway zone|Northern Railway]] was formed with a portion of [[East Indian Railway Company]] west of Mughalsarai, Jodhpur Railway, Bikaner Railway and Eastern Punjab Railway.<ref>{{cite web| url = http://www.irfca.org/faq/faq-geog.html#newzone |title = Geography – Railway Zones| publisher= IRFCA| access-date = 20 February 2014}}</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist|2}}

==External links==
*[http://indiarailinfo.com/arrivals/ludhiana-junction-ldh/342 Trains at Ludhiana]
*[http://indiarailinfo.com/departures/firozpur-cantt-junction-fzr/105 Trains at Firozpur]
*[http://indiarailinfo.com/arrivals/fazilka-junction-fka/6222 Trains at Fazilka]

{{Railways in Northern India}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Ludhiana - Fazilka line}}
[[Category:5 ft 6 in gauge railways in India]]
[[Category:Rail transport in Punjab, India]]
[[Category:Firozpur railway division|*]]
[[Category:Railway lines opened in 1905]]
[[Category:Transport in Ludhiana]]
[[Category:Transport in Firozpur]]
[[Category:1905 establishments in India]]

Ludhiana–Fazilka line - Revision history

Amit00 at 15:56, 11 April 2026