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{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2015}}
{{Use Indian English|date=September 2015}}
{{Infobox rail line
| box_width = 28em
| name = Narkatiaganj–Bhikhna Thori line
| color =
| logo =
| logo_width =
| image =
| image_width =
| caption =
| type =
| system =
| status = Operational
| locale = [[Bihar]]
| start = {{stnlnk|Narkatiaganj Junction}}
| end = {{stnlnk|Bhikhna Thori}}
| stations =
| routes =
| open =
| close =
| owner = [[Indian Railways]]
| operator = [[East Central Railway zone|East Central Railway]]
| character =
| depot =
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| linelength = 36 km
| tracklength =
| gauge = under gauge conversion, from {{track gauge|1000mm}} to {{track gauge|1676mm}} [[broad gauge]]
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| website =
| map = {{Narkatiaganj–Bikhnathori line}}
| map_state = collapsed
}}

The '''Narkatiaganj–Bhikhna Thori line''' is a rail line in eastern India that connects [[Narkatiaganj]] and [[Bhikhna Thori]] near the Indo-[[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'' 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 | work= p. 547|year= 2005 |isbn= 9788120615816 | access-date=2012-11-06 }}</ref>

The area was laid 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 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) opened between 1883 and 1886. The Sakri–Jainagar branch opened in 1905. The Jhanjharpur–Laukaha Bazar line 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>

== Gauge conversion ==
Presently services are suspended on this 36 km line since 2015, as it is undergoing [[Track gauge conversion|gauge conversion]], from {{track gauge|1000mm|lk=on}} metre gauge to {{track gauge|1676mm|lk=on}} broad gauge. It is expected that the first stretch between {{stnlnk|Narkatiaganj Junction}} and {{stnlnk|Amolwa}} (13 km) to be completed in March 2020 and by June 2020, up to {{stnlnk|Gawnaha}} (23 km). The final section between Gawnaha and Bhikhna Thori (13 km) passes through dense forest and needs a special permit from the [[Department of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Bihar|Forest Department]] allowing construction works. As of August 2019, the permit has not been given.<ref>{{cite web |url= https://www.jagran.com/bihar/west-champaran-double-railline-till2022-19456925.html|title= 2022 तक पूरा होगा रेललाइन दोहरीकरण का कार्य: सीएओ |trans-title= Railway line doubling to be completed by 2022: CAO|language= hi|website =[[Jagran]]|location = [[Bettiah]]| date= 2019-08-03|access-date= 2020-01-14}}</ref> According to the forest department, Gawnaha–Bhikhna Thori section should be closed and the railway land transferred to them.<ref>{{cite web |url= https://www.livehindustan.com/bihar/bagaha/story-gaunaah-bhikanathori-railway-can-be-closed-2483340.html|title= बंद हो सकता है गौनाहा भिखनाठोरी रेलखंड |trans-title= Gaunaha – Bhikhna Thori rail section may be closed|language= hi|website =Live Hindustan|location = Bagaha| date= 2019-04-10|access-date= 2020-01-14}}</ref>

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
*[http://westchamparan.bih.nic.in/html/TrainNKE.htm Trains at Narkatiaganj]

|{{Railways in Eastern India}}
{{Purnia Division topics}}
{{Tirhut Division topics}}
{{Saran Division topics}}
{{Gorakhpur division topics}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Narkatiaganj-Bhikhna Thori line}}
[[Category:5 ft 6 in gauge railways in India]]
[[Category:Railway lines in Bihar]]

Narkatiaganj–Bhikhna Thori branch line - Revision history

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