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{{Short description|Railway line in Uttar Pradesh, India}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2016}}
{{Use Indian English|date=January 2016}}
{{Infobox rail line
| box_width =
| name = Varanasi–Ayodhya –Lucknow line<br/>वाराणसी-अयोध्या-लखनऊ रेल लाइन<br/>
| color =
| logo =
| logo_width = 100 px
| image = Lucknow Charbagh Station Board.jpg
| image_width =
| caption = Lucknow Charbagh, Varanasi–Ayodhya-Lucknow line
| type =
| system =
| status = Operational
| locale = [[Indo-Gangetic Plain|Gangetic Plain]] in [[Uttar Pradesh]]
| start = [[Varanasi Junction railway station|Varanasi Jn]]
| end = [[Lucknow Charbagh railway station|Lucknow Charbagh]]
| stations =

[[Jaunpur Junction]], [[Zafarabad Junction railway station|Zafarabad Junction]], [[Ayodhya Junction|Ayodhya Dham Junction]], [[Akbarpur Junction]], [[Barabanki Junction railway station|Barabanki Junction]]
| routes =
| daily_ridership =
| open = 1872
| close =
| owner = [[Indian Railways]]
| operator = [[Northern Railway zone|Northern Railway]] for main line<br/> [[North Central Railway zone|North Central Railway]] partially for branch line
| character =
| depot = Lucknow Junction, Ayodhya Dham Junction
| stock =
| linelength =
| tracklength = via Jaunpur and Ayodhya {{convert|324|km|mi|0|abbr=on}}
| tracks =
| gauge = {{Track gauge|5ft6in|lk=on}} [[broad gauge]] Double broad gauge Sanctioned
| old_gauge =
| minradius =
| racksystem =
| electrification = Yes completed in March 2022
| speed = up to 100 km/h
| elevation = Varanasi {{convert|82|m|ft|0|abbr=on}}<br/>Lucknow {{convert|123|m|ft|0|abbr=on}}
| website =
| map = {{Varanasi–Lucknow line}}
| map_state = collapsed
}}
The '''Varanasi–Ayodhya–Lucknow line''' (also known as Varanasi–Lucknow via Ayodhya main line) is a railway line connecting [[Varanasi Junction railway station|Varanasi Jn]] and [[Lucknow Charbagh railway station|Lucknow Charbagh]], both in the Indian state of [[Uttar Pradesh]]. The main line was subsequently extended to Bareilly, Moradabad and Saharanpur and the entire line was thought of as the "main line" of Oudh and Rohilkhand Railway. An important branch line, the Prayagraj–Ayodhya line, which meets the main line almost at right angles, is included here. The main line is under the administrative jurisdiction of [[Northern Railway zone|Northern Railway]], a portion of the branch line is under the jurisdiction of [[North Central Railway zone|North Central Railway]].

==History==
The [[Oudh and Rohilkhand Railway]] opened the {{Track gauge|5ft6in|lk=on}} [[broad gauge]] line from Varanasi to Lucknow in 1872.<ref name=irfcaii>{{cite web| url = http://www.irfca.org/faq/faq-history2.html|title = IR History: Early Days II (1870-1899) | publisher= IRFCA| access-date = 11 January 2014}}</ref><ref name=fibis>{{cite web| url = http://wiki.fibis.org/index.php/Oudh_and_Rohilkhand_Railway |title = Oudh and Rohilkhand Railway| publisher=fibis | access-date = 11 January 2014}}</ref> The line was extended to Ayodhya as ‘Ayodhya Loop’.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://management.ebooks6.com/The-Oudh-Rohilkhand-Railway-download-w23852.html | title = Oudh and Rohilkhand Railway | publisher = Management Ebooks | access-date = 11 January 2014 | archive-url = https://archive.today/20140111051716/http://management.ebooks6.com/The-Oudh-Rohilkhand-Railway-download-w23852.html | archive-date = 11 January 2014 | url-status = dead | df = dmy-all }}</ref>

The Curzon Bridge across the [[Ganges]] was opened in 1905 by the [[East Indian Railway Company]] and the {{track gauge|1676mm}}-wide {{Track gauge|5ft6in|lk=on}} [[broad gauge]] Prayagraj–Ayodhya line was possibly opened the same year. It was operated by the Oudh and Rohilkhand Railway.<ref>{{cite journal| url = http://www.icevirtuallibrary.com/content/article/10.1680/imotp.1908.17544|title = The Curzon Bridge at Prayagraj |journal = Minutes of the Proceedings of the Institution of Civil Engineers |date = January 1908 |volume = 174 |issue = 1908 |pages = 1–40 | publisher=ice virtual library |doi = 10.1680/imotp.1908.17544 | access-date = 11 January 2014|last1 = Gales |first1 = R. R. |url-access = subscription }}</ref>

The loop line of the Oudh and Rohilkhand Railway from Benares through Ayodhya to Lucknow traverses the Jaunpur District from south to north, while the main line of the same railway crosses the south-west corner. A branch from Zafarabad to Phaphamau on the Ganges is under construction ib n 1905,{{clarify|date=January 2018}} which will give access to [[Prayagraj]]. Shahganj is connected with [[Azamgarh]], and [[Jaunpur, Uttar Pradesh|Jaunpur city]] with [[Ghazipur]], by branches of the [[Bengal and North Western Railway]].

==Passenger movement==
[[Varanasi Junction railway station|Varanasi]] and [[Lucknow Charbagh railway station|Lucknow]] on the main line, and [[Prayagraj Junction railway station|Prayagraj]] on a branch line are 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=11 January 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>

==Sheds, workshops and manufacturing facilities==
Lucknow diesel loco shed or Alambagh diesel shed is home to 160+ locomotives, including [[Indian locomotive class WDM-2|WDM-2]], WDM-3A, WDM-3D, WDG-3A and [[WDG-4]] varieties. Charbagh locomotive workshops handle periodical overhaul jobs. Allahabad has an engineering workshop.<ref name=sheds>{{cite web |url= http://www.irfca.org/faq/faq-shed.html |title= Sheds and workshops|publisher= IRFCA| access-date = 11 January 2014}}</ref>

[[Banaras Locomotive Works]] at Varanasi initially assembled [[American Locomotive Company|ALCO]] kits. Subsequently, with technology transfer from [[Electro-Motive Diesel|GM EMD]], it produces advanced diesel locomotives with high efficiency and low maintenance costs. It produces around 240 locomotives annually.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.irfca.org/faq/faq-shop.html | title= Production Units & Workshops |work=Diesel Loco Works, Varanasi|publisher= IRFCA| access-date=11 January 2014}}</ref>

==Railway reorganisation==
Around 1872, the [[Indian Branch Railway Company]] was transformed into [[Oudh and Rohilkhand Railway]].<ref name=irfcai>{{cite web| url = http://www.irfca.org/faq/faq-hist.html |title = IR History: Early History (1832-1869) | publisher= IRFCA| access-date = 11 January 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.oldmartiniansassociation.co.uk/documents/OudhandRohilkandRly.pdf | title = The . Railway | publisher = Old Martinian Association | access-date = 11 January 2014 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20130621225555/http://www.oldmartiniansassociation.co.uk/documents/OudhandRohilkandRly.pdf | archive-date = 21 June 2013 | url-status = dead | df = dmy-all }}</ref><ref>{{cite web| url =http://wiki.fibis.org/index.php?title=Indian_Branch_Railway |title = Indian Branch Railway | publisher= fibis| access-date = 11 January 2014}}</ref> Oudh and Rohilkhand Railway was merged with [[East Indian Railway Company]] in 1925.<ref>{{cite web| url = http://www.irfca.org/faq/faq-history3.html |title = IR History III : (1900-1947) | publisher= IRFCA| access-date = 11 January 2014}}</ref> dia took over the Bengal and North Western Railway and merged it with the Rohilkhand and Kumaon Railway to form the [[Oudh and Tirhut Railway]] in 1943.<ref>{{cite web| url = http://wiki.fibis.org/index.php?title=Bengal_and_North-Western_Railway |title =Bengal and North Western Railway | publisher= fibis| access-date = 11 January 2014}}</ref>

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 Mughal Sarai, 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 = 11 January 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 = 11 January 2014}}</ref> North Central Railway was formed in 2003.<ref>{{cite web| url=http://www.ncr.indianrailways.gov.in/view_section.jsp?lang=0&id=0,1,261|title = North Central Railway| publisher= NCR| access-date = 11 January 2014 }}</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist|30em}}

==External links==
* [http://indiarailinfo.com/departures/varanasi-junction-bsb/334 Trains at Varanasi]
*
* [https://indiarailinfo.com/arrivals/jaunpur-junction-jnu/1742]
* [http://indiarailinfo.com/arrivals/lucknow-charbagh-lko/336 Trains at Lucknow Charbagh]

{{Railways in Northern India}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Varanasi-Lucknow line}}
[[Category:5 ft 6 in gauge railways in India]]
[[Category:Railway lines in Uttar Pradesh]]
[[Category:Railway lines opened in 1872]]
[[Category:Lucknow NR railway division|*]]

Varanasi–Lucknow line - Revision history

VirginiaOxenham: Put Up A Info First Draft