Santahar–Kaunia line

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Santahar–Kaunia line
Overview
StatusOperational
OwnerBangladesh Railway
LocaleBangladesh
TerminiSantahar
Kaunia
Stations29
Service
Train number(s)20 services daily
History
Opened1878
Technical
Line length167 kilometres (104 mi)
Track length167 kilometres (104 mi)
Number of tracks1; 2 in some places
Track gaugedual gauge (1,000 mm (3 ft 3+3⁄8 in) & 1,676 mm (5 ft 6 in))
Old gaugemetre gauge 1,000 mm (3 ft 3+3⁄8 in)
ElectrificationNone
Operating speed50 kilometres per hour (31 mph) (for 1,000 mm (3 ft 3+3⁄8 in) gauge) & 75 kilometres per hour (47 mph) (for 1,676 mm (5 ft 6 in) gauge)
Highest elevationvaries

The Santahar–Kaunia line is a dual-gauge railway line connecting Santahar and Kaunia in Bangladesh, under the jurisdiction of Bangladesh Railway. From 1878 to 2010 it was a single line of metre gauge 1,000 mm (3 ft 3+3⁄8 in). Between 2010 and 2013, Bangladesh Railway converted the track to also include a 1,676 mm (5 ft 6 in) line, with help of Indian Railways.

History[]

The Brahmaputra–Sultanpur Railway Company constructed the 94-kilometre long (58 mi) metre-gauge railway track from Santahar to Fulchhari (Tistamukh) in 1899–1900. Presently the line is up to Balashi Ghat in Phulchhari Upazila. The 44-kilometre long (27 mi) Bonarpara–Kaunia line was constructed in 1905.[1][2]

Assam Mail[]

The prestigious Assam Mail originally ran along this track in the British days from Santahar to Amingaon.[3]

Ferry[]

In Bangladesh, ferries are often an integrated part of the railway system. There were two major ferry points across the Jamuna, one between Bahadurabad Ghat and Tistamukh Ghat and the other between Jagannath Ghat and Sirajganj Ghat.[4][5]

The ferry system had reached the limits of its capacity. While marginal capacity additions were still feasible, to cope with any significant increase in capacity or even normal traffic growth was virtually felt to be impossible.[6]

The construction of the 4.9-kilometre long (3.0 mi) Bangabandhu Bridge has completely changed the scope of communication systems in that part of the country. The ferry system at both the Bahadurabad Ghat–Balashi Ghat and the Jagannathganj Ghat–Sirajganj Ghat was virtually closed. Only limited freight transportation continued on the Bahadurabad Ghat–Balashi section. Even that has been closed down in 2010 because of formation of shoal in the river.[7][8]

References[]

  1. ^ "Brief History". Bangladesh Railway. 4 December 2011. Retrieved 23 July 2014.
  2. ^ Fida, Quazi Abul (2012). "Railway". In Islam, Sirajul; Jamal, Ahmed A. (eds.). Banglapedia: National Encyclopedia of Bangladesh (Second ed.). Asiatic Society of Bangladesh.
  3. ^ "Trains of fame and locos with a name – Part 2". . Retrieved 2012-02-07.
  4. ^ "Infrastructure (Bangladesh)". Jane's Intelligence and Insight. Archived from the original on 2012-05-09. Retrieved 2011-12-16.
  5. ^ "Trans Asian Railway Network (TAR): Southern Corridor" (PDF). Bangabandhu (Jamuna) Bridge: Opportunities created by it in promoting international rail transport. Centre for Policy Dialogue. Retrieved 2011-12-16.
  6. ^ "Linking east and west Bangladesh:The Jamuna (BangaBandhu) Bridge Project" (PDF). The Canadian Journal of Programme Implementation. Retrieved 2011-12-16.
  7. ^ "Drastic fall in Jamuna water level hampers transport". The Daily Star. 23 February 2011. Retrieved 2011-12-16.
  8. ^ "Boatmen dredging Jamuna as govt turns a blind eye". The Daily Star. 12 February 2007. Retrieved 2011-12-16.


Coordinates: 25°07′15″N 89°30′55″E / 25.1208°N 89.5152°E / 25.1208; 89.5152

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