Bakhtiyarpur–Tilaiya line

This article is about the broad-gauge line. For the narrow-gauge railway, see Bukhtiarpur Bihar Light Railway.

The Bakhtiyarpur–Tilaiya line is a railway line connecting Bakhtiyarpur on the Howrah–Delhi main line and Tilaiya on the Gaya–Kiul line, both in the Indian state of Bihar.

Bakhtiyarpur–Tilaiya line
Rajgir is an important railway station on Bakhtiyarpur–Tilaiya line
Overview
Status	Operational
Owner	Indian Railways
Termini	Bakhtiyarpur Tilaiya
Service
Operator(s)	East Central Railway
History
Opened	1962 / 2010
Technical
Line length	100 km (62 mi)
Number of tracks	1
Track gauge	5 ft 6 in (1,676 mm) broad gauge
Electrification	25 kV 50 Hz AC OHLE in 2016–2017 b/w Bakhtiyarpur and Rajgir
Operating speed	Up to 100 km/h
Route map Legend km   Howrah–Delhi main line (Asansol–Patna section) 0 Bakhtiyarpur 3 Karnauti Halt Falgu River 7 Kharuara Halt Harnaut–Mokama section to Mokama Harnaut Carriage Repair Workshop 11 Harnaut NH 431 14 Murhari Halt 16 Wena 18 Imlibigha Halt SH 78 19 Rahui Road 20 Ambapendarpur Halt 21 Dekpura Halt Panchane River 27 Sohsarai Neora-Sheikhpura line to Neora 30 Bihar Sharif NH 33 Neora–Sheikhpura line to Sheikhpura to Nawada (planned) to Jehanabad (planned) 34 Tungi Halt to Nawada (planned) NH 20 36 Pawapuri Road Panchane River 37 Deepnagar Halt 42 Nalanda 44 Marahra 47 Silao 49 Karahdih Halt 51 Sardar Patel Halt NH 120 54 Rajgir SH 71 61 Nekpur Fatuha–Tilaiya line to Fatuha 71 Natesar to Gaya ( under construction ) 78 Jethian 82 Sarsoo Dhadhar River 90 Oro Jagdishpur 94 Mohamadpur 96 Hisua NH 120 Gaya–Kiul line to Kiul 100 Tilaiya Gaya–Kiul line to Gaya 107 Narhat 115 Laundh 123 Kheraundh to Koderma ( under construction ) km Sources[1][2] This diagram: view talk edit

History

The line has its origins in Bakhtiyarpur–Bihar Sharif light railway, which was a 2 ft 6 in (762 mm)-wide narrow-gauge railway laid by Martin's Light Railways from Bakhtiyarpur to Bihar Sharif in 1903 and extended to Rajgir in 1911.^[3][4][5][6] It was converted to 1,676 mm (5 ft 6 in) in 1962.^[3][4] The broad-gauge line was extended from Rajgir to Tilaiya and opened in 2010.^[7] The line is to be extended up to Koderma.^[8] Feasibility studies for the electrification of the Manpur–Tilaiya–Kiul sector and Fatwa–Islampur–Bakhtiyarpur–Rajgir sectors were announced in the rail budget for 2010–11.^[9] Survey work for doubling of this line has been completed and is awaiting the green signal from Railway Safety Commissioner.^[10]

Electrification

The Bakhtiyarpur–Rajgir section was electrified in 2016–2017, while the Rajgir–Tilaiya section was electrified in 2017. The Tilaiya–Gaya section was electrified along with the Gaya–Kiul line in October 2018.

Workshops

Carriage Repair Workshop in Harnaut has the capacity to repair and refurbish 500 or more coaches annually.^[11][12][13]

Important stations

Bihar Sharif Junction, Rajgir, Nalanda and Harnaut are important stations on this line.

Rajgir and Nalanda, located on this line, are popular tourist destinations and are part of the Buddhist Circuit of Bihar.^[14] Pawapuri is a significant site on the Jain Circuit of Bihar.^[15]

Sections

• Bakhtiyarpur–Rajgir section
• Rajgir–Tilaiya–Gaya section
• Daniyawan–Bihar Sharif–Sheikhpura line
• Harnaut–Mokama section