Lumding–Dibrugarh section

The Lumding–Dibrugarh section is a broad-gauge railway line connecting Lumding and Dibrugarh. The 380-kilometre (240 mi) long railway line is functional in the Indian state of Assam. It is under the jurisdiction of Northeast Frontier Railway. Dibrugarh is a newly made Junction station to connect Pasighat. The old Dibrugarh Town station is 5-kilometre (3.1 mi) away from Dibrugarh.

Lumding–Dibrugarh section (including Tinsukia–Ledo, Tinsukia–Dangari, Dimapur–Tizit & Dhansiri–Kohima branch lines)
Nagaland Express runs on Lumding–Dibrugarh section
Overview
Status	Operational
Owner	Indian Railways
Locale	Assam, Nagaland
Termini	Lumding Dibrugarh
Service
Operator(s)	Northeast Frontier Railway
History
Opened	1903
Technical
Line length	380 km (236 mi)
Number of tracks	1
Track gauge	5 ft 6 in (1,676 mm) broad gauge
Electrification	Ongoing
Operating speed	100 km/h (62 mph)
Route map Legend km km Rangiya–Murkongselek section via Bogibeel Bridge Lepetkata 306 312 Dhamalgaon 379 325 Dibrugarh Dihing River 383 331 Dibrumukh 382 330 Dibrugarh Town Khowang 296 376 Chaulkhowa Moranhat 284 370 Lahoal 361 Dikom 355 Hatiali Ground Siding Moran 279 352 Chabua 348 Kanjikhoa 342 Panitola 338 Hijiguli 45 Saikhoa Ghat Sepon 274 40 Dangari National Highway 37 Mohkhuti 269 36 Talap Machai Siding 266 Rangiya–Murkongselek section Kharahat 262 Parshuram Kund Arunachal Pradesh Assam border Desang 257 under construction 27 Rupai Sibsagar Town 247 25 Dumduma Town Kujibali 239 24 Sookerating 22 Hansara 17 Bor Hapjan National Highway 38 Makum 009 21 Tingrai Tinsukia 002 27 Bogapani Halt 31 Telpung Digboi Refinery New Tinsukia 334 000 35 Digboi 39 Powai Sripuriagaon 330 Dihing River Chariali 328 47 Margherita Bordubi Road 321 Namdang Colliery Duliajan 317 51 Bargolai Dihing River 54 Ledo Tirap Colliery closed MG section Naharkatiya 308 64 Lekhapani Balimara 302 Tipongpani Colliery Brahmaputra Valley Fertilizer Corporation Limited Namrup 297 Darang River Borhat 292 Baruanagar 287 Sapekhati 279 Longpatia 272 Bhojo 265 Dimapur-Tizit line (planned) Borahi Siding 260 237 Tizit Safrai 255 222 Singhpan Lakwa 244 208 15 Naginimora Mahutgaon 238 Nagaland Assam border Jorhat Town–Sibsagar Town line (under construction) 11 Bihubar Simalguri Junction 231 000 7 Santak closed MG line 190 Anaki Nazira 227 Mezenga 223 179 20 New Tuli Namtiali 216 14 Tuli Bahirabari 210 Nagaland Assam border 166 Yachong Amguri 205 000 154 Changdang Selenghat 200 142 Japu Lahing 193 127 Ajuhoto Nakachari 187 113 Changpang Meleng 183 100 Yimpang Kathilguri 180 91 Marachu/Merapani 70 Liokhowa Mariani 177 222 57 Liphanyan Kharikatia 171 43 Niuland Letekujan Siding 160 35 Nihekhu closed NG section 22 Sitikima Bokahola 223 Rangajan 221 165 225 Titabar Sycotta 218 160 Melamati Karanga Halt 215 155 Dufalating 153 Chakiting Naharbari 220 148 Kamarbandha Ali Duklangia 217 Kaliapani 215 Murmuria Siding 214 Cinnamara 212 Khelmati 209 Jorhat Town-Sibsagar Town line (under construction) Kakilamukh 236 Gosaigaon Ghat 230 Gosaigaon 228 Patiagaon 223 Borigaon 218 closed NG section Jorhat Goods Yard Jorhat Junction 207 Jorhat Town 206 Rowriah 201 Bhalukmara 193 Gatonga Siding 191 Moabund 188 Barua Bamungaon 179 Rangaliting 172 Badulipar 168 Khumtai 164 Salona–Khumtai line (under construction) Numaligarh Refinery 172 Numaligarh 162 Hautley 156 Adharsatra 152 Golaghat 146 Furkating 139 Oating 135 Jamguri 129 Bhilgaon 122 Dimapur–Tizit line (planned) Barpathar 114 Sarupathar 105 Naojan 096 Chungajan 089 123 Kohima Bokajan 083 88 Zubza Khotkhoti 075 62 Chephema Assam Nagaland border 57 Pherima 53 Khabvuma Dimapur 0 69 0 49 Khaibung Rangapahar Crossing 065 35 Molvom Rangapahar 063 22 Sukhovi Nagaland Assam border 11 Chumekdima Dhansiri–Zubza–Kohima line (under construction) km 51 0 Dhansiri 42 Daldali 32 Diphu 23 Nailalung 14 Langcholiet 7 Barlangfer 0 Lumding Lumding–Sabroom section Guwahati–Lumding section km Sources: Google maps Indian Railway Time Table Dibrugarh Jhajha Weekly Express 15942 Mariani–Furkating Passenger 55904 Presentation on Development of Rail Infrastructure in the Northeast Region

Route & Branch Routes

The Lumding–Dibrugarh Mainline section goes via Dimapur, Furkating, Mariani, Amguri, Simaluguri, Duliajan, New Tinsukia & is 380-kilometre (240 mi) long. The branch route of Furkating-Jorhat-Mariani goes via Golaghat, Numaligarh, Bhalukmara, Jorhat & Cinnamara & is 86-kilometre (53 mi) long. The branch route of Simaluguri to Dibrugarh goes via Shivasagar(Sibsagar Town) & Moranhat & is 96-kilometre (60 mi). Amguri - Tuli section of 14.65-kilometre (9.10 mi) was closed for being Meter Gauge but now is made Broad Gauge. Simaluguri - Naginimora section of 16.9-kilometre (10.5 mi) was permanently closed for being Meter Gauge but now set to be revived in Broad Gauge as Amguri-Naginimora 31-kilometre (19 mi) long line. The branch route of New Tinsukia - Ledo section is 58-kilometre (36 mi) long. It goes further 2.5-kilometre (1.6 mi) uptill Tirap Gaon, Ledo also known as Tirap Colliery. During Meter Gauge era the line used to go uptill Lekhapani, 6.5-kilometre (4.0 mi) from Tirap. Lekhapani station was closed in 1997 & was restored in 2009 but as a Monument. The Branch route of Makum-Dangari is 28.5-kilometre (17.7 mi) & during Meter Gauge era it used to go further 9-kilometre (5.6 mi) uptill Siakhoa Ghat.

History

Dibrugarh Railway Yard, 1943

The Assam Railway and Trading Company Limited was incorporated in 1881. The first metre-gauge locomotive was put into service in Assam in 1882. The 64-kilometre (40 mi)-long line from Dibrugarh steamer ghat to Makum was opened to passenger traffic on 16 July 1883. The objective of opening an isolated railway in upper Assam was to link the tea gardens and coalfields to the steamer ghats.

In the latter part of the 19th century, the Dibru–Sadiya railway was 149-kilometre (93 mi) long.^[1] The 1,000 mm (3 ft 3+3⁄8 in)-wide metre-gauge railway track earlier laid by Assam Bengal Railway from Chittagong to Lumding was extended to Tinsukia on the Dibru–Sadiya line in 1903.^[1][2] The Mariani–Furkating line was operated by Jorhat-Provincial Railway.^[2] In 1937, the British also planned Guwahati-Dhaka line in Meter Gauge which was slated to connect Guwahati with Dewanganj Upazila(Bangladesh) as Dewangaunge was already connected with Dhaka via Mymensingh by a 259-kilometre (161 mi) long Meter Gauge line. The 323-kilometre (201 mi) long Railway Guwahati-Dewanganj project was scrapped in 1943 owing to Second World War & Indian National Army defeating the British.

The project for the conversion of the entire Lumding–Dibrugarh section from metre gauge to 5 ft 6 in (1,676 mm) broad gauge was completed by the end of 1995.^[3]

The Guwahati–Lumding–Dibrugarh line was proposed to be doubled in the Railway Budget for 2016–17.^[4] The 123-kilometre (76 mi)-long Dimapur–Zubza–Kohima new line project has the status of a National Project. Final location survey has been completed for the entire project.^[5][6] As of 2012, surveys are underway for 6 km (4 mi)-long line from Tirap to Lekhapani and 31 km (19 mi)-long line from Lekhapani to Kharsang in Arunachal Pradesh. Survey for 344 km (214 mi)-long new line from Nagaon to Sibsagar Town was completed in 2010–11. Survey was completed for doubling of 527 km (327 mi)-long line from Digaru to Dibrugarh. Survey is in progress for 190 km (118 mi)-long new line from Dimapur to Tizit. Survey was completed for 31 km (19 mi) long new line from Amguri to Naginimora. The survey for 9 km (6 mi)-long new line from Tuli to Tuli Town has been shelved.^[7]