Varanasi–Sultanpur–Lucknow line

The Varanasi–Jaunpur City–Sultanpur–Lucknow line (also known as Varanasi–Lucknow via Sultanpur–Jaunpur main line) is a railway line connecting Varanasi and Lucknow, both in the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh. This line is under the administration of Northern Railway and Lucknow Charbagh Divisions.

Varanasi–Jaunpur City–Sultanpur–Lucknow line including Allahabad–Faizabad line
Sultanpur Junction, an important railway station on Varanasi–Sultanpur–Lucknow line
Overview
Status	Operational
Owner	Indian Railways
Locale	Gangetic Plain in Uttar Pradesh
Termini	Varanasi Lucknow
Stations	Zafrabad Junction, Jaunpur City, Sultanpur Junction, Nihalgarh
Service
Operator(s)	Northern Railway for main line
Depot(s)	Lucknow Alambagh
History
Opened	1872
Technical
Line length	2
Track length	Varanasi–Jaunpur City–Sultanpur–Lucknow: 282 km (175 mi) Allahabad–Faizabad158 km (98 mi)
Track gauge	5 ft 6 in (1,676 mm) broad gauge
Electrification	25 kV, 50 Hz AC through overhead catenary
Operating speed	up to 110 km/h (68 mph) To be 120kmph by April 2023
Highest elevation	Varanasi 82 m (269 ft) Lucknow 123 m (404 ft)
Route map Legend km Lucknow–Kanpur Suburban Railway to Balamau to Sitapur Lucknow Charbagh 282 to Barabanki Utraitia 270 Varanasi–Rae Bareli– Lucknow line Bakkas 264 Anupganj 256 Rahmatnagar 250 Chandrauli 241 NH 56 km Tribediganj 233 Barabanki–Ayodhya line Haiderganj 226 0 Faizabad SH 13 Barabanki–Ayodhya line Chaubisi 217 Faizabad Road Akbarganj 209 SH 15 Sinurwa 201 8 Masodha Nihalgarh 193 16 Bharat Kund NH 56 19 Malethu Kanak Warisganj 187 28 Khajurhat NH 56 34 Chaure Bazar Adhinpur 182 41 Kurebhar Musafirkhana 174 50 Dwarkaganj Shivnagar 165 SH 9 Faizabad Sultanpur Hwy Bandhua Kalan 152 SH 9 143 59 Sultanpur Piparpur 072 NH 56 Ramganj 077 134 Pakhruli Khundaur 084 128 Bhadaiyan Varanasi-Rae Bareli- Lucknow line 121 Lambhua Chibila 095 NH 56 Pratapgarh 099 113 Mahrani Pachhim Varanasi-Rae Bareli- Lucknow line 109 Chanda Halt SH 36 NH 56 Bhupia Mau 104 104 Koiripur Bishnathganj 114 NH 56 Dhirganj 120 93 Harpalganj SH 9 NH 56 Mau Aimma 125 85 Sri Krishna Nagar Devalpur 133 76 Sarai Harikhu Siwaith 139 68 Baksha Mughalsarai–Kanpur section NH 231 Phaphamau 145 57 Jaunpur City Ganges SH 66A Prayag 152 55 Jaunpura Kachary Mughalsarai–Kanpur section to Manakpur SH 9 to Kanpur via Phaphamau Mughalsarai–Kanpur section 51 Zafrabad Allahabad 158 45 Sarkoni Mughalsarai–Kanpur section Sai River km 39 Jalalganj 33 Trilochan Mahdo 28 Khalispur 24 Pindra Road 18 Babatpur 12 Birpatti NH 56 5 Shivpur SH 74 Varanasi–Kanpur line & Varanasi–Rae Bareli–Lucknow line Varanasi–Allahabad line 0 Varanasi to Mughalsarai to Aunrihar km Sources: Google Maps Sources: 12331 Himgiri Express • 54372 Faizabad Prayag Passenger

History

The Oudh and Rohilkhand Railway opened the 5 ft 6 in (1,676 mm) broad gauge line from Varanasi to Lucknow in 1872.

Electrification route via Sultanpur

The Mughalsarai Junction–Varanasi Junction–Jaunpur City–Sultanpur Junction–Lucknow Charbagh railway station line was electrified in 2013.^[1]

Sheds, workshops and manufacturing facilities

Lucknow diesel loco shed or Alambagh diesel shed is home to 160+ locomotives, including WDM-2, WDM-3A, WDM-3D, WDG-3A and WDG-4 varieties. Charbagh locomotive workshops handle periodical overhaul jobs. Allahabad has an engineering workshop.^[2]

Banaras Locomotive Works at Varanasi initially assembled ALCO kits. Subsequently, under a Transfer of Technology arrangement, the design was adopted by IR and the ALCO design WDM2 locomotive became the mainstay of Indian Railways between the mid-1960s and the late 1990s. Through indigenous efforts, the design was improved and horsepower increased from 2200 to 3600. Subsequently, with technology transfer from GM EMD, it now produces advanced diesel locomotives with high efficiency and low maintenance costs. It produces around 240 locomotives annually.^[3] Lately, DLW has started manufacturing electric locomotives also.