Varanasi–Chhapra line

Varanasi–Chhapra line
with Aunrihar–Mau–Phephna branch line
Varanasi–Chhapra line ; with Aunrihar–Mau–Phephna branch line
	Ballia & Ghazipur City an Important railway station lies on Varanasi–Chhapra line
Overview
Status	Operational
Owner	Indian Railways
Locale	Gangetic Plain in Uttar Pradesh and Bihar
Termini	Varanasi Junction; Chhapra Junction;
Service
Operator(s)	North Eastern Railway
History
Opened	15 March 1909 (Main) ; 15 March 1899 (Branch)
Technical
Line length	Main line 206 km (128 mi) ; Aunrihar–Mau–Phephna branch line 118 km (73 mi)
Track gauge	1,676 mm (5 ft 6 in) Broad Gauge
Old gauge	1,000 mm (3 ft 3+3⁄8 in) Metre gauge
Electrification	Yes
Operating speed	100 km/h
Route map
Route map
	Legend
	Ghaghara River
	on UP-Bihar Border
	to Barauni Junction
	on Barauni–Gorakhpur line
	Source: Google maps; Mumbai LTT Raxaul Antyodaya Express; Varanasi City Chhapra Intercity Express

The Varanasi–Chhapra line or Chhapra–Varanasi line is a railway route on the North Eastern Railway section of Indian Railways. This route plays an important role in rail transportation of Varanasi division and Azamgarh division of Uttar Pradesh state and Saran division of Bihar state.

The corridor passes through the Gangetic Plain of Uttar Pradesh and Bihar with a stretch of 206 km with consists of a branch line that starts from Aunrihar Junction with passing through Mau Junction and Ends at Phephna Junction with a stretch of 118 km.

History

The main railway line from Chhapra Junction to Varanasi City was originally built by Bengal and North Western Railway company as metre-gauge line during the 19th and 20th century also. This line was opened in different phases during the construction period.

The first phase, between Chhapra Junction to Revelganj halt was opened on 15 April 1891.
The second phase, between Revelganj Halt to Manjhi was opened on 1 April 1899.
The third phase, between Manjhi to Bakulha was opened on 7 February 1912.
The fourth phase, between Bakulha to Ballia was opened on 12 May 1899.
The fifth phase, between Ballia to Phephna Junction was opened on 13 March 1899.
The Sixth phase, between Phephna Junction to Ghazipur Ghat was opened on 10 March 1903.
The Seventh Phase, between Ghazipur Ghat to Aunrihar Junction was opened on 15 March 1909.
The Eighth Phase, between Aunrihar Junction to Varanasi City was also opened on 15 March 1909.

Whereas the branch line between Aunrihar Junction to Phephna Junction was opened in two phases during the construction period. The First phase between Aunrihar Junction to Mau Junction was opened on 15 March 1899 and the second phase between Indara Junction to Phephna Junction was also opened on 15 March 1899.^[1]

After that, this line was transferred from the initial jurisdiction to Oudh Tirhut Railway, after the amalgamation of: Bengal and North Western Railway, the Tirhut Railway, Mashrak-Thawe Extension Railway, Rohilkund and Kumaon Railway Company on 1 January 1943.^{[citation needed]}

Later, on 14 April 1952, this line was transferred to the jurisdiction of North Eastern Railway, after the amalgamation of Oudh Tirhut Railway and Assam Railway Company.^[2]

After that, the conversion into 5 ft 6 in (1,676 mm) broad gauge was completed through different phases starting from the first phase between Varanasi City to Indara Junction at 1990, and the second phase between Aunrihar Junction to Chhapra Junction at 1996 and another phase between Indara Junction to Phephna Junction at 1999.^[3]