Jodhpur–Jaisalmer line

The Jodhpur–Jaisalmer line or Jaisalmer–Jodhpur line is a railway route on the North Western Railway zone of Indian Railways. This route plays an important role in rail transportation of Bikaner division, Jodhpur division of Rajasthan state.

Jodhpur–Jaisalmer line with Lalgarh branch line
Palace on Wheels and Goods train on Jaisalmer railway station of Jodhpur–Jaislamer line
Overview
Status	Operational
Owner	Indian Railways
Locale	Rajasthan
Termini	Jodhpur Junction Jaisalmer
Service
Operator(s)	North Western Railway
History
Opened	1968 (Main line) 30 October 1922 (Lalgarh–Kolayat branch section) 18 June 2007 (Kolayat–Phalodi branch section)
Technical
Line length	Main line 292 km (181 mi) Phalodi–Lalgarh branch line 158 km (98 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 Legend Sanu 329 Lanela 304 Jaisalmer 292 Thaiyat Hamira Junction 274 on Jodhpur–Bathinda line Jetha Chandan 251 158 Lalgarh Junction SH 40 Shri Bhadriya Lathi 230 147 Nal Halt Odhaniya Chacha 208 NH 11 NH 11 133 Darbari Ashapura Gomat 191 128 Gajner SH 40 119 Channi Halt Pokaran 194 112 Kolayat Ramdevra 183 96 Diyatara Road NH 11 74 Nokhra Marwar Khara 162 53 Sird Marwar Bhitri 147 36 Bap Phalodi Junction 137/0 13 Malar Phalodi Air Force Station SH 19 NH 11 123 Shaitan Singh Nagar 108 Marwar Lohawat SH 61 89 Harlaya 79 Bhikamkor 64 Osiyan 43 Tivari 33 Marwar Mathania 27 Manaklao 9 Mandor NH 62 4 Mahamandir to Jodhpur–Bathinda line 2 Raikabag Palace Junction NH 62 0 Jodhpur to Jodhpur–Luni section Source: Google maps Jodhpur Jaisalmer Passenger Bandra Terminus Jaisalmer Superfast Express Leelan Express

The corridor passes through the Desert Area of Rajasthan with a stretch of 292 km with consists of one branch line which starts from Phalodi Junction and ends at Lalgarh Junction with a stretch of 158 km.

History

The main railway line from Jodhpur Junction to Phalodi Junction was originally built by Jodhpur–Bikaner Railway company of Bikaner Princely State and Jodhpur Princely State portion as metre-gauge line was constructed on different phases.

• The first phase, from Jodhpur Junction to Osian was opened on 21 September 1913.
• The second phase, from Osian to Marwar Lohawat was opened on 17 March 1914.
• The third phase, from Marwar Lohawat to Phalodi Junction was opened on 12 May 1914.^[1]

Whereas, the branch line section from Lalgarh Junction to Kolayat which comes under the Bikaner State Railway was opened on 30 October 1922.^[2]

Later the main line was extended to Pokaran from Phalodi Junction on 1940.^[3] After it was extended again to Jaisalmer with starting construction in the year 1967 and opened on 1968.^[4]

After that, the conversion of main line into 5 ft 6 in (1,676 mm) broad gauge was started in 2003,^[5] Which it was important for military purpose because this railway line passes through nearest of International border of India, which was approved in the rail budget 1993–94.^[6][7] was opened on 15 December 2006.^[8]

Whereas the branch line section from Lalgarh to Kolayat gauge conversion was done and opened on 23 October 1992,^[9] After that the link of branch line section starts from Kolayat to Phalodi Junction was begun survey and construction on 2001^[10] for linking Jaisalmer to Bikaner and other parts of Northern India^[11] for military purpose was opened on 18 June 2007.^[12]

After that, the new line between Thaiyat Hamira and Sanu was sanctioned on 2013 ^[13] for easier limestone transport from Sanu Mines to Rest of India, construction was begun on 2015 ^[14] and after some years it was opened for goods traffic on 1 December 2019.^[15]

Trains passing through this line

Main

• Jaisalmer–Jodhpur Express
• Ranikhet Express
• Corbett Park Link Express

Branch

• Jaisalmer–Lalgarh Express
• Leelan Express
• Bhavnagar Terminus–Udhampur Janmabhoomi Express

References

1. "Indian Railways history". Retrieved 6 November 2012.
2. "Administration report on Indian Railways 1939" (PDF). Retrieved 25 July 2021.
3. "IRFCA History Part 3". IRFCA.
4. "IRFCA History Part 4". IRFCA.
5. "GAUGE CONVERSION OF DEFENCE SIDING". Ministry of Railways. Government of India. Retrieved 7 May 2014.
6. "Rail Budget 1993-94". Ministry of Railways. Government of India. Retrieved 17 May 2021.
7. "COMMITTEE ON PETITIONS NINTH REPORT" (PDF). Government of India. Retrieved 17 July 2021.
8. "Phalodi Jaisalmer line to be commissioned on Dec 15". One India.
9. "Report on Railways 2005" (PDF). Government of India. Retrieved 10 January 2021.
10. "QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS ON SURVEY FOR KOLAYAT PHALODI RAIL LINE" (PDF). Government of India. Retrieved 17 July 2021.
11. "RAILWAYS INITIATIVES IN FUNDING OF PROJECTS". Government of India. Retrieved 17 July 2021.
12. "Bikaner Division" (PDF). North Western Railway. Retrieved 17 July 2021.
13. "New rail line in Jaisalmer to benefit limestone industry". Times of India. 11 March 2013.
14. "हमीरा सोनू के बीच जल्द ही बिछेगी रेल लाइन". Bhaskar.com (in Hindi). 15 November 2015.
15. "Rajasthan: Sonu-Hamira rail line to start soon, tracks reviewed". Times of India. 30 November 2019.