Malakwal–Khushab Branch Line
ملکوال-خُوشاب برانچ لائن
Overview
Other name(s)Sind–Sagar Railway
StatusOperational
OwnerPakistan Railways
Termini
Stations14
Service
Operator(s)Pakistan Railways
History
Opened1 May 1887 (1887-05-01)
Technical
Line length92 km (57 mi)
Track gauge1,676 mm (5 ft 6 in)
Operating speed105 km/h (65 mph) (Current)
160 km/h (99 mph) (Proposed Upgrade)[1]

Malakwal–Khushab Branch Line (Urdu: ملکوال-خُوشاب فرعی ریلوے خط) is one of several branch lines in Pakistan, operated and maintained by Pakistan Railways. The line begins from Malakwal Junction station and ends at Khushab Junction station.[2] The total length of this railway line is 92 kilometers (57 mi). There are 14 railway stations from Malakwal Junction to Khushab Junction. At present, rail traffic on this line is operational from Malakwal Junction to Pind Dadadn Khan Railway Station.[3]

History

The Malakwal–Khushab branch line was built as part of the Sind–Sagar Railway between 1884 and 1939. In May 1887, the 7,656.25 ft (2,333.62 m) long Victoria Bridge was completed over the Jhelum river between Malakwal and Chak Nizam and a railway line was constructed from Malakwal to Khushab. The line was conceived to haul freight from the mining rich region and served two important smaller railways: the Gharibwal Cement Works Railway and the Dandot Light Railway (serving the Khewra Salt Mine). In 1939, the Victoria bridge had to be completely re-girdered on the old piers when the bridge proved to be incapable of taking increased rail traffic.

Dandot Light Railway

The Dandot Light Railway opened in 1905 as a 10 kilometres (6.2 mi) 610 mm (2 ft) narrow gauge railway from Dandot railway station to Chalisa Junction railway station.After some years it was converted to broad gauge (5 Feet 6 Inches). It was built to serve the Khewra Salt Mine. This railway line was closed since 2010 but rehabilitation work started in 2021 and in 2022, its fully operational.[4][5]

Gharibwal Cement Works Railway

The Gharibwal Cement Works Railway opened in May 1886 as a 27 kilometres (17 mi) 1,676 mm (5 ft 6 in) railway from Haranpur Junction to Gharibwal. It was built to serve the Gharibwal quarry.[6]

Stations

Abandoned section

References

  1. ↑ Pakistan Railways: A Performance Analysis - Citizens' Periodic Reports on the Performance of State Institutions (PDF). Islamabad: PILDAT. December 2015. p. 21. ISBN 978-969-558-589-4. Archived from the original (PDF) on January 24, 2016. Retrieved August 18, 2016.
  2. ↑ "Malakwal Junction, Pakistan, February 1985". www.internationalsteam.co.uk.
  3. ↑ Newspaper, the (March 16, 2014). "Thwarted dream of road over River Jhelum". DAWN.COM.
  4. ↑ Dey, Abani Kumar (2008). Mineral wealth. ISBN 9788182054837.
  5. ↑ "Reisebericht Pakistan 1996". www.rolandziegler.de.
  6. ↑ "Salman Rashid: Malakwal to Gharibwal".
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