- Source: Northeast Frontier Railway zone
The Northeast Frontier Railway (abbreviated NFR) is one of the 19 railway zones of the Indian Railways. It is headquartered in Maligaon, Guwahati in the state of Assam, and responsible for operation and expansion of rail network all across Northeastern states and some districts of eastern Bihar and northern West Bengal.
Divisions
Northeast Frontier Railway is divided into 5 divisions:
Katihar railway division
Alipurduar railway division
Lumding railway division
Rangiya railway division
Tinsukia railway division
Each of these divisions is headed by a Divisional Railway Manager, a Senior Administrative Grade officer of the rank of Joint Secretary to Government of India.
The departmental setup at headquarters level and divisional setup in the field assists the General Manager in running the railways. Various departments namely engineering, mechanical, electrical, signal & telecom, operations, commercial, safety, accounts, security, personal and medical are headed by a Senior Administrative Grade / Higher Administrative Grade officer, provide technical and operational support to the divisions in train operations.
History
In 1881, the Assam Railway and Trading Company opened a metre gauge line 65 kilometres (40 mi) long from Dibrugarh to Makum. This company later started the first passenger train in Assam by the name of Dibru–Sadiya Railway.
The North Eastern Railway was formed on 14 April 1952 by amalgamating two railway systems: the Assam Railway and Oudh and Tirhut Railway. Later, it was bifurcated into two railway zones on 15 January 1958, the North Eastern Railway and the Northeast Frontier Railway. to better serve the needs of the northeastern states.
Operational area
The area of Northeast Frontier Railway operations is characterized by exceptional beauty and at the same time by some of the most arduous terrain. This difficult terrain limits the rail network expansion, and the only state with a decent rail network is Assam. The network is not broad gauge in many parts and the rail lines are antiquated with speeds at some sections being limited to a maximum of 30 km/h (19 mph). Before the Saraighat Bridge was constructed, passengers had to get down on the Amingaon side of the Brahmaputra and take a ferry across to Pandu Junction from where they could resume their journey.
The majority of the tracks have been converted to BG and electrification is in process starting from Katihar till Guwahati.
= Major sections
=A few of the major sections under the Northeast Frontier Railway zone are:
Eklakhi–Balurghat branch line
New Bongaigaon–Guwahati section
New Jalpaiguri–New Bongaigaon section
Rangiya–Murkongselek section
Guwahati–Lumding section
Lumding–Dibrugarh section
Silchar–Sabroom section
Katihar–Siliguri section
Katihar–Jogbani branch line
Alipurduar–Bamanhat branch line
New Jalpaiguri–Alipurduar–Samuktala Road line
Barauni–Guwahati line
Darjeeling Himalayan Railway
The Darjeeling Himalayan Railway is maintained and governed under the responsibility of Katihar division. It ascends 6,850 feet (2,090 m) from New Jalpaiguri; the climb begins at Sukna, continues uninterruptedly to Ghum (7,407 ft or 2,258 m) and descends the final 5 miles (8.0 km) to Darjeeling. After independence, India's partition resulted in the isolation of the Northeast region. Consequently, the DHR was merged into Assam Railways, it was closed for the construction of the Assam–Bengal link line and one of its extension lines to Kishanganj was converted to metre gauge. DHR's other extension line to Kalimpong was washed away due to floods. On reopening, the DHR was merged with North Eastern Railway in 1952 and later into Northeast Frontier Railway in 1958.
The DHR achieved worldwide fame for many reasons such as:
A gateway to the Himalayas
The tiny four-wheeled steam locomotives of the 19th century
The curves, loops, "Z"s and steep grades crisscrossing the road
An interest in DHR all along has ensured that it continues to operate notwithstanding very heavy losses. The steam locomotive is an icon of this Railway. Tindharia workshop has kept 13 locomotives surviving, some of which are over 100 years old and the youngest is about 70 years old.
Timeline of DHR:
20 January 1948: Purchased by the Government of India
26 January 1948: Transferred to Assam Rail Link
26 January 1950: Transferred to Assam Railway
14 January 1952: Transferred to North Eastern Railway
15 January 1958: Transferred to Northeast Frontier Railway
Major Trains
Loco sheds
Diesel Loco Shed, Siliguri
Diesel & Electric Loco Shed, Malda Town
Diesel Loco Shed, New Guwahati
Diesel Loco Shed, Mariani
Sicklines & Pitlines
Dibrugarh Coaching Depot, Dibrugarh
Pitline, Dibrugarh
N.F.Railway Mechanical Workshop, Dibrugarh
Coach Maintenance Depot/Sickline, Guwahati
Pitline, Guwahati
Pitline, New Guwahati
New Bongaigaon Carriage & Wagon Workshop, New Bongaigaon
Coach Maintenance Depot, Kamakhya
Automatic Coach Washing Pitline, Kamakhya
Silchar Coaching Depot, Silchar
Pitline, Silchar
DEMU cum Sick Shed, Agartala
Pitline, Agartala
Routine Overhaul(ROH) Depot, New Tinsukia
Tinsukia Carriage Depot, Tinsukia
New Coaching Depot/Sickline, Katihar
Pitline, Balurghat
Coach Maintenance Depot, New Jalpaiguri
Routine Overhaul(ROH) Depot, New Jalpaiguri
DEMU Car Shed, Siliguri
Major stations
These are the major railway station which have large numbers of passenger frequencies and stoppages of trains in the zone.
See also
North Eastern Railway Connectivity Project
All India Station Masters' Association
Zones and divisions of Indian Railways
Northeast Frontier Railway Stadium
Further reading
Dutta, Arup Kumar (2002). Indian Railways, the final frontier: genesis and growth of the North-East Frontier Railway. Guwahati: Northeast Frontier Railway. LCCN 2003308231.
References
External links
Northeast Frontier Railway
Indian Railways Online (official site)
Indian Railways Fan Club
IR. Online Tickets
N F Railway (construction)
Northeast Frontier Railway Recruitment
Kata Kunci Pencarian:
- Stasiun kereta api Dekargaon
- Northeast Frontier Railway zone
- New Jalpaiguri Junction railway station
- Kamakhya Junction railway station
- List of railway stations in India
- Katihar railway division
- Guwahati railway station
- Jiribam railway station
- Rangiya railway division
- Lumding railway division
- New Bongaigaon Junction railway station
