Amritsar–Khem Karan line

The Amritsar–Khem Karan line is a railway route on the Northern Railway zone of Indian Railways. This route plays an important role in rail transportation in Punjab state.

Amritsar–Khem Karan line with Beas Branch line
Overview
Status	Operational
Owner	Indian Railways
Locale	Punjab
Termini	Amritsar Junction Khem Karan
Service
Operator(s)	Northern Railway
History
Opened	4 April 1910 (Main line) 2011 (Beas branch)
Technical
Line length	Main line 77 km (48 mi) Tarn Taran–Beas branch line 49 km (30 mi)
Track gauge	1,676 mm (5 ft 6 in) Broad Gauge
Electrification	Yes
Operating speed	100 km/h
Route map on Ambala–Attari line 0 Amritsar NH 354 NH 354 5 Bhagtanwala NH 54 10 Sangrana Sahib 14 Gohlwar Varpal 18 Dukhnawaran NH 54 23/0 Tarn Taran Rure Asal 29 NH 54 Jandoke 34 8 Malmohari Kairon 38 13 Vain Poin SH 62 21 Goindwal Sahib Patti 44 28 Khadur Sahib NH 703B 32 Saidpur Jalalabad Halt Boparai 53 36 Bhalojala Halt Gharyala 57/0 NH 3 Valtoha 65 49 Beas Rattok Gurudwara 71 on Ambala–Attari line Khem Karan 77 Kot Budha 10 Satluj River NH 703A Mallanwala Khas 25 on Jalandhar–Firozpur line Sources:Google Maps, Amritsar Khem Karan DEMU Tarn Taran Beas DMU

The corridor passes through the Plain Areas of Punjab and some portion are near the bank of Beas with a stretch of 77 km which connects Amritsar Junction situates on Ambala–Attari line and Khem Karan. It has a branch line that starts from Tarn Taran Junction and ends at Beas Junction with a stretch of 49 km.

History

The main 111 kilometres (69 mi) long railway line from Amritsar Junction to Khem Karan and Kasur via Tarn Taran Junction was originally built by Killick, Nixon and Company with under North Western State Railway Company in Punjab portion as 5 ft 6 in (1,676 mm) broad gauge was constructed on different phases.

• The first phase 23.4 kilometres (14.5 mi), from Amritsar Junction to Tarn Taran was opened on 21 September 1906.
• The second phase 19.8 kilometres (12.3 mi), from Tarn Taran to Patti was opened on 30 December 1906.
• The third phase 33.8 kilometres (21.0 mi), from Patti to Kasur was opened on 4 April 1910.
• The final phase 34 kilometres (21 mi), from Khem Karan to Kasur was opened on 3 January 1911.

After Partition of India in 1947, 34 kilometres (21 mi) The Khem Karan–Kasur link was totally dismantled and the trains run till Khem Karan.

Whereas, the branch line between Tarn Taran Junction and Beas Junction which lies on Ambala–Attari line was opened on different phases.

• The first phase, between Beas Junction to Goindwal was opened on 18 December 1997.
• The second phase, between Tarn Taran Junction to Goindwal was approved on 1997 and opened on 2000.

Electrification

The electrification was started on 2019, As the Amritsar–Tarn Taran–Beas section and the remaining section as Tarn Taran–Khem Karan section is going to be electrified.

Project

Currently the Patti–Mallanwala Khas rail link was sanctioned on 2013 for another direct link between Amritsar and Firozpur and Rest of India via 1,369 metres (4,491 ft) long Rail cum Road bridge on Sutlej River is under construction.