Misplaced Pages

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. 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.

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.

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.

Stations

• Malakwal Junction
• Chak Nizam (Abandoned)
• Haranpur Junction > to Gharibwal
• Chalisa Junction > to Dandot Light Railway
• Pind Dadan Khan

Abandoned section

• Golpur
• Saroba
• Tobah
• Lilla
• Lilla Town
• Kandwal Halt
• Dhak Janjua
• Rakh Rajar
• Sandral
• Khushab Junction

References

1. "Malakwal Junction, Pakistan, February 1985". www.internationalsteam.co.uk.
2. Newspaper, the (March 16, 2014). "Thwarted dream of road over River Jhelum". DAWN.COM.
3. Dey, Abani Kumar (2008). Mineral wealth. ISBN 9788182054837.
4. "Reisebericht Pakistan 1996". www.rolandziegler.de.
5. "Salman Rashid: Malakwal to Gharibwal".

v t e Railway lines in Pakistan
Main lines    Karachi–Peshawar Line (ML1)    Kotri–Attock Line (ML2)    Rohri–Chaman Line (ML3)    Quetta–Taftan Line (ML4)    Taxila–Khunjerab Line (ML5) (Proposed)
Branch lines Hyderabad–Badin Branch Line Hyderabad–Khokhrapar Branch Line Bahawalnagar–Fort Abbas Branch Line Samasata–Amruka Branch Line Sher Shah–Kot Addu Branch Line Lodhran–Khanewal Branch Line Lodhran–Raiwind Branch Line Khanewal–Wazirabad Branch Line Shorkot–Sheikhupura Branch Line Shorkot–Lalamusa Branch Line Golra Sharif–Kohat Branch Line Nowshera–Dargai Railway Bannu–Tank Branch Line Daud Khel–Lakki Marwat Branch Line Malakwal–Khushab Branch Line Sangla Hill–Kundian Branch Line Lahore–Wagah Branch Line Shahdara Bagh–Sangla Hill Branch Line Shahdara Bagh–Chak Amru Branch Line Wazirabad–Narowal Branch Line
Urban railways Peshawar Circular Railway Karachi Circular Railway Rawalpindi-Islamabad Circular Railway
Proposed or under construction Karachi–Gwadar Railway Line (Makran Coastal Railway) Mandra–Bhaun Railway Gwadar–Mastung Branch Line Basima–Jacobabad Branch Line Zhob Valley Railway Islamabad–Muzaffarabad Branch Line
Tourist and heritage railways Changa Manga Forestry Railway Dandot Light Railway Kandahar State Railway Khanpur–Chachran Railway Khewra Salt Mines Railway Khyber Pass Railway Larkana–Jacobabad Light Railway Mirpur Khas–Nawabshah Railway

• Railway stations on Malakwal–Khushab branch line
• 5 ft 6 in gauge railways in Pakistan
• Pakistan Railways