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The Zhob Valley Railway (Urdu: ژوب وادی ریلوے) was one of several branch lines in Pakistan, operated and maintained by Pakistan Railways. The line began at Bostan Junction and ended at Zhob. The total length of this railway line is 298 kilometers (185 mi) with 14 railway stations. Upon competition, the 762 mm (2 ft 6 in) railway became the longest narrow gauge system in the region.

History

The Zhob Valley Railway was built in two sections between 1916 and 1920. The first section was built from Bostan Junction to Muslimbagh during World War I by the Balochistan Chrome Ore Company and opened in 1916. Muslimbagh had and abundance of Chromite and was transported by the railway to munitions production factories in the British Empire. The second section was built by the North Western State Railway as an extension from Muslimbagh to Fort Sandeman (now Zhob). Work began in 1920 and reached Qila Saifullah in 1927 and Zhob in 1930. The intent to extend the railway from Zhob to Bannu, but never materialized. At 2224 meters above the sea, Kan Mehtarzai railway station would become one of the highest narrow gauge railway stations in the world. During winter months, the line could be buried by snow.

Closure

The line was closed down in 1991 after successive operational losses and was later dismantled completely. Tracks coaches and other rolling stock remain at Bostan Junction with a depot and turntable as seen on Google Earth in 2023.

Revival

The line is proposed to be rebuilt as a 1,676 mm (5 ft 6 in) broad gauge line under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor as part of a new railway link between Kotla Jam and Quetta.

Stations

• Bostan Junction
• Khanai
• Churmian
• Kan Mehtarzai
• Muslimbagh
• Kila Saifullah
• Alozai
• Badinzai
• Zhob

References

Notes

1. "Off-track railways". Dawn. Retrieved 21 May 2017.
2. "Breakfast at Kan Mehtarzai" by Salman Rashid 28 April 2011; Retrieved 14 Dec 2015
3. “British Library Archives and Manuscripts Catalogue” - Search; Retrieved 71 Apr 2016
4. "All Things Pakistan" /Zhob Valley Railway (ZVR) of Pakistan by Owais Mughal, June 5, 2008; Retrieved 14 Dec 2015
5. "Zhob-Bostan rail track to be restored under CPEC". Daily Times.

Bibliography

• Wallace, Richard (2021). "Chapter 1: The Zhob Valley Railway". Hill Railways of the Indian Subcontinent. Ramsbury, Marlborough, UK: The Crowood Press. pp. 15–34. ISBN 9781785008085.

External links

• Zhob Valley Railway Survey c early 1890s, page 98 Some Rambles of a Sapper by Brigr-Genl. Herbert Henry Austin. 1928 Hathi Trust Digital Library
• L/PS/11/168, P 994/1920; “P 994/1920 Baluchistan: communications in the Zhob valley; proposal for a broad-gauge railway from Hindubagh to Fort Sandeman”; 1 Sep 1919-23 Mar 1920

v t e Railway lines in Pakistan
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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

• Closed railway lines in Pakistan
• Railway lines opened in 1929
• 2 ft 6 in gauge railways in Pakistan
• Railway lines closed in 1986
• Railway stations on Zhob Valley Railway Line