Iswardi–Sirajganj line

The Iswardi–Sirajganj Line is a dual gauge railway line connecting Iswardi and Sirajganj in Bangladesh. This track is under the jurisdiction of Bangladesh Railway.

Iswardi–Sirajganj line
Overview
Status	Operational
Owner	Bangladesh Railway
Locale	Bangladesh
Termini	Iswardi Sirajganj
Stations	29
History
Opened	1878
Technical
Track gauge	Dual gauge 1,676 mm (5 ft 6 in) 1,000 mm (3 ft 3 ^3⁄8 in)

Ishwardi–Sirajganj line
km to Bahadurabad Ghat–Narayanganj Line Tarakandi Jagannathganj Upper to Dhaka Cantonment Bhuapur Bangabandhu Setu Purba Jagannathganj Ghat Ferry across Jamuna (now no more part of route) Bangabandhu Setu across Jamuna Bangabandhu Setu Paschim Sirajganj Ghat Sirajganj Bazar Sirajganj Raypur Sirajganj Horipur Jamtail Salap Ullapara Mahishakhola Lahiri Mohanpur Dipashar Sharahnagar Baral Bridge Bhangura Guakhara Chatmohar Gaturabad Muladuli Majhgram Ishwardi Junction to Chilahati–Parbatipur–Santahar–Darshana line
Source: Bangladesh Railway Route Map

History

Sara-Sirajganj Railway Company constructed the Sara–Sirajganj line in 1915–1916.[1]

Ferry

In Bangladesh, ferries are often an integrated part of the railway system. There were two major ferry points across the Jamuna, one between Bahadurabad Ghat and Tistamukh Ghat and the other between Jagannathganj Ghat and Sirajganj Ghat.[2][3]

The ferry system had reached the limits of its capacity. While marginal capacity additions were still feasible, to cope with any significant increase in capacity or even normal traffic growth was virtually felt to be impossible.[4]

The construction of the 4.8 kilometres (3.0 mi) long Bangabandhu Bridge has completely changed the scope of communication systems in that part of the country. The ferry system at both the Bahadurabad Ghat-Balashi Ghat and the Jagannathganj Ghat-Sirajganj Ghat was virtually closed. Only limited freight transportation continued on the Bahadurabad Ghat-Balashi section. Even that has been closed down in 2010 because of formation of shoal in the river.[5][6]

References

1. "Brief History". Bangladesh Railway. Archived from the original on 2011-12-20. Retrieved 2012-02-07.
2. "Infrastructure (Bangladesh)". Jane’s Intelligence and Insight. Retrieved 2011-12-16.
3. "Trans Asian Railway Network (TAR): Southern Corridor" (PDF). Bangabandhu (Jamuna) Bridge: Opportunities created by it in promoting international rail transport. Centre for Policy Dialogue. Retrieved 2011-12-16.
4. "Linking east and west Bangladesh:The Jamuna Bridge Project" (PDF). The Canadian Journal of Programme Implementation. Retrieved 2011-12-16.
5. "Drastic fall in Jamuna water level hampers transport". The Daily Star, 23 February 2011. Retrieved 2011-12-16.
6. "Boatmen dredging Jamuna as govt turns a blind eye". The Daily Star, 12 February 2007. Retrieved 2011-12-16.