Ajodhya (Ayodhya): Branch lines on the Benares-Lucknow loop:

Furthering its plans to expand the railway network in the United Provinces, O&RR built two branch lines connecting the Benares-Lucknow loop in the Ganges (Ganga)- Gogra (Ghaghra or Saryu) doab.

Name of Railway CompanyName of railway lineOrigin-DestinationSection Distance in milesDate of Opening
Oudh & Rohilkand Railway ( O&RR)Allahabad Fyzabad BranchAllahabad- FyzabadFyzabad-Sultanpur35.5February 1,1904
O&RRAllahabad Fyzabad BranchAllahabad-FyzabadSultanpur-Siwait*47.05*July 1,1903
O&RRAllahabad Fyzabad BranchAllahabad-FyzabadSiwait-Phaphamau3.27January 20,1904
O&RRAllahabad Fyzabad BranchAllahabad-FyzabadPhaphamau-Allahabad7January 1,1905

The first was a line connecting Allahabad and Fyzabad (Faizabad and now known as Ayodhya Cantt) via Phaphamau, Pratabgarh (Pratapgarh) and Sultanpur. This line met the Moghalsarai- Lucknow- Saharanpur main line at Pratabgarh.

The 2.45 mile stretch between Pratabgarh and Chilbila situated on the main line was used as a common railway line for trains on the main line as well as the branch line. Pratabgarh and Chilbila became junction stations.

After Chilbila, the line veered away in the northeasterly direction towards Sultanpur. This line brought Sultanpur into India’s railway map for the first time. After Sultanpur, the line continued in the same direction to finally terminate at Fyzabad. With this connection, Fyzabad became a junction station. The branch line was completed after the opening of the Curzon bridge in 1905.

There were two major bridges on the Fyzabad branch. The first one was the Curzon bridge over the Ganges between Prayag and Phaphamau stations of the Allahabad-Phaphamau section of O&RR.

Just after Sultanpur, the second major bridge on the Fyzabad branch was constructed by O&RR over the river Gomti. [In the future, Phaphamau was slated to become a major railway junction with four routes emanating in the shape of trident- one towards Unao/ Rae Bareli , two towards Fyzabad, three towards Jaunpur via Janghai and Zafarabad and four towards Allahabad via the Curzon bridge]

Name of Railway CompanyName of railway lineOrigin-DestinationSection Distance in milesDate of Opening
Oudh & Rohilkhand Railway (O&RR)Allahabad Jaunpur BranchAllahabad–JaunpurPhaphamau-Mariahu via Janghai 47.51June 18,1906
O&RRAllahabad Jaunpur BranchAllahabad-JaunpurMariahu-Zafarabad10.67January 1 1907

The second branch line on the Benaras-Lucknow loop connected Phaphamau to Jaunpur via Janghai, Mariahu and Zafarabad.

With the completion of this line in 1907, Janghai which was situated on the Moghasarai- Lucknow- Saharanpur main line became a junction station. In addition, Zafarabad on the Benares-Lucknow loop also became a junction station.

Name of Railway CompanyName of railway lineOrigin-DestinationSection Distance in milesDate of Opening
East Indian Railway (EIR)Lucknow-Sultanpur-Zafarabad branchLucknow- ZafarabadUtratia-Hydergarh27.75March 31,1931
EIRLucknow-Sultanpur-Zafarabad branchLucknow- ZafarabadHydergarh-Sultanpur51.58March 31,1932
EIRLucknow-Sultanpur-Zafarabad branchLucknow- ZafarabadSultanpur-Zafarabad56.78May 25,1932

By May 1932, East Indian Railway ( which had by then taken over O&RR) built a chord line between Lucknow and Zafarabad to enhance rail connnectivity. The line veered away from Utratia near Lucknow via Sultanpur ending finally at Zafarabad Jn. With the opening of this line, Sultanpur and Zafarabad became four way junctions while Utratia became a three way junction.

Now, Benares was connected to Lucknow via three routes- one via Rae Bareli main line ; two via Sultanpur chord line; and three via Fyzabad loop. The chord line was the shortest distance between Benares and Lucknow while the loop line on which Ayodhya was situated was the longest.

End of part 2 [Note: British era spellings of railways stations have been retained]

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