Automatic signalling has been successfully installed in the Block Hut -B – Vyasnagar- Kashi section of Varanasi (BSB) – Pandit Deendayal Upadhyaya (DDU) Jn line. Varanasi – DDU is a 17-km long line with an important bridge over the river Ganga. The Block-Hut -B- Vyasnagar-Kashi is a 10-km section in between (See chainage table below).
| Station code | Station name | Chainage KM marker |
| HWH | Howrah | 0 |
| PNBE | Patna Jn | 544 |
| DDU | Pandit Deendayal Upadhyaya Jn (DDU) earlier called Mughalsarai Jn | 755 |
| BHBV | Block Hut B | 757 |
| VYN | Vyasnagar | 761 |
| BBRM | Baba Bhagwan Ram Halt | 765 |
| KEI | Kashi | 767 |
| BSB | Varanasi Jn earlier called Benares Cantonment | 772 |
Block details
During the three -day block starting February 25,2026, 11 trains were route diverted as non-interlocking was done between Block Hut -B and Kashi. On February 26, five trains were diverted, two pairs of trains were short-terminated /short- originated at DDU while seven trains were regulated.
The commissioning happened on February 26, 2026. On this day,a six-hour disconnection block was given from 0930 hrs onwards followed by a three and a half hour complete block starting 1530 hrs the same day. A total of 12 automatic signals have been installed between Block Hut -B and Kashi -six in each direction.
Final testing of the commissioned automatic signals was done the next day on February 27. On this day, just one train was route diverted. With this, the first steps towards construction of 3rd and 4th line between Varanasi and DDU has been taken.
Freight heavy section
This is a freight heavy section with the following pattern of traffic. On any day, the Block Hut-B- Vyasnagar-Kashi section.
- receives 25 goods trains from DDU and dispatched 25 goods trains towards DDU. DIspatch towards DDU is handled mostly by a chord line ( see map 1 and picture above) starting at Bechupur just after Vyasnagar and ending at New West Cabin DDU present in the Western yard of DDU.
- Receives four goods trains from Jeonathpur (JEP) and dispatches five goods trains to JEP.
- Two goods trains taken over and four made over at Jaunpur Jn (JNU)
- One goods train taken over and two made over at Shahganj Jn (SHG)
This freight traffic was handled as follows:
First and foremost, East Central Railway (ECR) was asked to divert goods trains on Eastern Dedicated Freight corridor (EDFC). Next, on February 26, eight goods trains were received from DDU and 10 dispatched prior to the block . During the disconnection and the block, trains were neither received nor dispatched. After the block was over, four pairs of goods trains were interchanged with DDU.
All trains from JEP, bound for North Eastern Railways(NER) were handed over to ECR at DDU. Other goods trains from JEP were re routed either via Kanpur or Prayagraj. Only a jumbo rake from JNU/SHG side was accepted while BoXN rake wasn’t. Normal interchange towrds JNU /SHG side happened.
Future of this section
To de-congest this high traffic density network, the Union Cabinet, chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, on October 24, 2024 the construction of a 3rd and 4th line between DDU and BSB.
Estimated to cost about Rs. 2642 crore, the project includes a new rail-cum-road bridge over the river Ganga. The upper deck of the bridge will have a six-lane road while the lower deck will have four railway tracks. A total of 27.83 millon tonnes per annum (MTPA) freight is anticipated on the line. The new lines will be designed for up to 160-kmph speed and will run parallel to the existing route.
Preliminary works from both ends has commenced and the quadrupling will resolve congestion and handle future traffic growth.
End of part 1
