North Western Railway (1905-1947)
[[Pakistan Western Railway]] (1947-1971)
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Native name | سبی-خوست برانچ لائن |
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Industry | Railways |
Predecessor | Kandahar State Railway (1881-85) |
Founded | 1881 |
Area served | Balochistan |
Services | Rail transport |
Parent | North Western State Railway (1886-1905) North Western Railway (1905-1947) Pakistan Western Railway (1947-1971) Pakistan Railways (1971-Present) |
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The Sibi-Zardalu Branch Line, previously known as Kandahar State Railway opened in 1881, originally ran from Sibi and then on wards to Rindli, with the intention to reaching Quetta and onwards to Kandahar. [1] However, the line never reached Kandahar. [2] The Kandahar State Railway had its headquarters at Sibi, Balochistan. The Kandahar State Railway joined with the southern section of the Sind–Pishin State Railway and in 1886 amalgamated, with other railways, to form North Western State Railway (NWSR). The total length of this line is 140 kilometers with 10 railway stations. The railway line was closed in 2006 after a terrorist attack. Rehabilitation work started in 2016, and after long delays the railway line became operational in 2023 up to Harnai.
From Sibi, the line ran southwest, skirting the hills to Rindli, and originally followed the course of the Bolan stream to its head on the plateau. The destructive action of floods, however, led to the abandonment of this alignment. The railway now follows the Mashkaf Valley. The Bolan Pass Railway construction enabled this NW route to be selected. The railway line was abandoned by Pakistan Railways in 2006 due to floods. Rehabilitation work started on the railway line in 2015. Following several delays, the line became part-operational in 2023. [3]
When the railway line was closed in 2006 due to terrorist attacks, locals have been facing travelling problems. As there is no direct road which connects Sibi to Harnai and further, locals have to go to Quetta first and then they go to their original destination. Using the railway makes a much simpler journey for local people.
Abandoned Section
Pakistan Railways is the state-owned railway operator in Pakistan. Founded in 1861 as the North Western State Railway and headquartered in Lahore, it owns 7,789 kilometres of operational track across Pakistan, stretching from Peshawar to Karachi, offering both freight and passenger services, covering 482 operational stations across Pakistan.
Bolan Pass is a valley and a natural gateway through the Toba Kakar range in Balochistan province of Pakistan. It is situated 120 km south of Pakistan's border with Afghanistan. The pass is an 89 km stretch of the Bolan River valley from Rindli in the south to Darwāza near Kolpur in the north. It is made up of a number of narrow gorges and stretches. It connects Quetta with Sibi by road and railway.
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