The Spezand–Taftan Railway Line (also referred as Main Line 4 or ML-4) is one of four main railway lines in Pakistan, operated and maintained by Pakistan Railways. Inward from Pakistan's most western edge it begins at Quetta station and has services that continue beyond Koh-e-Taftan station in high mountains, west. Its length is 632 kilometers (393 mi) to the Iranian border, a few kilometers further west of that station. It has 10 active stations of which 7 are in Pakistan and 3 are in Iran. Many or all main services since 1940 (and 1922 to 1931) terminate on the natural continuation in eastern Iran at the high city of Zahedan, which sees a change of gauge (of track and rolling stock) for accessing the Trans-Iranian Railway. This section is very tough for maintenance due to Nushki Desert and Mountain Ranges.
Spezand–Taftan Railway Line کوئٹہ-تفتان مرکزی ریل راستہ
West of the Quetta Express Line (also called the Rohri–Chaman Railway), is the partly overlapping named Quetta-Taftan Line, the final northern Quetta section is the dual-named sectionThe line climbs through a thin section of the high (red-orange) belt of mountains, coming at closest 62 kilometres northeast of the thermally active volcano, pinpointed, Taftan as to its station at the trunk road town also called Taftan.
Originally known as the "Trans–Baluchistan Railway", the line was built as part of a strategic military route between British India (specifically the part now Pakistan) and Persia (now Iran). The Quetta to Nushki branch was approved by Lord George Hamilton, Secretary of State for India, in August 1902,[1] and it was opened on 15 November 1905. The part west of Nushki towards Iran was named the Nushki Extension Railway. Work started on it in September 1916 under the charge of P.C. Young as Engineer-in-Chief and it reached the Iranian town of Duzdap (now Zahedan, a small city) on 1 October 1922. By the time the railway reached Duzdap, the British had already demobilized their forces in East Persia in March 1921 which took away the importance of the newly built part. So much so that in 1931, the 221–kilometer section between Nok Kundi and Duzdap (Zahedan) was closed and track removed to be used elsewhere. World War II however, renewed interest in the Quetta-Zahedan link. British forces wanted to aid the Soviet forces by supplying material through Persia. Aid through Persia proved unnecessary (due to successful Arctic convoys of World War II and similar supplies) but the Quetta-Zahedan link was reopened on 20 April 1940 in Zahedan.
All Things Pakistan July 13, 2007, now an archived website
Pilgrimage to Dalbandin by Salman Rashid posted January 2013. The author's father was an Assistant Engineer with North Western Railway at Dalbandin from April 1943 to December 1944
Referencesedit
^"Latest intelligence - India". The Times. No. 36859. London. 29 August 1902. p. 3.
January 01, 1970
spezand, taftan, line, spezand, taftan, railway, line, also, referred, main, line, four, main, railway, lines, pakistan, operated, maintained, pakistan, railways, inward, from, pakistan, most, western, edge, begins, quetta, station, services, that, continue, b. The Spezand Taftan Railway Line also referred as Main Line 4 or ML 4 is one of four main railway lines in Pakistan operated and maintained by Pakistan Railways Inward from Pakistan s most western edge it begins at Quetta station and has services that continue beyond Koh e Taftan station in high mountains west Its length is 632 kilometers 393 mi to the Iranian border a few kilometers further west of that station It has 10 active stations of which 7 are in Pakistan and 3 are in Iran Many or all main services since 1940 and 1922 to 1931 terminate on the natural continuation in eastern Iran at the high city of Zahedan which sees a change of gauge of track and rolling stock for accessing the Trans Iranian Railway This section is very tough for maintenance due to Nushki Desert and Mountain Ranges Spezand Taftan Railway Lineکوئٹہ تفتان مرکزی ریل راستہOverviewOther name s Main Line 4ML 4Trans Baluchistan RailwayStatusoperationalOwnerPakistan RailwaysTerminiSpezand JunctionKoh e TaftanStations10ServiceOperator s Pakistan RailwaysHistoryOpened15 November 1905 1905 11 15 TechnicalLine length632 km 393 mi Track gauge1 676 mm 5 ft 6 in Operating speed20 km h 12 mph Current Route mapLegend km 0 Spezand Jn 23 Wali Khan 35 Kanak 47 Sheikh Wasil 71 Kirdgap 97 Galangur 122 Kishingi 133 Nushki 154 Ahmedwal 195 Pain Mall 238 Padag Road 277 Nok Chah 318 Dalbandin 376 Yakmach 446 Azad 488 Nok Kundi 513 Alam Reg 534 Tozghi 612 Koh e Taftan Pakistan Iran Border 638 Mirjaveh Khan Muhammad Chah 732 Zahedan West of the Quetta Express Line also called the Rohri Chaman Railway is the partly overlapping named Quetta Taftan Line the final northern Quetta section is the dual named section The line climbs through a thin section of the high red orange belt of mountains coming at closest 62 kilometres northeast of the thermally active volcano pinpointed Taftan as to its station at the trunk road town also called Taftan Contents 1 History 2 Stations 3 See also 4 External links 5 ReferencesHistory editOriginally known as the Trans Baluchistan Railway the line was built as part of a strategic military route between British India specifically the part now Pakistan and Persia now Iran The Quetta to Nushki branch was approved by Lord George Hamilton Secretary of State for India in August 1902 1 and it was opened on 15 November 1905 The part west of Nushki towards Iran was named the Nushki Extension Railway Work started on it in September 1916 under the charge of P C Young as Engineer in Chief and it reached the Iranian town of Duzdap now Zahedan a small city on 1 October 1922 By the time the railway reached Duzdap the British had already demobilized their forces in East Persia in March 1921 which took away the importance of the newly built part So much so that in 1931 the 221 kilometer section between Nok Kundi and Duzdap Zahedan was closed and track removed to be used elsewhere World War II however renewed interest in the Quetta Zahedan link British forces wanted to aid the Soviet forces by supplying material through Persia Aid through Persia proved unnecessary due to successful Arctic convoys of World War II and similar supplies but the Quetta Zahedan link was reopened on 20 April 1940 in Zahedan Stations editThe stations are Spezand Junction Wali Khan Abandoned Kanak Abandoned Sheikh Wasil Abandoned Kirdgap Abandoned Galangur Kishingi Ablak Abandoned Nushki Bilao Abandoned Ahmedwal Pain Mall Abandoned Padag Road Abandoned Yadgar Abandoned Nok Chah Abandoned Pishok Abandoned Dalbandin Yakmach Abandoned Gat Abandoned Azad Abandoned Isa Tahir Abandoned Nok Kundi Abandoned Alam Reg Abandoned Tozghi Abandoned Ware Chah Abandoned Koh e Taftan Iran Mirjaveh Khan Muhammad Chah ZahedanSee also editKarachi Peshawar Railway Line Rohri Chaman railway line Railway lines in PakistanExternal links editThe Trans Baluchistan Railway All Things Pakistan July 13 2007 now an archived website Pilgrimage to Dalbandin by Salman Rashid posted January 2013 The author s father was an Assistant Engineer with North Western Railway at Dalbandin from April 1943 to December 1944References edit Latest intelligence India The Times No 36859 London 29 August 1902 p 3 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Spezand Taftan Line amp oldid 1220217072, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
