The Old Jammu — Sialkot Railway Line!

Steam engine pulling the Jammu-Sialkot passenger

As of date, we can connect to cities in J & K from any part of the country. Ever wondered 100 years ago, one had to board a train from Jammu to Sialkot, then Sialkot to Lahore, Lahore to Amritsar, and Amritsar to Delhi (4 shift of trains from Jammu to reach Delhi). We now have the second of the first 2 Vande Bharat trains connecting Delhi to Katra (Train No — 22439) running six days a week.

What featured as one of the most Historical routes during the colonial era under the Dogra ruler — Maharaja Ranbir Singh.

The line was open from 1890 and eventually closed post-partition. The entire track length was close to 43km from Jammu to Sialkot, which was later extended to Wazirabad. The travel time was close to 90mins between Jammu and Sialkot.

The line on map from Jammu to Sialkot, later extended till Wazirabad

The trains originated from Wazirabad and Sialkot (both now in Pakistan) to commute daily workers from these cities who were generally employed in the rice mills of Ranbir Singh Pura. Something iconic about RS Pura is that it was one of the major exporters of the GI tag product — Basmati Rice. What still remains so special about the aroma of the rice — is due to the minerals that the Chenab river deposits had which were used to cultivate along the plains of Jammu. Your very plate of Biryani would have rice coming from this place.

One of the important commercial routes of the erstwhile North Western Railways of the East India Railway company. The intermediate stations listed in from west to east — Sialkot Cantonment, Suchetgarh, Ranbir Singh Pora, Miran Saheb, and Jammu Cantonment.

The timetable of Jammu — Sialkot — Wazirabad Line

Timetable along with the stops mentioned in this route

Suchetgarh Railway station — now the last station on the India side. It’s 11km from Sialkot.

Final check-post on the India side at Suchetgarh.

Suchetgarh — Last post on the India side in the erstwhile Jammu — Sialkot Line

The new Jammu Tawi station was constructed years later after Partition in 1975, which was of significant importance connecting Pathankot to J & K post the 1971 war, thus connecting the Rest of India to Jammu. But the those born in the early 1900 s would identify the Bikram Chowk Railway Station, which served as the Terminus at Jammu. In the year 2021 in which decision was taken to renovate the Bikram Chowk Station and list it as a Heritage site of India.

Ranbir Singh Pura station — Old Jammu Tawi

The Old Jammu Tawi — Ranbir Singh Pura station written in Hindi, English and Urdu