Janakpur-Jaynagar Railway

Nepal Railway Company Limited (NRCL) / Indian Railways (IR)
Nepal
India
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The Journey

Navigate from Jaynagar (India) to Bijalpura (Nepal) across a span of 52.5km.

Scenery Highlights
  • Approach to Janakpurdham Junction with the white marble domes of Janaki Mandir visible above the tree-line
  • Lush green paddy fields of the Janakpur Dham — particularly vivid at transplanting time (June–August)
  • Mithila-style painted village houses (Madhubani / Kohbar art motifs) visible on the westbound run
  • Bustling border-market atmosphere at Jaynagar station — cycle rickshaws, Maithil traders, and sari-clad pilgrims
  • Traditional Maithili village life observable from the train — women working the rice paddies, oxen-drawn carts, roadside Hanuman shrines
  • Vivid sunset light over the flat Indo-Gangetic plain during the late-afternoon westbound service
Quick Facts
  • Duration

    1.75 hours

  • Distance

    52.5 km

  • Est. Price

    Affordable — historic 42 km Janakpur–Jaynagar narrow-gauge heritage railway operated as time-permitted tourist service via Nepal Railways Department

Classes & Accommodations

Meals: None

Ensuite: No

Meals: None

Ensuite: No

Route Engineering Challenges

  • Gauge conversion from 762 mm narrow gauge to 1,676 mm broad gauge under live service conditions — entirely new formation, bridges, and station platforms constructed 2018–2022

  • 2015 Gorkha earthquake damage — the existing track suffered bridge settlement and ballast washouts; reconstruction required seismic retrofitting of all major culverts and bridges on the Janakpur Dham section

  • Monsoon flooding of the Kosi river system — June–September seasonal flooding can submerge low-lying sections and cause minor schedule delays, though the line generally remains operational

  • Cross-border signalling coordination — Indian Railways and NRCL operate different booking, signalling, and dispatch systems at Jaynagar; timetable integration is handled manually by station masters

  • Single-track constraint — the entire 52.5 km alignment is single-track with passing loops only at Janakpurdham Junction and Kurtha, limiting frequency to ~6 daily round trips end-to-end

  • Modern rolling-stock import logistics — DEMU trainsets shipped from ICF Chennai to Biratnagar and railed into Jaynagar via Indian broad-gauge; customs and homologation paperwork adds 4–6 weeks lead time per rake

  • Cultural / heritage preservation at Janakpurdham — the station forecourt and platform extensions had to be designed around the heritage Janaki Mandir precinct to avoid visual impact on the temple complex

Original gauge

762 mm (2 ft 6 in) narrow gauge — opened by British India in 1937

Current gauge

1,676 mm (5 ft 6 in) Indian broad gauge — gauge-converted 2018–2022

Route

Jaynagar (India, Bihar) – Bijalpura (Nepal, Janakpur Dham), 52.5 km

Number of stations served

11 (Jaynagar + 9 intermediate halts + Bijalpura terminus)

Rolling stock

DEMU trainsets — Diesel Electric Multiple Unit, built by ICF Chennai

Maximum operating speed

80 km/h (locomotive / DEMU limit); operating speed 30–50 km/h

Services (2026)

6 daily round trips Jaynagar–Bijalpura; separate 4× daily Kurtha–Jaynagar shuttle

Cross-border formalities

Open border — passport / voter ID sufficient for Indian and Nepali citizens

Modernisation funding

Government of India grant (₹ 540 crore / US$ 79 m equivalent) executed by Konkan Railway Corporation Limited (KRCL)

Planned extension

Bijalpura–Bardibas (17 km) under construction; targeted fiscal year 2029–30

Currency on board

Nepalese rupee (NPR) at NRCL counters; Indian rupee (INR) at IR counters

Time zone

Asia/Kathmandu (UTC+5:45, no DST)

Quick Facts
  • Duration

    1.75 hours

  • Distance

    52.5 km

  • Est. Price

    Affordable — historic 42 km Janakpur–Jaynagar narrow-gauge heritage railway operated as time-permitted tourist service via Nepal Railways Department