The
Nagpur Chhattisgarh Railway started construction of the Nagpur–Rajnandgaon section in 1878, after surveys were started in 1871. The Nagpur–Tumsar Road section was opened in April 1880 and the Tumsar Road–Rajnandgaon section in December 1880. The
Bengal Nagpur Railway was formed in 1887 for the purpose of upgrading the
Nagpur Chhattisgarh Railway and then extending it via
Bilaspur to
Asansol. The Bengal Nagpur Railway main line from Nagpur to Asansol, on the
Howrah–Delhi main line, was opened for goods traffic on 1 February 1891. The Gondia–Nagbhir–Nagpur line was opened for traffic in 1908.
Gauge conversion Work for conversion to
broad gauge of the
narrow-gauge Gondia–Chanda Fort line started in December 1992. The first phase covering Gondia–Wadsa section was inaugurated on 25 September 1994. The second phase covering the Wadsa–Nagbhir section was opened on 20 February 1997. The fourth phase covering Nagbhir–Chanda Fort section was opened on 13 January 1999 and the Chandafort–
Balharshah section was operated from 2 July 1999. The Gondia–
Balaghat narrow-gauge section was closed from January 2003 for conversion to broad gauge. It was opened for traffic on 6 September 2005. The Gondia–Jabalpur gauge conversion project is an approved project. The Gondia–Nagbhid–Balharshah section was electrified in 2018. ==Jabalpur link==