Chennai–Coimbatore_line

Jolarpettai–Shoranur line

Jolarpettai–Shoranur line

Railway line in India

The Jolarpettai–Shoranur line connects Jolarpettai, on the Chennai Central–Bangalore City line in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu and Shoranur in Kerala. Incoming from Chennai side via Arakkonam and Katpadi at Jolarpettai,the railway lines further branches out towards Kozhikode, Nilambur and Thrissur sides in Shoranur. This network links the railway network in Kerala to the networks in Tamil Nadu and subsequently other states.

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History

The first train service in southern India and the third in India was operated by Madras Railway from Royapuram / Veyasarapady to Wallajah Road (Arcot) in 1856. Madras Railway extended its trunk route to Beypur / Kadalundi (near Calicut) in 1861 via Jolarpettai, Salem, Coimbatore and Shoranur. The presence of Palghat Gap ensured linking Tamil Nadu and Kerala by rail.[1][2][3]

Branch lines

There are several branch lines:

  • Jolarpettai–Bangarapet–Bangalore line :- A 149-km broad-gauge railway line between Bengaluru Cantonment and Jolarpettai was opened for traffic in August 1864.[4]
  • Salem–Omalur–Mettur Dam line :- On 15.04.1929 BG section from Salem to Mettur Dam branch including the mileage of assisting siding from Mecheri Road to Mettur Dam was opened.
  • Salem–Dharmapuri–Hosur –Banglore line :- Early in 1969 the 145-mile metre gauge line from Bangalore to Salem via Hosur and Dharmapuri was opened.[5]
  • Salem–Namakkal–Karur line :- The line was constructed and opened in 2013.[6]
  • Salem–Vridhachalam–Cuddalore Port Junction :- In 1928, a line connecting Cuddalore and Vridachalam was opened. In 1931, a MG line connecting Salem and Vridachalam was opened.
  • Erode–Tiruchirappalli line :- Between 1866 and 1868, the line was opened for traffic gradually.
  • Podanur–Coimbatore–Mettupalayam line :- The Coimbatore–Mettupalayam metre gauge line was opened to traffic in 1873. The Coimbatore–Mettupalayam section was converted to complete broad gauge in 1907.[7]
  • Palakkad–Dindigul line:- The line became operaitonal between 1928 and 1932.
  • Tirupattur–Krishnagiri line (defunct) :- This was a 40 km long narrow gauge line (762mm) that existed between 1905 and 1936. There are plans to revive this line as Jolarpettai - Hosur line.[8]

Electrification

The mainline was electrified in stages. The Jolarpettai–Morappur sector was electrified in 1989–90, the Morappur–Salem (excluded) in 1990–91, the Salem–Erode sector in 1991–92, the Tiruppur–Walayar sector including Coimbatore in 1995–96, and the Waylar–Vallatolnagar (beyond Shoranur, towards Ernakulam) in 1996–97. The Magnesite–Mettur Dam sector was electrified in 1990–91. The electrification of Coimbatore–Mettuapalayam was completed in 2015.[9][10]

Speed limit

Though the Arakkonam–Jolarpettai–Salem–Erode–Palakkad–Ernakulam line is classified as a "Group B" line which can take speeds up to 130 km/h, the maximum permissible speed is 110 km/h.[11]

Locomotive sheds

The Diesel Loco Shed, Erode holds WDM-2, WDM-3A, WDM-3D, WDG-3A and WDG-4 locomotives. And the Electric Loco Shed, Erode holds WAG-7 and WAP-4 and WAP-7 locomotives. It is home to the largest fleet of WAP-4 locomotives on Indian Railways and handles some of the longest routes for electric trains in the country.[12]

Jolarpettai has an electric/ diesel trip shed.[12]

Passenger movement

Salem, Coimbatore, Erode and Palakkad, on this line, are among the top hundred booking stations of Indian Railway.[13]

Stations

There are 38 railway stations along the stretch within Salem Railway Division and 40 railway stations within Tamil Nadu. The major stations are Coimbatore Main Junction (CBE), Coimbatore North Junction (CBF), Podanur Junction (PTJ), .Tiruppur (TUP), Erode Jn (ED), and Salem Jn (SA),

References

  1. [1]
    "IR History – Early days". 1832–1869. IRFCA. Retrieved 23 December 2013.
  2. [2]
    "Salem District (1916)". IRFCA. Retrieved 29 December 2013.
  3. [3]
    "Chronology of Railways in India, Part 3 (1900–1947)". IRFCA. Retrieved 29 December 2013.
  4. [4]
    Shekhar, Divya (3 August 2017). "Date with History: In 1864, first train chugged from Cantonment to Jolarpettai". The Economic Times. ISSN 0013-0389. Retrieved 11 December 2023.
  5. [5]
    "The Kolar District Railway - Ian Manning on the Indian Railways: 1965-1969 | IRFCA.org". www.irfca.org. Retrieved 11 December 2023.
  6. [6]
    "New passenger train chugs into grand reception at Karur junction". The Hindu. 26 May 2013. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 11 December 2023.
  7. [7]
    "[IRFCA] Indian Railways FAQ - Gauges in India". www.irfca.org. Retrieved 11 December 2023.
  8. [8]
    "Jolarpet - Hosur rail line project sent for Centre's clearance". The Hindu. 7 August 2010. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 25 April 2024.
  9. [9]
    "History of Electrification". IRFCA. Retrieved 23 December 2013.
  10. [10]
    Coimbatore–Mettupalayam electric train service commences
  11. [11]
    "Chapter II : The Maintenance of Permanent Way". Archived from the original on 3 December 2013. Retrieved 23 December 2013.
  12. [12]
    "Sheds and Workshops". IRFCA. Retrieved 23 December 2013.
  13. [13]
    "Indian Railways Passenger Reservation Enquiry". Availability in trains for Top 100 Booking Stations of Indian Railways. IRFCA. Archived from the original on 10 May 2014. Retrieved 23 December 2013.
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