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Mumbai–Chennai line

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Mumbai–Chennai line
Mumbai CSMT (top) and Chennai Central, the termini of the Mumbai–Chennai line
Overview
StatusOperational
OwnerIndian Railways
LocaleMaharashtra, Karnataka, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu
Termini
Service
Operator(s)Central Railway, South Central Railway, Southern Railway
History
Opened1871
Technical
Line length1,281 km (796 mi)
Number of tracks2/1
Track gauge5 ft 6 in (1,676 mm) broad gauge
Electrification25 kV 50 Hz AC overhead lines
Operating speed130 km/h (81 mph)
Highest elevationLonavala 622 metres (2,041 ft)
Route map
Mumbai–Chennai route map
Legend
km
0
 Mumbai CSMT
Central line
9
 Dadar
34
 Thane
53
 Kalyan Junction
to
Howrah–Nagpur–
Mumbai line
to
Howrah–Allahabad–
Mumbai line
100
 Karjat
Mumbai Dadar–
Solapur section
129
 Lonavala
186
 Khadki
192
 Pune Junction
to
Pune–Miraj–
Londa line
to
Manmad–Daund
branch line
259
 Daund Junction
to Lonand
268
 Bhigwan
296
 Jeur
358
 Kem
to Miraj
376
 Kurduvadi Junction
to Latur
392
 Madha
422
 Mohol
455
 Solapur
Solapur–Guntakal
section
470
 Hotgi
to Gadag
490
 Akalkot Road
518
 Dudhani
Maharashtra
Karnataka
border
541
 Ganagapur Road
567
 Kalaburagi Junction
594
 Shahabad
604
 Wadi
to Secunderabad
618
 Nalwar
643
 Yadgir
666
 Saidapur
Karnataka
Telangana
border
687
 Krishna
Telangana
Karnataka
border
712
 Raichur
729
 Matmari
Karnataka
Andhra Pradesh
border
740
 Mantralayam Road
754
 Kosigi
767
 Kupgal
782
 Adoni
791
 Nagarur
to Hubballi
833
 Guntakal Junction
to Vijayawada
to Bengaluru
Guntakal–Renigunta section
to Pendekullam
862
 Gooty
to Dharmavaram
886
 Royala Cheruvu
892
 Vemalapadu
904
 Komali
910
 Tadipatri
938
 Kondapuram
962
 Maddanuru
978
 Yerragunta
994
 Kamalapuram
to
Kadapa–Bangalore
section
1,017
 Kadapa
1,028
 Kanamalopalle
1,033
 Bhakarapet
1,039
 Ontimitta
1,050
 Mantapanpalle
1,058
 Nadalur
1,068
 Razampeta
1,101
 Koduru
to
Gudur-Renigunta
branch line
1,141
 Renigunta
to
Renigunta-Katpadi
branch line
1,166
 Puttur
Andhra Pradesh
Tamil Nadu
border
1,199
 Tiruttani
to
Chennai Central–
Bangalore City line
1,213
 Arakkonam Junction
to
Arakkonam–Chengalpattu
branch line
1,240
 Tiruvallur
1,276
 Perambur
1,281
 Chennai Central
km

The Mumbai–Chennai line, earlier known as Bombay–Madras line, is a railway line connecting Chennai and Mumbai cutting across southern part of the Deccan Plateau. It covers a distance of 1,281 kilometres (796 mi) across Maharashtra, Karnataka, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu. The Mumbai–Chennai line is a part of Diamond Quadrilateral.

Sections

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The 1,281 km (796 mi)-long trunk line, amongst the long and busy trunk lines connecting the metros, has been treated in more detail in smaller sections:

  1. Central line (Mumbai Suburban Railway)
  2. Mumbai Dadar–Solapur section
  3. Solapur–Guntakal section
  4. Guntakal–Renigunta section
  5. Renigunta–Chennai section

History

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The first passenger train in India from Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus in Mumbai to Thane ran on 16 April 1853 on the track laid by the Great Indian Peninsula Railway. The GIPR line was extended to Kalyan in 1854 and then on the south-east side to Khopoli via Palasdari railway station at the foot of the Western Ghats in 1856. While construction work was in progress across the Bhor Ghat, GIPR opened to public the Khandala–Pune track in 1858.

The Bhor Ghat incline connecting Palasdari to Khandala was completed in 1862, thereby connecting Mumbai and Pune.[1] The Western Ghats presented a big obstacle to the railway engineers in the 1860s. The summit of the Bhor Ghat (earlier spelt as Bhore Ghat) incline being 2,027 feet. The maximum gradient was: 1 in 37 with extreme curvature. "The works on the Bhore ghat comprised 25 tunnels of a total length of nearly 4,000 yards, two of the longest being 435 yards and 341 yards respectively. The Bhore ghat have eight lofty viaducts having a total length of 2,961 feet. Two of the largest are more than 500 feet long with a maximum height of 1160 and 163 feet. There are 22 bridges of spans from 7 to 30 feet and 81 culverts of various sizes."[2] The construction of the Bhor Ghat incline came at a high price: an estimated 24,000 builders died during the eight years of construction.[3][4]

The Pune–Raichur sector of the Mumbai–Chennai line was opened in stages: the portion from Pune to Barshi Road was opened in 1859, from Barshi Road to Mohol in 1860 and from Mohol to Solapur also in 1860. Work on the line from Solapur southwards was begun in 1865 and the line was extended to Raichur in 1871. Thus the line met the line of Madras Railway thereby establishing direct Mumbai–Chennai link.[5]

The first passenger train in southern India and the third in India was operated by Madras Railway from Royapuram to Wallajah Road (Arcot) in 1856. MR extended its trunk route to Beypur / Kadalundi (near Calicut) and initiated work on a north-western branch out of Arakkonam in 1861. The branch line reached Renigunta in 1862,[1] and to Raichur in 1871, where it connected to the Great Indian Peninsula Railway line from Mumbai.[5]

Electrification

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Railway electrification in India began with the first electric train, between Bombay Victoria Terminus and Kurla by the Great Indian Peninsula Railway's (GIPR) on 3 February 1925, on 1.5 kV DC. The Kalyan–Pune section was electrified with 1.5 kV DC overhead system in 1930.[6]

The previously used 1.5 kV DC was converted to 25 kV AC on 5 May 2013 from Kalyan to Khopoli and Kalyan to Kasara.[7] Conversion from 1.5 kV DC to 25 kV AC on the Lokmanya Tilak Terminus-Thane-Kalyan section was completed on 12 January 2014.[8] The CSMT to LTT section was converted from 1.5 kV DC to 25 kV AC on 8 June 2015.[9][10] The Kasara-Pune section was also converted from 1.5 kV DC to 25 kV AC.

The Pune–Daund section as well as Daund -Bhigwan section was electrified in 2017.[11] The electrification of the Bhigwan - Kalaburgi section was completed by March 2022.[12] The Kalaburgi -Wadi section was electrified in 2018.[12]

The Renigunta–Nandalur sector electrification was completed in 2006.[13][14] The Nandalur–Guntakal sector was electrified by Dec 2013.[15] The electrification of the Guntakal-Wadi section was completed in 2015.[12]

The Puratchi Thalaivar Dr. M.G. Ramachandran Central Railway Station–Tiruvallur sector, as well as the Basin Bridge–Chennai Beach sector were electrified in 1979–80. The Tiruvallur –Arakkonam sector was electrified in 1982–83, Arakkonam–Tiruttani sector in 1983–84 and the Tiruttani–Renigunta sector in 1984–85.[16]

Hence, the entire Mumbai-Chennai route is completely electrified.

Speed limit

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The stretch between Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus and Kalyan is classified as 'Group A' line, where trains run with speed up to 110 km/h due to train density and curve limitations . The Kalyan–Pune–Daund–Wadi line and the Wadi–Raichur–Adoni–Arrakonam–Puratchi Thalaivar Dr. M.G. Ramachandran Central railway station line are classified as 'Group B' lines and can take speeds up to 130 km/h.[17]

Passenger movement

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Mumbai CSMT, Pune, Solapur and MGR Chennai Central, on this line, are amongst the top hundred booking stations of Indian Railway.[18]

References

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  1. ^ a b "IR History: Early Days – I : Chronology of railways in India, Part 2 (1832–1865)". IRFCA. Retrieved 20 March 2014.
  2. ^ "Eminent Railwaymen of Yesteryears by R.R.Bhandari". James J. Berkley / Bhore Ghat. IRFCA. Retrieved 3 December 2013.
  3. ^ Aditi Shah (9 May 2019). "Bhor Ghat Incline: Triumph & Tragedy". Retrieved 30 October 2020.
  4. ^ Kamal Mishra (14 March 2017). "24,000 dead workers: Ghats have a hell station, and a story to tell". Retrieved 30 October 2020.
  5. ^ a b Chronology of railways in India, Part 2 (1870–1899). "IR History: Early Days – II". IRFCA. Retrieved 3 December 2013.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  6. ^ "Electric Traction I". History of Electrification. IRFCA. Retrieved 20 March 2014.
  7. ^ "From May 5, faster Central Railway with AC power" - Times Of India. Articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com (30 April 2013). Retrieved on 2013-07-16.
  8. ^ "Soon, faster trains on Kalyan-LTT route" - The Times of India. Articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com (13 January 2014). Retrieved on 2014-06-11.
  9. ^ "Central Railway plans DC/AC switch in May" - The Times of India. Timesofindia.indiatimes.com (25 March 2014). Retrieved on 2014-06-11.
  10. ^ "DC to AC conversion on Mumbai's Central Railways rail route completed". The Economic Times. Mumbai: PTI. 8 June 2015. Retrieved 2 January 2016.
  11. ^ "Pune-Daund local brings respite for daily commuters". Pune Mirror. 18 January 2017.
  12. ^ a b c "March 2021: When the Mumbai-Chennai Railway Route Will Be Fully Doubled, Electrified". 1 September 2020.
  13. ^ "Reenigunta-Guntakal Railway Electrification Project". Progress Register. Retrieved 20 March 2014.
  14. ^ "Rail Projects in Andhra Pradesh". Press Information Bureau, 21 November 2006. Retrieved 20 March 2014.
  15. ^ "Brief on Railway Electrification". Electrification Work in Progress. Central Organisation for Railway Electrification. Retrieved 20 March 2014.
  16. ^ "History of Electrification". IRFCA. Retrieved 20 March 2014.
  17. ^ "Chapter II – The Maintenance of Permanent Way". Retrieved 20 March 2014.
  18. ^ "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 20 March 2014.
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