Jolarpettai–Shoranur line

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/ Tirupati side via Arakkonam and Katpadi at Jolarpettai, there are several branch lines: Jolarpettai–Bangarapet–Bangalore, Salem–Omalur–Mettur Dam/Dharmapuri–Hosur–Yeshvantapur, Salem–Namakkal–Karur, Salem–Virudhachalam–Villupuram, Erode–Karur, Irugur/Podanur–Coimbatore–Mettupalayam and Palakkad–Dindigul. From Shoranur, the railway lines further branches out towards Kozhikode, Nilambur and Thrissur sides in Kerala. This network links the railway network in Kerala to the networks in Tamil Nadu and Karnataka, and subsequently other states.

Jolarpettai–Shoranur line
Salem Junction an Important railway station on Jolarpettai–Shoranur line
Overview
StatusOperational
OwnerIndian Railways
LocaleTamil Nadu, Kerala and Karnataka
Service
Operator(s)Southern Railway, South Western Railway
Depot(s)Erode, Jolarpettai
Rolling stockWDM-2, WDM-3A, WDM-3D, WDG-3A and WDG-4, WDP-4B/D diesel locos; and WAG-7 and WAP-4 ,WAP-7, WAG-9 electric locos.
History
Opened1861
Technical
Track lengthMain line: 418 km (260 mi)
Branch lines
Salem–Yeshvantapur 229 km (142 mi)
Salem–Mettur Dam 39 km (24 mi)
Irugur–Coimbatore–Mettupalayem 54 km (34 mi)
Track gauge1,676 mm (5 ft 6 in) broad gauge
Operating speedUp to 135 km/h
Highest elevationJolarpettai 405 metres (1,329 ft)
Coimbatore 411 metres (1,348 ft)
Yeshvantapur 919 metres (3,015 ft)
Route map

km
km
0
Jolarpettai
8
Tirupattur
12
Molakarampatti
to Bangalore City
Yeshvantapur
229
19
Kagankarai
to Hubli
Lottegallohalli
225
25
Kunnathur
Hebbal
222
Banaswadi
210
31
Samalpatti
Belandur Road
197
39
Dasampatti
Karmelaram
194
Heelalige
183
Anekal Road
173
48
Dodampatti
Hosur
158
55
Morappur
Kelamangalam
144
Periyanaga Thunai
135
61
Thonganur
Rayakottai
119
Marandahalli
101
68
Buddireddippati
Palakkodu
89
Hosur-Erode Road
78
Bommidi
Dharmapuri
66
88
Lokur
Sivadi
55
Muttampatti
47
97
Danishpet
Toppur
35
104
Tinapatti
Karuvalli
23
Mettur Dam
39
114
Karuppur
Mecheri Road
27
Tolasampatti
19
Omalur
11
Magnesite
3
117
Magnesite
Salem
0
120
Salem
to Vriddhachalam
Salem Steel plant
to Karur
128
Neykkarapatti
131
Virapandy Road
142
Magudanchavadi
154
Mavelipalaiyam
159
Sankaridurg
India Cements factory
167
Anangur
177
Cauvery
182
Erode Junction
189
Totiyapalayam
196
Perundurai
201
Ingur
209
Vijayamangalam
219
Uttukuli
222
Kulipalayam
232
Tiruppur
240
Vanjipalayam
250
Somanur
259
Sulur Road
265
Irugur
Singanallur
14
282
Podanur
Pilamedu
9
0
Coimbatore Main
Coimbatore North
3
Periyanayikanpalayam
17
State Highway 162
Karaimadal
28
Mettupalayam
36
to Pollachi
ACC Limited plant
286
Madukkarai
291
Ettimadai
300
Walayar
304
Chullimada
311
Kanjikode
319
Kottekad
326
Palakkad
to Pollachi
334
Parli
342
Mankara
349
Lakkidi
353
Palappuram
357
Ottappalam
364
Mannanur
370
Shoranur

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[1]

The metre-gauge Podanur–Mettupalayam line was opened to traffic in 1873. The UNESCO heritage track, Nilgiri Mountain Railway was opened in two stages. The Mettupalayam–Coonoor section was opened in 1899 and it was extended up to Udhagamandalam (Ooty) in 1908.[2] The Podanur–Mettuapalayam section was converted to broad gauge in early 2000s.

Two 762 mm (2 ft 6 in)-wide narrow gauge famine-protective lines were opened in the early years of the twentieth century. The 25.25 mi (41 km)-long Tirupattur–Krishnagiri line was opened in 1905 and the 18.5 mi (30 km)-long Morappur–Dharmapuri line was opened in 1906 and extended to Hosur – 54.5 mi (88 km) long. The Hosur–Dharmapuri line was decommissioned in 1941 and other two lines were closed around 1945.[3][4]

The 229 km (142 mi)-long 1,000 mm (3 ft 3 38 in)-wide metre-gauge Salem–Bangalore line was opened in 1969.[5][6] It was converted to 1,676 mm (5 ft 6 in)-wide broad gauge in 1997.[7]

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.[8][9]

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/hr.[10]

Loco sheds

Erode diesel loco shed holds WDM-2, WDM-3A, WDM-3D, WDG-3A and WDG-4 locos. Erode electric loco shed holds WAG-7 and WAP-4 and WAP-7 locos. It is home to the largest fleet of WAP-4 locos on Indian Railways and handles some of the longest routes for electric trains in the country.[11]

Jolarpettai has an electric/ diesel trip shed.[11]

Passenger movement

Salem, Coimbatore, Erode and Palakkad, on this line, are among the top hundred booking stations of Indian Railway.[12]

References

  1. "IR History – Early days". 1832–1869. IRFCA. Retrieved 23 December 2013.
  2. "Mettupalam-Udhagamandalam (Ooty) Train". india invites. Archived from the original on 24 December 2013. Retrieved 23 December 2013.
  3. "Salem District (1916)". IRFCA. Retrieved 29 December 2013.
  4. "Chronology of Railways in India, Part 3 (1900–1947)". IRFCA. Retrieved 29 December 2013.
  5. Manning, Ian. "Mysore". Bangalore–Salem. IRFCA. Retrieved 23 December 2013.
  6. "IR History: Part IV – 1947-1970". IRFCA. Retrieved 23 December 2013.
  7. "IR History: Part VI – 1995-1999". IRFCA. Retrieved 23 December 2013.
  8. "History of Electrification". IRFCA. Retrieved 23 December 2013.
  9. Coimbatore–Mettupalayam electric train service commences
  10. "Chapter II : The Maintenance of Permanent Way". Archived from the original on 3 December 2013. Retrieved 23 December 2013.
  11. "Sheds and Workshops". IRFCA. Retrieved 23 December 2013.
  12. "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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