Status Operational Opened 1871 Owner Indian Railways | Services Mumbai-Chennai line Highest elevation 453 m | |
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Locale Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu Operator(s) South Central Railway, Southern Railway Depot(s) Guntakal, Renigunta, Arakkonam Rolling stocks Indian locomotive class WDM-2 Terminis Chennai Eg railway station, Guntakal Junction railway station | ||
The Guntakal–Chennai Egmore section (also known as Guntakal-Chennai line) is part of the Mumbai-Chennai line. It connects Guntakal in the Indian state of Andhra Pradesh and Chennai Egmore in Tamil Nadu.
Contents
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) and initiated work on a north-western branch out of Arakkonam in 1861. The branch line reached Renigunta in 1862. The branch line out of Arakkonam reached Raichur in 1871, where it connected to the Great Indian Peninsula Railway line from Mumbai.
Chennai suburban services
EMU trains are operated between Chennai Central and Arakkonam via West Line. It covers the distance of 68 km (42 mi) with 27 halts in a scheduled time of 1 hour 50 mins. As of 2005, 200,000 passengers daily used the EMU services in this sector.
Electrification
The Chennai Beach-Tambaram sector was electrified with DC overhead line in 1931 and was converted to 25 kv AC in 1967. The Chennai Central-Tiruvallur sector, as well as the Basin Bridge-Chennai Beach sector were electrified in 1979-80. The Tiruvallu-Arakkonam sector was electrified in 1982-83, Arakkonam-Tiruttani sector in 1983-84 and the Tiruttani-Renigunta sector in 1984-85.
Electrification of the 308 km long Renigunta-Guntakal section was announced in 2003 at a cost of Rs. 168 crore. The Renigunta-Nandalur sector electrification was completed in 2006. The Nandalur-Guntakal sector was electrified by 2013.
Speed limit
The Kalyan-Pune-Daund-Wadi-Secunderabad-Kazipet line and the Wadi-Raichur-Arrakonam-Chennai Central line are classified as 'Group B' lines and can take speeds up to 130 km/h.
The construction of Arakkonam-Renigunta third line has been sent to Planning Commission for appraisal as per Railway Budget 2012-13.
As of 2012, doubling of the Renigunta-Guntakal section was expected to be completed soon.
Sheds and Workshops
Guntakal diesel loco shed was started as a metre gauge shed but after gauge conversions in Guntakal and Hubli divisions a broad gauge shed was opened in 1995. It houses WDM-2, WDM-3A, WDM-3D and WDG-3A locos. There is a routine overhaul depot for wagon maintenance at Raichur and a coaching maintenance depot at Guntakal.
Diesel loco shed,Gooty has one of the largest sheds with 175+ locos that include WDG-3A, WDM-3A, WDM-3D, WDG-4, WDP-4 diesel locos. It also handles routine maintenance for WDG-4 locos. It earlier used to be broad gauge steam loco shed.
Arakkonam earlier had a steam loco shed, now has an electric loco shed that holds 135+ locos, which include WAP-1, WAP-4, WAM-4 and WAG-5 locos. Royapuram electric loco shed holds 65+ locos including WAP-1, WAP-4, and WAP-7 locos.
Renigunta has an electric trip shed. Egmore had an important metre gauge diesel/ electric loco shed but with gauge conversions in the area the shed was demolished.
The Carriage and Wagon Workshops at Perambur repairs broad gauge coaches and wagons. The Locomotive Workshops at Perambur was the premier broad gauge steam loco repair shop in the south. Even now performs the annual overhaul of the Fairy Queen. The workshop now primarily handles the repair and maintenance of electric locomotives from all over the south an even beyond.
Railway reorganization
In the early 1950s legislation was passed authorizing the central government to take over independent railway systems that were there. On 14 April 1951 the Madras and Southern Mahratta Railway, the South Indian Railway Company and Mysore State Railway were merged to form Southern Railway. Subsequently, Nizam's Guaranteed State Railway was also merged into Southern Railway. On 2 October 1966, the Secunderabad, Solapur, Hubli and Vijayawada Divisions, covering the former territories of Nizam’s Guaranteed State Railway and certain portions of Madras and Southern Mahratta Railway were separated from Southern Railway to form the South Central Railway. In 1977, Guntakal division of Southern Railway was transferred to South Central Railway and the Solapur division transferred to Central Railway. Amongst the seven new zones created in 2003 was South Western Railway, which was carved out of Southern Railway.