Vijayawada–Chennai section

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Vijayawada–Chennai section

Vijayawada Jan Shatabdi Express is an important train on the Vijayawada–Chennai section
Overview
Status Operational
Locale Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu
Termini Vijayawada
Chennai Central
Operation
Opening 1899
Owner Indian Railway
Operator(s) South Central Railway, Southern Railway
Technical
Track length 455 km (283 mi)
No. of tracks 2
Track gauge 1,676 mm (5 ft 6 in) Broad gauge
Operating speed up to 160 km/h (99 mph)

The Vijayawada–Chennai section (also known as Vijayawada-Chennai line) is a railway line connecting Vijayawada in the Indian state of Andhra Pradesh and Chennai Central in Tamil Nadu. The main line is part of the Howrah-Chennai main line and other trunk routes.

Geography

The Vijayawada-Chennai line runs along the Coromandel Coast, lying between the Eastern Ghats and the Bay of Bengal. The main line crosses the Krishna immediately after its departure from Vijayawada.[1][2]

Railway zone jurisdiction

The track from Vijayawada to Gudur is under the administrative jurisdiction of South Central Railway, and the rest of the main line, south of Gudur is under the administrative jurisdiction of Southern Railway.[3] The Gudur-Renigunta-Arakkonam branch line is under the jurisdiction of South Central Railway up to Renigunta and the rest is under the jurisdiction of Southern Railway.[4] The Renigunta-Katpadi branch line is under the jurisdiction of South Central Railway up to Bommasamudran and only Katpadi is under the jurisdiction of Southern Railway.[5]

Chennai suburban services

Chennai Suburban Railway operates EMU trains between Chennai Central and Sullurupeta, with 20 intermediate stations. EMU trains cover the distance of 82 km (51 mi) in a scheduled time of 2 hours.[6] As of 2005, 100,000 passengers daily used the EMU services in this sector.[7]

EMU trains are also operated between Chennai Central and Arakkonam via West Line (not shown in the chart attached). It covers the distance of 68 km (42 mi) with 27 halts in a scheduled time of 1 hour 50 mins.[8] As of 2005, 200,000 passengers daily used the EMU services in this sector.[7]

A MEMU train operates between Chennai Central and Tirupati Main via West North Line. It covers the distance of 160 km (99 mi) with 13 halts in a scheduled time of 4 hour 25 mins.[9]

History

The train service from Royapuram/ Vyasarpady in Chennai to Walajah Road, near Arcot, covering around 100 km (62 mi) long, and operated by Madras Railway Company, on 1 July 1856 was the first in southern India. In 1861, the trunk route was extended to Beypore/ Kadalundi (near Calicut). The Great Southern Railway of India completed the 125 km (78 mi) long line between Nagapattinam and Trichinopoly in 1861-62. During 1864-1868, Madras Railway linked Jolarpettai with Bangalore Cantt. and separately extended its lines to Salem.[10] The Southern Mahratta Railway Company linked Goa with Guntakal with a metre gauge line and also linked Vijayawada with Mormugao in 1890.[11]

During the period 1893 to 1896, 1,287 km (800 mi) of the East Coast State Railway, from Vijayawada to Cuttack was built and opened to traffic,[12][13] and construction of the Vijayawada-Chennai link in 1899 enabled the through running of trains along the eastern coast of India.[11]

The southern part of the East Coast State Railway (from Waltair to Vijayawada) was taken over by Madras Railway in 1901.[14]

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 2010 was South Western Railway, which was carved out of Southern Railway.[15]

Electrification

Howrah-Chennai Mail was the first train in South Eastern Railway to be hauled by a diesel engine (WDM-1) in 1965.[16]

The Vijayawada–Chennai section was completely electrified by 1980. The Howrah-Chennai route was completely electrified by 2005.[17]

Section-wise electrification was as follows: Vijayawada-Chirala 1979-80; Chirala-Ongole, Ongole-Ulavapadu, Ulavapadu-Bitragunta, Bitragunta-Pagudupadu, Padugupadu-Gudur, Gudur-Elavur 1980-81; Gudur-Venkatagiri, Venkatagiri-Renigunta, and Renigunta-Tirupati 1983-85; Krishna Canal-Guntur, and Guntur-Tenali 1987-89; Arakkonam-Renigunta 1982-85.[18]

Speed limits

The New Delhi to Chennai Central line (Grand Trunk route), of which the Vijayawada–Chennai section is a part, is classified as a “Group A” line which can take speeds up to 160 km/h. On the branch lines the speed limit is 100 km/hr.[19]

Passenger movement

Chennai Central, Vijayawada and Nellore, on the main line, and Tirupati Main and Vellore Katpadi, on branch lines, are amongst the top hundred booking stations of Indian Railway.[20]

References

  1. ↑ "Coastal Plains of India". Country facts – the world at your finger tips. Retrieved 2013-01-17. 
  2. ↑ "The Coastal Plains of India". Zahie.com. Retrieved 2013-01-17. 
  3. ↑ "Vijayawada Chennai Jan Shatabdi". India Rail Info. Retrieved 2013-02-10. 
  4. ↑ "Arakkonam Cudappah Passenge". India Rail Info. Retrieved 2013-02-10. 
  5. ↑ "Tirupati Katpadi Passenger". India Rail Info. Retrieved 2013-02-10. 
  6. ↑ "Sullurupeta Chennai EMU local". India Rail Info. Retrieved 2013-02-10. 
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 "Public transport in Chennai and its suburbs". The Hindu, 15 March 2005. Retrieved 2013-02-10. 
  8. ↑ "Arakkonam Chennai EMU". India Rail Info. Retrieved 2013-02-10. 
  9. ↑ "Tirupati- Chennai Central Passenger (MEMU)". India Rail Info. Retrieved 2013-02-10. 
  10. ↑ "IR History – Early days". 1832-1869. IRFCA. Retrieved 2013-01-19. 
  11. ↑ 11.0 11.1 "IR History:Early days II". 1870-1899. IRFCA. Retrieved 2013-01-19. 
  12. ↑ "Major Events in the Formation of S.E. Railway". South Eastern Railway. Retrieved 2013-01-02. 
  13. ↑ "History of Waltair Division". Mannanna.com. Retrieved 2013-01-02. 
  14. ↑ "IR History: Part III (1900-1947)". IRFCA. Retrieved 2013-01-19. 
  15. ↑ "Geography – Railway Zones". IRFCA. Retrieved 2013-01-23. 
  16. ↑ "IR History: Part - IV (1947 - 1970)". IRFCA. Retrieved 2012-11-21. 
  17. ↑ "IR History Part VII (2000-present)". IRFCA. Retrieved 2013-01-23. 
  18. ↑ "History of Electrification". IRFCA. Retrieved 2012-11-10. 
  19. ↑ "Chapter II – The Maintenance of Permanent Way". Retrieved 2013-01-02. 
  20. ↑ "Indian Railways Passenger Reservation Enquiry". Availability in trains for Top 100 Booking Stations of Indian Railways. IRFCA. Retrieved 2012-12-30. 

External links

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