Chennai Central–Bangalore City line

The Chennai Central–Bangalore City line (Officially known as Puratchi Thalaivar Dr. M.G. Ramachandran Central Railway Station–Krantivira Sangolli Rayanna Bengaluru Station line) connects the main railway stations in two of the larger cities in India – Chennai in Tamil Nadu and Bengaluru in Karnataka.

Puratchi Thalaivar Dr. M.G. Ramachandran Central Railway Station–Krantivira Sangolli Rayanna Bengaluru Station line
Chennai Central–Bangalore City line
Arakkonam Junction, an important railway station situated on Chennai Central–Bangalore City line
Overview
StatusOperational
OwnerIndian Railways
LocaleTamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka
TerminiPuratchi Thalaivar Dr. M.G. Ramachandran Central railway station
Krantivira Sangolli Rayanna (Bengaluru Station)
Service
Operator(s)Southern Railway, South Western Railway
Depot(s)Avadi, Arakkonam, Krishnarajapuram, Bengaluru Cantonment, Krantivira Sangolli Rayanna Bengaluru Station
Rolling stockWAP-1, WAP-4, WAP-5, WAP-7, WAG-7, WAG-9 electric locos; WDS-6, WDM-2, WDM-3A, WDP-4, WDG-3A, WDG-4 and WDS-4 diesel locos
History
Opened1864 (1864)
Technical
Track lengthMain line:358 km (222 mi)
Branch lines:
Bangarpet-Kolar-Baiyappanhalli 166 km (103 mi)
Bangarpet-Marikuppam16 km (10 mi)
Track gauge1,676 mm (5 ft 6 in) broad gauge
Operating speedUp to 110 km/h
Highest elevationKrantivira Sangolli Rayanna (Bengaluru Station) 903 metres (2,963 ft)
Route map

km
0
Chennai Central
2
Basin Bridge
3
Vyasarpadi Jeeva
4
Vyasarpadi
5
Perambur
6
Perambur Carriage Works
8
Perambur Loco Works
9
Villivakkam
12
Korattur
14
Pattaravakkam
16
Ambattur
17
Thirumullaivoyal
18
Annanur
21
Avadi
24
Hindu College
25
Pattabiram
26
Pattabiram West
27
Nemilichery Halt
29
Thiruninravur
Tata Steel Yard
32
Veppampattu
36
Sevvapet Road
39
Puttlur Halt
42
Tiruvallur
State Highway 50
45
Eggatur Halt
47
Kadambattur
50
Senji Pannambakkam
53
Manavur
58
Tiruvalangadu
61
Mosur
63
Pulliyamangalam
69
Arakkonam Junction
70
Melapakkam
Ultratech Cement
78
Chitteri
80
Anavardikhanpet
87
Mahendra Vadi
State Highway 128
Mahendra Vadi Quarry
90
Sholinghur
98
Thalangai
100
Marudalam
State Highway 61
105
Wallajah Road
113
Mukundarayapuram
Ponnai River
118
Tiruvalem
State Highway 59
128
Sevur
State Highway 9/83
129
Katpadi Junction
137
Latteri
142
Virinchipuram
148
Kayanur
154
Guriyapattam
State Highway 127
159
Melalathur
164
Valathoor
170
Melpatti
Palar River
176
Pachachakupam
182
Ambur
190
Vinnamangalam
198
Vaniyambadi
206
Kettandapatti
213
Jolarpettai Junction
222
Somanayyakanpatti
230
Patchur
km
235
Kotturu
Malanur
241
State Highway 219
16
Marikuppam
Kuppam
254
14
Champion
Gudupalli
264
12
Ooragaum
Bisanattam
269
State Highway 96
9
Coromandel
Kamasamudram
276
Varadapur
283
7
BEML Nagar
Bangarapet Junction
288
0
0
State Highway 95
State Highway 95
State Highway 96
17
Kolar
Kolar-Chik Ballapur Road
Maralahalli
296
State Highway 5
29
Jangatta Halt
Lake Maduvadi Kare
Tayakal
300
33
Gottihalli Halt
38
Dalasanur Halt
46
Srinivasapura Halt
Bytrayanhalli
309
56
Dodaanatta Halt
State Highway 82
Malur
315
67
Chintamani
79
Husenahalli Halt
State Highway 117
88
Sidlagatta
95
Gidanahalli Halt
104
Chik Ballapur
Devangonthi
327
110
Nandi Halt
117
Venkatagiri Kote Halt
120
Avatihalli
Whitefield
335
126
Devanahalli
Whitefield Satellite
337
138
Dodjala
142
Bettahalsoor
Krishnarajapuram
344
150
Yelahanka
State Highway 104
150
Yelahanka
157
Thanisandra
163
Channasandra
Bangalore East
351
Bangalore Cantt
353
Bangalore City
358
km
km

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. Madras Railway connected Bangalore Cantonment to Jolarpettai on the newly constructed Beypur line in 1864. Bangalore Mail started running the same year.[1] Bangalore City was linked to Bangalore Cantonment in 1882.[2] The 1,676 mm (5 ft 6 in)-wide broad-gauge Bangarpet-Marikuppam line came up in 1894.[3] The 2 ft 6 in (762 mm)-wide narrow-gauge line between Bowringpet (later Bangarpet) and Kolar was opened in 1913 by Mysore State Railway. The narrow-gauge Yeshvantapur–Yelahanka–Devanahalli–Chikkaballapur–Kolar line was opened in 1915 and was linked to Bangalore in 1918.[4] With the completion of the gauge conversion to broad gauge of the Chikballapur-Kolar section in November 2013, the entire Bangalore–Kolar section was ready for direct broad gauge trains.[5][6] Gauge conversion of the Bangarpet–Kolar line was completed in 1997 and a Railbus service was operating since then, till 11 September 2016 when Railbus got replaced by an eight-bogie diesel–electric multiple unit (DEMU).[7][8]

The Chennai–Trivellur sector was electrified in 1979–80, the Trivellur–Arakkonam–Chitteri sector in 1982–83, the Chitteri–Walajah Road (excl) sector in 1983–84, the Wallajah Road–Katpadi sector in 1984–85, the Katpadi–Jolerapettai sector in 1985–86, the Jolerapettai–Mulanur sector in 1990–91, the Mulanur–Bangarpet–Bangalore City sector in 1991–92.[9]

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 and South Central railway.[10]

Chennai suburban services

EMU trains are operated between Puratchi Thalaivar Dr. M.G. Ramachandran Central railway station and Arakkonam Junction via West Line. It covers the distance of 68 km (42 mi) with 27 halts in a scheduled time of 1 hour 50 mins.[11] As of 2005, 200,000 passengers daily used the EMU services in this sector.[12]

Speed limit

Chennai CentralArakkonamJolarpettaiBangalore City is classified as a "Group B" line and can take speeds up to 110 km/h.[13]

Sheds and workshops

Arakkonam earlier had a steam loco shed, now has an electric loco shed that holds 230+ locos, which include WAP-1 WAP-4 WAG-7,WAM-4 and WAG-5 locomotives.[14]

Krishnarajapuram diesel loco shed, opened in 1983, can hold 125 locomotives. These include: WDS-6, WDM-2, WDM-3A, WDP-4, WDG-3A and WDG-4. It has also recently been housing 5 WAP-7 locomotives transferred from Royapuram shed, as a part of the conversion to a diesel and electric loco shed. Bangalore Cantonment diesel loco shed holds WDS-4 locomotives.[14]

Jolarpettai has an electric/ diesel trip shed.[14]

The Carriage and Wagon Workshops at Perambur repairs 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 and even beyond.[14]

Basin Bridge has a carriage maintenance works. Avadi has a broad-gauge EMU maintenance and car shed. Arakkonam has engineering workshops.[14]

Passenger movement

Chennai Central, Katpadi Junction and Bangalore City, on this line, are amongst the top hundred booking stations of Indian Railway.[15]

References

  1. "IR History – Early days". 1832–1869. IRFCA. Retrieved 19 December 2013.
  2. "IR History: Early days II". 1870–1899. IRFCA. Retrieved 19 December 2013.
  3. "Chapter VII – Transport and Communications" (PDF). Railway lines opened for traffic in the state since 1861. Karnataka Government. p. 290. Archived from the original (PDF) on 26 August 2013. Retrieved 19 December 2013.
  4. "IR History: Part III (1900–1947)". IRFCA. Retrieved 19 December 2013.
  5. "76552/Kolar – Bangalore City DEMU (via Chik Ballapur)". India Rail Info. Retrieved 19 December 2013.
  6. "Railway line proposed by Indira". The New Indian Express. 2 November 2013. Retrieved 19 December 2013.
  7. Satish, Shalini. "Railcar's last stop". Deccan Herald. Retrieved 19 December 2013.
  8. TNN, TNN. "Curtains come down on state's single-bogie rail bus". Times of India. Retrieved 15 October 2017.
  9. "History of Electrification". IRFCA. Retrieved 19 December 2013.
  10. "Geography – Railway Zones". IRFCA. Retrieved 14 December 2013.
  11. "Arakkonam Chennai EMU". India Rail Info. Retrieved 19 December 2013.
  12. "Public transport in Chennai and its suburbs". The Hindu. 15 March 2005. Retrieved 19 December 2013.
  13. "Chapter II : The Maintenance of Permanent Way". Archived from the original on 3 December 2013. Retrieved 18 December 2013.
  14. "Sheds and Workshops". IRFCA. Retrieved 18 December 2013.
  15. "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 18 December 2013.
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