Manamadurai–Rameswaram branch line

The Manamadurai–Rameswaram branch line is a branch railway line in the state of Tamil Nadu, India. The line starts at Manamadurai and ends at Rameswaram.

Manamadurai–Rameswaram branch line
Train Passing on Pamban bridge lies on Manamadurai–Rameswaram branch line
Overview
StatusOperating
OwnerIndian Railways
TerminiManamadurai Junction
Rameswaram
Websitewww.sr.indianrailways.gov.in
Service
TypeExpress train
Passenger train
Operator(s)Southern Railway zone
Technical
Line length161 km (100 mi)
Number of tracks1
Track gauge1,676 mm (5 ft 6 in)
Old gauge1,000 mm (3 ft 3 3⁄8 in)
Loading gauge4,725 mm × 3,660 mm (15 ft 6.0 in × 12 ft 0.1 in) (BG)[1]
ElectrificationNo
Operating speed80 km/h (50 mph)
Route map
km
to Dindigul Junction
0
 Madurai Junction
to Bodinayakkanur
to Virudhunagar Junction
4
 Madurai East
12
 Silaiman
21
 Tiruppuvanam
32
 Tiruppachetti
41
 Rajagambiram
to Karaikkudi Junction
48
 Manamadurai Junction
to Virudhunagar Junction
58
 Sudiyur
72
 Paramakudi
92
 Sattirakudi
107
 Ramanathapuram
116
 Valantaravai
127
 Uchippuli
131
 Pirappanvalasai
141
 Mandapam Camp
144
 Mandapam
 Pamban Bridge
over Palk Strait
Pamban Island
151
 Pamban Junction
161
 Rameswaram
180
 Dhanushkodi

History

The Madras Railway laid the metre gauge lines viz. Manamadurai–Mandapam line in 1902, Mandapam–Pamban line in 1914, Pamban–Rameswaram line in 1906 and Pamban–Dhanushkodi line in 1908.[2]

During 1964 Rameshwaram Cyclone, the Pamban–Dhanushkodi section was completely damaged and was dismantled afterwards and was never rebuilt by Indian railways. This is because of the declarement of dhanushkodi as 'The Ghost Town' by madras(chennai) government.

The Manamadurai–Rameshwaram section was converted to broad gauge in 2007.[2]

Future

There are plans to build a rail-cum-road bridge or tunnel from India to Sri Lanka. It would be built via Rameshwaram or Dhanushkodi.[3][4]

References
  1. J S Mundrey (2010). Railway Track Engineering (Fourth ed.). New Delhi: Tata McGraw Hill. p. 7. ISBN 978-0-07-068012-8. Retrieved 5 February 2014.
  2. "Southern Railways - Madurai railway division" (PDF). Southern Railways, India. Retrieved 10 June 2014.
  3. "Explained: A new line". The Indian Express. 15 March 2015. Retrieved 11 November 2015.
  4. "Mythic link to Lanka may become a reality". www.mydigitalfc.com. Retrieved 11 November 2015.


This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.