Coimbatore–Shoranur railway line

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Coimbatore–Shoranur line
Overview
Status Operational
Locale Tamil Nadu and Kerala
Termini Coimbatore
Shoranur
Operation
Opened 1861
Owner Indian Railway
Operator(s) Southern Railway
Depot(s) Erode
Rolling stock WDM-2, WDM-3A, WDM-3D, WDG-3A and WDG-4 diesel locos; and WAG-7 and WAP-4 electric locos.
Technical
Track length Main line: 88 km (55 mi)
Coimbatore-Mettupalayam 54 km (34 mi)
Track gauge 1,676 mm (5 ft 6 in) broad gauge
Operating speed Up to 130 km/h
Highest elevation Coimbatore 411 metres (1,348 ft)
Shoranur 26 metres (85 ft)
Palakkad 84 metres (276 ft)

The Coimbatore–Shoranur line connects Coimbatore in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu and Shoranur in Kerala. There is a branch line Pothanur–Coimbatore–Mettupalayam connecting to Udhagamandalam via Nilgiri Mountain Railway. This network links the railway network in Kerala to the network in Tamil Nadu via the Palakkad Gap.

History

The first train service in southern India and the third in India was operated by Madras Railway from Royapuram to Wallajah Road in 1856. Madras Railway extended its trunk route to Kozhikode in 1861.[1] The Podanur–Mettuapalayam 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 46 km (29 mi) long railway rises from 330 metres (1,080 ft) at Mettuapalaym to 2,200 metres (7,200 ft) at Udhagamandalam.[3]

Geography

Palghat Gap is a low mountain pass in the Western Ghats between Coimbatore in Tamil Nadu and Palakkad in Kerala. It has an average elevation of 140 metres (460 ft) with a width of 30 kilometres (19 mi) and the line passes through the Palghat gap, which is the only connection across the Western Ghats between Tamil Nadu and Kerala.[4]

Electrification

The mainline was electrified in stages. The Coimbatore–Waylar sector was electrified in 1995–96, and the Waylar–Shoranur in 1996-97.[5] As of 2013, electrification of Coimbatore-Mettuapalayem is to be taken up this fiscal.[6]

Speed limit

The Coimbatore-Shoranur line is classified as a "Group B" line which can take speeds up to 130 km/h.[7]

Loco sheds

Trains running on the line use locos from Erode loco shed which holds WDM-2, WDM-3A, WDM-3D, WDG-3A, WDG-4, WAG-7 and WAP-4 locos. It is home to the largest fleet of WAP-4 locos on Indian Railways.[8]

Passenger movement

Coimbatore and Palakkad, on this line, are amongst the top hundred booking stations of Indian Railway.[9]

References

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External links

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