Jolarpettai–Shoranur line
Salem Junction an Important railway station on Jolarpettai–Shoranur line
Overview
StatusOperational
OwnerIndian Railways
LocaleTamil Nadu, Kerala and Karnataka
Service
Operator(s)Southern Railway, South Western Railway
Depot(s)Erode, Jolarpettai
Rolling stockWDM-2, WDM-3A, WDM-3D, WDG-3A and WDG-4, WDP-4B/D diesel locos; and WAG-7 and WAP-4 ,WAP-7, WAG-9, WAG-12 electric locos.
History
Opened1861
Technical
Track lengthMain line: 418 km (260 mi)
Branch lines
Salem–Yeshvantapur 229 km (142 mi)
Salem–Mettur Dam 39 km (24 mi)
Irugur–Coimbatore–Mettupalayem 54 km (34 mi)
Track gauge5 ft 6 in (1,676 mm) broad gauge
ElectrificationOverhead catenary
Operating speed130 km/h
Highest elevationJolarpettai 405 metres (1,329 ft)
Coimbatore 411 metres (1,348 ft)
Yeshvantapur 919 metres (3,015 ft)
Route map

km
km
Chennai-Bangalore line
0
 Jolarpettai
8
 Tirupattur
12
 Molakarampatti
to Bangalore City
Yeshvantapur
229
19
 Kagankarai
to Hubli
Lottegallohalli
225
25
 Kunnathur
Hebbal
222
Banaswadi
210
31
 Samalpatti
Chennai Central-
Bangalore City line
Belandur Road
197
39
 Dasampatti
Karmelaram
194
Heelalige
183
Ponnaiyar River
NH7-IN.svg NH 7
Anekal Road
173
48
 Dodampatti
Tamil Nadu
Karnataka
border
Hosur
158
55
 Morappur
Kelamangalam
144
Periyanaga Thunai
135
61
 Thonganur
Rayakottai
119
Marandahalli
101
68
 Buddireddippati
Palakkodu
89
Hosur-Erode Road
78
 Bommidi
Dharmapuri
66
NH7-IN.svg NH 7
88
 Lokur
Sivadi
55
Muttampatti
47
97
 Danishpet
Toppur
35
NH7-IN.svg NH 7
104
 Tinapatti
Karuvalli
23
Mettur Dam
39
114
 Karuppur
Mecheri Road
27
Tolasampatti
19
NH7-IN.svg NH 7
Omalur
11
Magnesite
3
117
 Magnesite
Salem
0
120
 Salem
to Vriddhachalam
Salem Steel plant
to Karur
128
 Neykkarapatti
131
 Virapandy Road
142
 Magudanchavadi
NH544-IN.svg NH 544
154
 Mavelipalaiyam
159
 Sankaridurg
SH86-IN jct.svg SH 86
India Cements factory
167
 Anangur
SH79-IN jct.svg SH 79
177
 Cauvery
SH198-IN jct.svg SH 198
River Kaveri
to Karur
on Erode–Tiruchi line
NH381A-IN.svg NH 381A
182
 Erode Junction
Outer Ring Road, Erode
189
 Totiyapalayam
196
 Perundurai
201
 Ingur
SH96-IN jct.svg SH 96
209
 Vijayamangalam
219
 Uttukuli
SH81-IN jct.svg SH 81
SH19A-IN jct.svg SH 19A
222
 Kulipalayam
NH381-IN.svg NH 381
SH19-IN jct.svg SH 19
232
 Tiruppur
SH166-IN jct.svg SH 166
240
 Vanjipalayam
Kousika River
SH165-IN jct.svg SH 165
250
 Somanur
259
 Sulur Road
NH544-IN.svg NH 544
265
 Irugur
Singanallur
14
282
 Podanur
Pilamedu
9
NH209-IN.svg NH 209
0
 Coimbatore Main
Coimbatore North
3
Periyanayikanpalayam
17
SH162-IN jct.svg SH 162
Karaimadal
28
Mettupalayam
36
to Pollachi
Nilgiri Mountain Railway
(narrow gauge)
NH209-IN.svg NH 209
 ACC Limited plant
286
 Madukkarai
291
 Ettimadai
Tamil Nadu
Kerala
border
300
 Walayar
304
 Chullimada
311
 Kanjikode
319
 Kottekad
Malampuzha River
326
 Palakkad
NH966-IN.svg NH 966
to Pollachi
334
 Parli
342
 Mankara
SH77-IN jct.svg SH 77
349
 Lakkidi
353
 Palappuram
357
 Ottappalam
364
 Mannanur
to Shoranur–
Cochin Harbour section
SH22-IN jct.svg SH 22
370
 Shoranur
to Nilambur–
Shoranur line
to Shoranur–
Mangalore section
km

The Jolarpettai–Shoranur line connects Jolarpettai, on the Chennai Central–Bangalore City line in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu and Shoranur in Kerala. Incoming from Chennai side via Arakkonam and Katpadi at Jolarpettai,the railway lines further branches out towards Kozhikode, Nilambur and Thrissur sides in Shoranur. This network links the railway network in Kerala to the networks in Tamil Nadu and subsequently other states.

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 via Jolarpettai, Salem, Coimbatore and Shoranur. The presence of Palghat Gap ensured linking Tami Nadu and Kerala by rail.[1][2][3]

Branch lines

There are several branch lines:

  • Jolarpettai–Bangarapet–Bangalore line :- A 149-km broad-gauge railway line between Bengaluru Cantonment and Jolarpettai was opened for traffic in August 1864.[4]
  • Salem–Omalur–Mettur Dam line :- On 15.04.1929 BG section from Salem to Mettur Dam branch including the mileage of assisting siding from Mecheri Road to Mettur Dam was opened.
  • Salem–Dharmapuri–Hosur –Banglore line :- Early in 1969 the 145-mile metre gauge line from Bangalore to Salem via Hosur and Dharmapuri was opened.[5]
  • Salem–Namakkal–Karur line :- The line was constructed and opened in 2013.[6]
  • Salem–Vridhachalam–Cuddlore Port Junction :- In 1928, a line connecting Cuddlore and Vridachalam was opened. In 1931, a MG line connecting Salem and Vridachalam was opened.
  • Erode–Tiruchirappalli line :- Between 1866 and 1868, the line was opened for traffic gradually.
  • Podanur–Coimbatore–Mettupalayam line :- The Coimbatore–Mettupalayam metre gauge line was opened to traffic in 1873. The Coimbatore–Mettupalayam section was converted to complete broad gauge in 1907.[7]
  • Palakkad–Dindigul line:- The line became operaitonal between 1928 and 1932.

Electrification

The mainline was electrified in stages. The Jolarpettai–Morappur sector was electrified in 1989–90, the Morappur–Salem (excluded) in 1990–91, the Salem–Erode sector in 1991–92, the Tiruppur–Walayar sector including Coimbatore in 1995–96, and the Waylar–Vallatolnagar (beyond Shoranur, towards Ernakulam) in 1996–97. The Magnesite–Mettur Dam sector was electrified in 1990–91. The electrification of Coimbatore–Mettuapalayam was completed in 2015.[8][9]

Speed limit

Though the Arakkonam–Jolarpettai–Salem–Erode–Palakkad–Ernakulam line is classified as a "Group B" line which can take speeds up to 130 km/h, the maximum permissible speed is 110 km/h.[10]

Locomotive sheds

The Diesel Loco Shed, Erode holds WDM-2, WDM-3A, WDM-3D, WDG-3A and WDG-4 locomotives. And the Electric Loco Shed, Erode holds WAG-7 and WAP-4 and WAP-7 locomotives. It is home to the largest fleet of WAP-4 locomotives on Indian Railways and handles some of the longest routes for electric trains in the country.[11]

Jolarpettai has an electric/ diesel trip shed.[11]

Passenger movement

Salem, Coimbatore, Erode and Palakkad, on this line, are among the top hundred booking stations of Indian Railway.[12]

Stations

There are 38 railway stations along the stretch within Salem Railway Division and 40 railway stations within Tamil Nadu. The major stations are Coimbatore Main Junction (CBE), Coimbatore North Junction (CBF), Podanur Junction (PTJ), .Tiruppur (TUP), Erode Jn (ED), and Salem Jn (SA),

References

  1. ↑ "IR History – Early days". 1832–1869. IRFCA. Retrieved 23 December 2013.
  2. ↑ "Salem District (1916)". IRFCA. Retrieved 29 December 2013.
  3. ↑ "Chronology of Railways in India, Part 3 (1900–1947)". IRFCA. Retrieved 29 December 2013.
  4. ↑ Shekhar, Divya (3 August 2017). "Date with History: In 1864, first train chugged from Cantonment to Jolarpettai". The Economic Times. ISSN 0013-0389. Retrieved 11 December 2023.
  5. ↑ "The Kolar District Railway - Ian Manning on the Indian Railways: 1965-1969 | IRFCA.org". www.irfca.org. Retrieved 11 December 2023.
  6. ↑ "New passenger train chugs into grand reception at Karur junction". The Hindu. 26 May 2013. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 11 December 2023.
  7. ↑ "[IRFCA] Indian Railways FAQ - Gauges in India". www.irfca.org. Retrieved 11 December 2023.
  8. ↑ "History of Electrification". IRFCA. Retrieved 23 December 2013.
  9. ↑ Coimbatore–Mettupalayam electric train service commences
  10. ↑ "Chapter II : The Maintenance of Permanent Way". Archived from the original on 3 December 2013. Retrieved 23 December 2013.
  11. 1 2 "Sheds and Workshops". IRFCA. Retrieved 23 December 2013.
  12. ↑ "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 23 December 2013.
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