Shoranur–Mangalore section

The Shoranur–Mangalore section, also known as Shoranur–Mangaluru section, is a railway segment of IR functioning under Palakkad Division of Southern Railway Zone. This is a 5 ft 6 in (1,676 mm) broad gauge electrified line which begins at the Shornur Junction railway station in Kerala and ends at the Mangalore Central railway station in Karnataka. This line passes through major towns including Tirur, Kozhikode, Vatakara, Thalassery, Kannur, Payyannur, Kanhangad and Kasaragod.[1]

Shoranur–Mangalore section
Overview
StatusOperational
OwnerIndian Railways
LocalePalakkad, Malappuram, Kozhikode, Kannur, Kasaragod and Dakshina Kannada
Termini
Stations40+
Website[1]
Service
TypeRegional rail
Operator(s)Palakkad Railway Division of Southern Railway zone
History
Opened1907
Technical
Line length328 km (203.81 mi)
Track length328 km (203.81 mi)
Number of tracks2
Track gauge1,676 mm (5 ft 6 in)
Electrification25 kV AC 50 Hz
Operating speed110 km/h (68 mph)
Route map

This line covers entire Districts of Malabar region in Kerala except Wayanad district and terminates at Dakshina Kannada District of Karnataka after crossing the Nethravathi River.

The ShoranurMangalore section is a strategic route and the lifeline of Malabar's economy that interconnects the important cities of this regions and also serves as a threshold to Tulu Nadu, Konkan and Mumbai from Kerala.[2]

History edit

This railway line came into existence through South West line of Madras Railway a private colonial rail enterprise that existed in British Raj.[3]

The first section of this line was established between Tirur and Beypore in 12 March 1861 and this line was 30.5 km (19 miles) long.[4] This happens to be the first railway line in present day Kerala.

This line was subsequently extended 14.5 km till Kuttippuram on 1 May 1861 and from there till Pattambi for a distance of 37 km in 23 September 1862 so as to link with 105 km long Pattambi - Podanur section which got commissioned on 14 April 1862. In 2 January 1888 the rail head at Beypore was abolished and line was extended to Kozhikode via Ferok.[5] The line was further extended till Mangalore in phases by 1907. On 31 August 1956 this entire section came under Palakkad railway division.[6]

In 1998, following the opening of Konkan railways, many trains like Thiruvananthapuram Rajdhani Express, Marusagar Express etc. were routed through this section.

In 2014, this section got completely converted to double line traffic and by 2017 entire section got completely electrified.[7][8] On 25 April 2023, Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi flagged of the first Vande Bharat Express through this route between Thiruvananthapuram and Kasaragod.[9]

Accidents edit

See also edit

References edit

  1. ^ Budget Archived 23 August 2010 at the Wayback Machine, Southern Railway, Retrieved 3 October 2018
  2. ^ Sailent Features[permanent dead link], Southern Railway, Retrieved 3 October 2018
  3. ^ Records of the Madras Railway Company. <corpname>Madras Railway Company</corpname>. 1852–1937.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: others (link)
  4. ^ "'Lifeline' of Malabar turns 125". The Hindu. 28 December 2012. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 3 May 2023.
  5. ^ "A milestone". The Hindu. 19 October 2012. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 3 May 2023.
  6. ^ "History of Palakkad Division" (PDF).
  7. ^ Sastry, Anil Kumar (13 February 2017). "Mangaluru-Shoranur electrified rly. line awaits safety clearance". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 3 May 2023.
  8. ^ "Mangalore-Shoranur track doubling complete, commissioned". The Times of India. 27 January 2014. ISSN 0971-8257. Retrieved 3 May 2023.
  9. ^ "PM to flag off Thiruvananthapuram-Kasaragod Vande Bharat today. Details here". mint. 24 April 2023. Retrieved 3 May 2023.
  10. ^ "Religious Celebrants Hit by Train, 26 Dead". AP NEWS. Retrieved 3 May 2023.