Jolarpettai–Shoranur line

The Jolarpettai–Shoranur line is a 5 ft 6 in (1,676 mm) broad gauge railway line connecting Jolarpettai in Tamil Nadu and Shoranur in Kerala. Incoming from Chennai, the railway line branches from the Chennai Central–Bangalore City line at Jolarpettai and proceeds towards Shoranur before further radiating out.

Jolarpettai–Shoranur line
Line passing through Coimbatore Junction, 1930s
Overview
StatusOperational
OwnerIndian Railways
LocaleTamil Nadu, Kerala
Service
Operator(s)Southern Railway
Depot(s)Erode (Electric, Diesel)
Rolling stockIndian Railways coaching stock
History
Opened1861
Technical
Line length366 km (227 mi) (Main)
Track gauge5 ft 6 in (1,676 mm) broad gauge
Electrification25 kV AC Overhead catenary
Operating speed130 km/h (81 mph)
Route map
Jolarpettai–Shoranur line
km
km
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
Belandur Road
197
39
Dasampatti
Karmelaram
194
Heelalige
183
Anekal Road
173
48
Dodampatti
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
88
Lokur
Sivadi
55
Muttampatti
47
97
Danishpet
Toppur
35
104
Tinapatti
Karuvalli
23
Mettur Dam
39
114
Karuppur
Mecheri Road
27
Tolasampatti
19
Omalur
11
Magnesite
3
117
Magnesite
Salem
0
120
Salem
to Vriddhachalam
Salem Steel plant
to Karur
128
Neykkarapatti
131
Virapandy Road
142
Magudanchavadi
154
Mavelipalaiyam
159
Sankaridurg
India Cements factory
167
Anangur
177
Cauvery
182
Erode Junction
189
Totiyapalayam
196
Perundurai
201
Ingur
209
Vijayamangalam
219
Uttukuli
222
Kulipalayam
232
Tiruppur
240
Vanjipalayam
250
Somanur
259
Sulur Road
265
Irugur
Singanallur
14
282
Podanur
Pilamedu
9
0
Coimbatore Main
Coimbatore North
3
Periyanayikanpalayam
17
Karaimadal
28
Mettupalayam
36
to Pollachi
ACC Limited plant
286
Madukkarai
291
Ettimadai
300
Walayar
304
Chullimada
311
Kanjikode
319
Kottekad
326
Palakkad
to Pollachi
334
Parli
342
Mankara
349
Lakkidi
353
Palappuram
357
Ottappalam
364
Mannanur
370
Shoranur
km

History

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The Madras Railway was established in 1845 and the construction on the first main line in South India between Royapuram in Madras and Arcot started in 1853, which became operational on 1 July 1856.[1] Madras Railway extended its trunk route from Madras to Beypore near Kozhikode in 1862. The line passed through Jolarpettai connecting Coimbatore before passing through the Palghat gap and proceeded towards Shoranur.[2][3] In 1908, Madras Railway merged with Southern Mahratta Railway to form the Madras and Southern Mahratta Railway.[4][5] In April 1951, the line became part of the Southern Railway zone after the Indian Railways was re-organized into six zonal systems.[6]

Stations and depots

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There are two locomotive sheds operated by Southern Railway at Erode. The Diesel Loco Shed holds WDM-3D, WAP-1, WAP-4, WAG-5 and WAG-7 locomotives. The Electric Loco Shed holds WAG-7, WAP-4 and WAP-7 locomotives.[7] There is a trip shed at Jolarpettai and a MEMU shed at Palakkad.[7][8] Coimbatore, Salem, Erode and Palakkad, on the line, are among the major and top booking stations of the Indian Railways.[9]

Network

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Jolarpettai–Shoranur line is a 5 ft 6 in (1,676 mm) broad gauge railway line stretching for 366 km (227 mi) from Jolarpettai in Tamil Nadu to Shoranur in Kerala. The main line is classified as a "Group B" line where trains can oeprate at speeds upto 130 km/h (81 mph).[10] The line connects with several other main and branch lines:[11]

Line Start End Type Gauge Electrified No. of Lines Length Connection with Line Operator Established
Chennai Central-Bangalore City Chennai Central Bangalore City Main Broad Yes 2 213 km (132 mi) Jolarpettai SR 1864[12]
Shoranur-Mangalore Shoranur Mangalore 315 km (196 mi) Shoranur
Shoranur-Ernakulam Cochin Harbour 107 km (66 mi)
Salem-Mettur Dam Salem Mettur Dam Branch 38.9 km (24.2 mi) Salem 1929
Salem-Dindigul Dindigul 1 159 km (99 mi) 2013[13]
Salem-Virudhachalam Virudhachalam 139 km (86 mi) 1931
Omalur-Yesvantpur Omalur Yesvantpur No 194 km (121 mi) Omalur SWR 1969[14]
Erode-Tiruchirappalli Erode Tiruchirappalli Yes 141 km (88 mi) Erode SR 1866
Coimbatore North-Mettupalayam Coimbatore North Mettupalayam 32.8 km (20.4 mi) Coimbatore North 1873[15]
Podanur-Irugur Podanur Irugur 10.9 km (6.8 mi) Podanur 1873[15]
Podanur-Pollachi Pollachi 40 km (25 mi)
Palakkad–Pollachi line Palakkad 57.8 km (35.9 mi) Palakkad 1932
Shoranur -Nilambur line Shoranur Nilambur Road 65.8 km (40.9 mi) Shoranur

The mainline operates on 25 kV AC overhead catenary and was electrified in stages, starting with the Jolarpettai–Morappur sector in 1989–90. Electrification was completed from Morappur to Salem Junction in 1990–91 and was extended to Erode Junction in 1991–92, Coimbatore Junction in 1995–96, and Shoranur in 1996–97. The branch lines were electrified in different stages starting from the Magnesite–Mettur Dam sector in 1990–91 to the Coimbatore–Mettupalayam branch line in 2015.[16][17]

References

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  1. ^ "On Forgotten Road". The Times of India. 31 March 2013. Archived from the original on 12 August 2023. Retrieved 9 August 2023.
  2. ^ "Podanur - welcoming in the first train". The Hindu. 22 September 2016. Archived from the original on 23 April 2021. Retrieved 1 June 2024.
  3. ^ "IR History–Early days". IRFCA. Archived from the original on 7 March 2005. Retrieved 23 December 2013.
  4. ^ "Third oldest railway station in country set to turn 156". Indian Railways. Archived from the original on 8 July 2012. Retrieved 13 February 2013.
  5. ^ The Cambridge Economic History of India. Vol. 2. Orient Longmans Private Limited. 2005. p. 755. ISBN 978-8-1250-2731-7.
  6. ^ "Southern Railways, about us". Southern Railway. Archived from the original on 16 September 2023. Retrieved 12 August 2023.
  7. ^ a b "Sheds and Workshops". IRFCA. Archived from the original on 22 August 2006. Retrieved 23 December 2013.
  8. ^ "Memu rakes yet to reach Kerala". Deccan Chronicle. 18 May 2018. Archived from the original on 27 September 2023. Retrieved 27 September 2023.
  9. ^ "Indian Railways Passenger Reservation Enquiry". IRFCA. Archived from the original on 10 May 2014. Retrieved 23 December 2013.
  10. ^ "Chapter II : The Maintenance of Permanent Way". Archived from the original on 3 December 2013. Retrieved 23 December 2013.
  11. ^ Southern Railway Route Map (PDF) (Report). Indian Railways. Archived (PDF) from the original on 12 August 2023. Retrieved 12 August 2023.
  12. ^ Shekhar, Divya (3 August 2017). "Date with History: In 1864, first train chugged from Cantonment to Jolarpettai". The Economic Times. Archived from the original on 13 November 2020. Retrieved 1 June 2024.
  13. ^ "New passenger train chugs into grand reception at Karur junction". The Hindu. 26 May 2013. Archived from the original on 19 July 2023. Retrieved 11 December 2023.
  14. ^ "The Kolar District Railway - Ian Manning on the Indian Railways: 1965-1969". IRFCA. Archived from the original on 2 December 2022. Retrieved 1 May 2023.
  15. ^ a b Nilgiri Mountain Railway (PDF) (Report). Indian Railways. Archived (PDF) from the original on 28 May 2024. Retrieved 1 June 2024.
  16. ^ "History of Electrification". IRFCA. Archived from the original on 19 October 2013. Retrieved 23 December 2013.
  17. ^ "Coimbatore–Mettupalayam electric train service commences". The Economic Times. Archived from the original on 18 January 2024. Retrieved 1 May 2024.