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Howrah–Chennai main line

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The Howrah–Chennai main line is a railway line connecting Chennai and Kolkata cutting across Eastern Coastal Plains of India. It covers a distance of 1,661 kilometres (1,032 mi) across, West Bengal, Odisha, Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu.

Howrah–Chennai main line
Howrah–Chennai railway route
Overview
StatusOperational
OwnerIndian Railways
LocaleWest Bengal, Odisha,
Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu
Termini
Service
Operator(s)South Eastern Railway, East Coast Railway, South Central Railway, Southern Railway
History
Opened1901
Technical
Line length1,661 km (1,032 mi)
Number of tracks2
Track gauge5 ft 6 in (1,676 mm) broad gauge
Electrification2005 with 25 kV overhead line
Operating speedup to 130 km/h
Route map

Legend
km
0
 Howrah
116
 Kharagpur
to Adra
to
Howrah–Nagpur–
Mumbai line
Kharagpur–Puri line
West Bengal
Odisha
border
231
 Balasore
294
 Bhadrak
337
 Jajpur Keonjhar Road
Mahanadi
409
 Cuttack
437
 Bhubaneswar
456
 Khurda Road
to Puri
Khurda Road–
Visakhapatnam section
527
 Balugaon
582
 Chatrapur
603
 Brahmapur
Odisha
Andhra Pradesh
border
603
 Ichchapuram
645
 Sompeta
678
 Palasa
703
 Naupada
751
 Srikakulam Road
789
 Chipurupalle
to
Jharsuguda–
Vizianagaram line
820
 Vizianagaram
881
 Visakhapatnam Junction
Duvvada–
Vijayawada section
914
 Anakapalle
977
 Tuni
994
 Annvaram
1,031
 Samalkot
1,081
 Rajahmundry
Godavari River
1,103
 Nidadavolu
1,123
 Tadepalligudem
1,170
 Eluru
to
Kazipet–
Vijayawada section
1,230
 Vijayawada Junction
to
Vijayawada–Nidadavolu
loop line
Krishna River
Vijayawada–
Gudur section
to Guntur–Tenali section
1,230
 Tenali
to
Tenali–Repalle
branch line
1,304
 Bapatla
1,319
 Chirala
1,369
 Ongole
1,485
 Nellore
1,523
 Gudur
Gudur–Chennai section
Andhra Pradesh
Tamil Nadu
border
1,661
 Chennai Central
km
Sources:

Sections

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The 1,661 km (1,032 mi) long trunk line has been treated in more detail in its sections:

  1. Howrah–Kharagapur section (approximately 115 km (71 mi)
  2. Kharagpur–Khurda Road section (approximately 363.1 km (225.6 mi)
  3. Khurda Road–Visakhapatnam section (approximately 430 km (270 mi))
  4. Nidadavole–Narsapuram section
  5. Duvvada–Vijayawada section (approximately 350 km (220 mi)) (from Anakapalle south) South Coast Railway zone
  6. Vijayawada–Gudur section (approximately 310 km (190 mi)) South Coast Railway zone
  7. Gudur–Chennai section (approximately 140 km (87 mi)) (except Gudur Junction) Southern Railway zone

Geography

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The Howrah–Chennai main line traverses the Eastern Coastal Plains crossing such major rivers as the Mahanadi, Godavari and Krishna. The coastal plains lying between the Eastern Ghats and the Bay of Bengal are fertile agricultural lands with high density of population.[1][2]

History

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The Howrah–Delhi main line was the first trunk route in India connecting two metropolises. It was opened in 1866.[3] The second trunk route was Howrah–Prayagraj–Mumbai line, opened in 1870.[4] The Howrah–Nagpur–Mumbai line was opened in 1900 as the third trunk route in the country. Close on its heels was the Howrah–Madras main line in 1901.[5]

The first train service in southern India was operated from Royapuram/Vyasarpadi Jeeva in Chennai to Walajah Road, near Vellore, covering around 100 km (62 mi) long, and operated by Madras Railway Company, on 1 July 1856. Several other lines were also developed.[3] During the period 1893 to 1896, 1,287 km (800 mi) of the East Coast State Railway, from Vijayawada Junction to Cuttack was built and opened to traffic,[5][6] and construction of the Vijayawada–Madras link in 1899 enabled the through running of trains along the eastern coast of India.[4]Bengal Nagpur Railway was working on both the Howrah–Kharagpur and Kharagpur–Cuttack lines, completed the bridge over the Rupnarayan in 1900 and the Mahanadi in 1901, thus completing the through connection between Chennai and Kolkata.[5]

Railway reorganization

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The southern part of the East Coast State Railway (from Waltair to Vijayawada) was taken over by Madras Railway in 1901.[7] The 514 km (319 mi) long northern portion of the East Coast line to Cuttack, including the branch line to Puri, was taken over by Bengal Nagpur Railway in 1902.[6][8]

In 1908 Madras Railway was merged with the Southern Mahratta Railway to form Madras and Southern Mahratta Railway.[9][10]

In the early 1950s legislation was passed authorizing the central government to take over independent railway systems that were there. On 14 April 1951 the Madras and Southern Mahratta Railway, the South Indian Railway Company and Mysore State Railway were merged to form Southern Railway. Subsequently, Nizam's Guaranteed State Railway was also merged into Southern Railway. On 2 October 1966, the Secunderabad, Solapur, Hubli and Vijayawada Divisions, covering the former territories of Nizam's Guaranteed State Railway and certain portions of Madras and Southern Mahratta Railway were separated from Southern Railway to form the South Central Railway. In 1977, Guntakal division of Southern Railway was transferred to South Central Railway and the Solapur division transferred to Central Railway. Amongst the seven new zones created in 2010 was South Western Railway, which was carved out of Southern Railway.[11]

The Bengal Nagpur Railway was nationalized in 1944.[7]Eastern Railway was formed on 14 April 1952 with the portion of East Indian Railway Company east of Mughalsarai and the Bengal Nagpur Railway.[12] In 1955, South Eastern Railway was carved out of Eastern Railway. It comprised lines mostly operated by BNR earlier.[12][13] Amongst the new zones started in April 2003 were East Coast Railway and South East Central Railway. Both these railways were carved out of South Eastern Railway.[12] Amongst the new zone to be started in April 2020 is South Coast Railway this railway was carved out of South Central Railway and East Coast Railway.[12]

The line was the site of one of India's worst rail disasters, the 2023 Odisha train collision.

Electrification

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Howrah–Chennai Mail was the first train in South Eastern Railway to be hauled by a diesel engine (WDM-1) in 1965.[13]

The Howrah–Chennai route was completely electrified by 2005.[14]

Speed limits

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The New Delhi –Chennai Central line of which the Vijayawada–Chennai section is a part, and Howrah–Nagpur–Mumbai line, of which the Howrah–Kharagpur section is a part, are planned to be upgraded as "Group A" lines which can take speeds up to 160 km/h. The Kharagpur-Vijayawada sector is classified as a Group B line which can take speeds up to 130 km/h.[15]

Passenger movement

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The main passenger train services along this line are the Howrah–Chennai Mail and the Coromandel Express. Howrah, Kharagpur, Balasore, Cuttack, Bhubaneswar, Brahmapur, Vizianagaram, Visakhapatnam, Rajahmundry, Eluru, Vijayawada, Nellore, Gudur and Chennai Central on this line are amongst the top hundred booking stations of Indian Railway.[16]

Golden quadrilateral

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The Howrah–Chennai main line is a part of the golden quadrilateral. The routes connecting the four major metropolises (New Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai and Kolkata), along with their diagonals, known as the golden quadrilateral, carry about half the freight and nearly half the passenger traffic, although they form only 16 per cent of the length.[17]

References

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  1. ^ "Coastal Plains of India". Country facts – the world at your finger tips. Archived from the original on 30 May 2013. Retrieved 17 January 2013.
  2. ^ "The Coastal Plains of India". Zahie.com. Archived from the original on 18 September 2019. Retrieved 17 January 2013.
  3. ^ a b "IR History: Early Days – I". Chronology of railways in India, Part 2 (1832–1865). Retrieved 27 October 2012.
  4. ^ a b "IR History: Early Days – II". Chronology of railways in India, Part 2 (1870–1899). Retrieved 27 October 2012.
  5. ^ a b c "Major Events in the Formation of S.E. Railway". South Eastern Railway. Archived from the original on 1 April 2013. Retrieved 19 February 2012.
  6. ^ a b "History of Waltair Division". Mannanna.com. Archived from the original on 11 October 2012. Retrieved 2 January 2013.
  7. ^ a b "IR History: Part III (1900-1947)". IRFCA. Retrieved 19 January 2013.
  8. ^ "History". East Coast Railway. Archived from the original on 31 January 2011. Retrieved 2 January 2013.
  9. ^ Railways. Vol. 2. Orient Longmans Private Limited. 2005. p. 755. ISBN 9788125027317. Retrieved 13 February 2013. {{cite book}}: |work= ignored (help)
  10. ^ "Third oldest railway station in country set to turn 156". Indian Railways Turn Around News. Retrieved 13 February 2013.
  11. ^ "Geography – Railway Zones". IRFCA. Retrieved 23 January 2013.
  12. ^ a b c d "Geography – Railway Zones". IRFCA. Retrieved 21 November 2012.
  13. ^ a b "IR History: Part - IV (1947 - 1970)". IRFCA. Retrieved 21 November 2012.
  14. ^ "IR History Part VII (2000-present)". IRFCA. Retrieved 23 January 2013.
  15. ^ "Chapter II – The Maintenance of Permanent Way". Archived from the original on 3 December 2013. Retrieved 2 January 2013.
  16. ^ "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 30 December 2012.
  17. ^ "Geography – Railway Zones". Major routes. IRFCA. Retrieved 5 March 2013.
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