Solapur–Guntakal section

Solapur–Guntakal section
Overview
Status Operational
Locale Maharashtra, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh
Termini Solapur
Guntakal
Services Mumbai-Chennai line
Operation
Opened 1871
Owner Indian Railway
Operator(s) Central Railway, South Central Railway, South Western Railway
Depot(s) Guntakal
Rolling stock WDM-2, WDM-3A, WDM-3D and WDG-3A locos
Technical
Track length Main line: 379 km (235 mi)
Branch lines:
Solapur-Gadag: 301 km (187 mi)
Wadi-Secunderabad: 185 km (115 mi)
Vikrabad-Bidar: 91 km (57 mi)
Number of tracks 2
Track gauge 1,676 mm (5 ft 6 in) broad gauge
Electrification Electrification in progress[1]
Operating speed Main line: up to 130 km/h
Highest elevation Main line:
Solapur 461 metres (1,512 ft)
Branch line:
Bijapur 597 metres (1,959 ft)

Raichur Railway Station is located on the Solapur–Guntakal section
Adoni Railway Station is located on the Solapur–Guntakal section

The Solapur–Guntakal section (also known as Solapur-Guntakal line) is part of the Mumbai-Chennai line. It connects Solapur in the Indian state of Maharashtra and Guntakal in Andhra Pradesh.

History

The Great Indian Peninsula Railway extended its Mumbai-Solapur line to Raichur in 1871 and worked on that line from 1865.[2][3] During the period 1861-1871 Madras Railway extended its Chennai-Arakonnam line to Raichur to join the GIPR line, thereby linking Mumbai and Chennai.[4]

The metre gauge Gadag-Hotgi section was opened in 1884 and the Hotgi-Sholapur section in 1887 by the Southern Mahratta Railway.[2][5] The line was converted to 1,676 mm (5 ft 6 in) wide broad gauge in 2008.[6]

The Wadi-Secunderabad line was built in 1874 with financing by the Nizam of Hyderabad. It later became part of Nizam's Guaranteed State Railway.[2]

The Vikrabad-Bidar 1,676 mm (5 ft 6 in) wide broad gauge line was opened in 1932.[7]

The 58 km (36 mi) long Raichur-Gadwal railway track was opened in 2013. Gadwal is on the Dhone-Kacheguda line.[8]

Construction of the 120 km (75 mi) long Gulbarga-Bidar link is progressing. It is expected to be operational by Aug 2017.[9][10]

Electrification

Electrification work is in progress in the Pune-Wadi-Guntakal sector. As on 1 November 2016, 386 km (240 mi) track is electrified and 255 km (158 mi) was shown as balance work.[11] Recently Wadi Guntakal electrification is completed.[12]

Speed limit

The Kalyan-Pune-Daund-Wadi-Secunderabad-Kazipet line and the Wadi-Adoni-Arrakonam-Chennai Central line are classified as 'Group B' lines and can take speeds up to 130 km/h (81 mph).[13]

The railway track in the Daund-Wadi sector is being doubled at a cost of Rs. 700 crore. This is expected to help in raising the speed limit from 130 to 140 km/h (81 to 87 mph).[14]

Sheds

Guntakal diesel loco shed was started as a metre gauge shed but after gauge conversions in Guntakal and Hubli divisions a broad gauge shed was opened in 1995. It houses WDM-2, WDM-3A, WDM-3D and WDG-3A locos. There is a routine overhaul depot for wagon maintenance at Raichur and a coaching maintenance depot at Guntakal.[15]

Passenger movement

Solapur is the only station on this line which is amongst the top hundred booking stations of Indian Railway.[16]

References

  1. ↑
  2. 1 2 3 Chronology of railways in India, Part 2 (1870-1899). "IR History: Early Days – II". IFCA. Retrieved 3 December 2013.
  3. ↑ "Sholapur District Gazetteer". Gazetteer department. Retrieved 9 December 2013.
  4. ↑ John Hurd, Ian J. Kerr, India’s Railway History: A Research Handbook, page 177
  5. ↑ "Sholapur District Gazetteer". Gazetteer department. Retrieved 9 December 2013.
  6. ↑ "Work completed on Gadag-Bagalkot gauge conversion". News on Projects.com, 8 December 2008. Retrieved 9 December 2013.
  7. ↑ "Chapter VII – Transport and Communications" (PDF). Railway lines opened for traffic in the state since 1861, page 290. Karnataka Government. Archived from the original (PDF) on 26 August 2013. Retrieved 19 December 2013.
  8. ↑ "Gadwal-Raichur rail line opening". The New Indian Express, 12 October 2013. Retrieved 9 December 2013.
  9. ↑ "Railway bridge across Bennethora to be complete in two years". The Hindu, 24 July 2013. Retrieved 9 December 2013.
  10. ↑ "Bidar-Gulbarga rail service". Infrastructure Today, January 2012. Retrieved 9 December 2013.
  11. ↑ "Brief on Railway Electrification". Electrification Work in Progress. Central Organisation for Railway Electrification. Retrieved 1 November 2016.
  12. ↑ "South Central Railway on track to cut travel time". 'The Hans India'. 2 August 2017. Retrieved 19 August 2017.
  13. ↑ "Chapter II – The Maintenance of Permanent Way". Retrieved 9 December 2013.
  14. ↑ "Doubling of track:Faster rail services by 2016". The New Indian Express, 4 November 2011. Retrieved 9 December 2013.
  15. ↑ "Sheds and Workshops". IRFCA. Retrieved 9 December 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 9 December 2013.
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