MADURAI JN

Southern Railway lays down Road map to increase maximum permissible speed of trains running o­n key routes in Tamil Nadu

Southern Railway submits DPR to Railway Board for increasing speed to 160 kmph in Chennai- Bengaluru Route

Southern Railway is taking steadfast measures to increase the maximum permissible speed of trains o­n key routes in Tamil Nadu.  As part of systematic and planned efforts to strengthen track, traction, and signaling systems, the zone focuses o­n upgrading speed in the Group A and Golden Quadrilateral- Golden Diagonal (GQ-GD) routes as well as the identified Group B routes in Tamil Nadu. Group A and Group B routes are those Railway lines in which the speed can be maximum increased to 160kmph and 130 kmph respectively, as per Railway Manual.

Chennai –Renigunta Section

In Chennai – Renigunta section (134.78 Km) falling under Group B, also a Golden Quadrilateral route, works for speed enhancement from the existing 110 Kmph to 130 Kmph have been completed already.  Upon receiving sanction from the Commissioner of Railway Safety, the section is targeted for speed upgradation, in the current financial year.

Once the speed enhancement is sanctioned, trains running o­n these important routes in Tamil Nadu will be operated at higher speeds greatly easing the travel time for passengers.

Other Group-B Routes

Speed enhancement works are in progress in Arakkonam – Jolarpettai, Jolarpettai – Podanur and Chennai – Dindigul sections (Group B routes).  It is proposed to increase the maximum permissible speed from the existing 110 Kmph to 130 Kmph in these sections.  Especially, in Arakkonam – Jolarpettai (144.54 Km) section, the targeted date for completion of speed enhancement works is now advanced to March 2023 as this crucial section handles  premium trains like Vande Bharat  and Shatabti trains. 

Increasing Speed to 110 kmph

During the current year 2022-23 and till date, various infrastructural upgradation works have been completed and the maximum permissible speed has been increased to 110 Kmphin the sections of  Vriddhachalam – Salem from 80 Kmph, Thanjavur – Ponmalai from 100 Kmph, Villupuram – Katpadifrom 50-80 Kmph, Nagercoil – Tirunelvelifrom 100 Kmph, Villupuram – Puducherryfrom100 Kmph, Thanjavur – Karaikalfrom 50-90 Kmph, Coimbatore North –Mettupalayamfrom 90 Kmph.

It is proposed to enhance the maximum permissible speed to 110 Kmph during the remaining period of 2022-23 in the sections of Arakkonam – Chengalpattu (75/90 Kmph*), Tirunelveli – Tiruchendur (70 Kmph*), Tambaram – Chengalpattu (100 Kmph*), Tirunelveli – Tenkasi (70 Kmph*), Salem – Karur- Namakkal (100 Kmph*), Cuddalore Port – Vriddhachalam (60/75), Dindigul – Pollachi (100 Kmph*) and Madurai – VanchiManiyachchi (100 Kmph*) sections.

 *Existing speed of the section

Speed enhancement works

The work speed enhancement involves a comprehensive upgradation of all the infrastructure required for train operations. Major work to be undertaken are listed below:

·Complete track renewal work - replacing track with 60 kg rail wherever required.

·Strengthening of bridges

·Easing of curves wherever feasible

·Barricading or construction of walls at locations where there is heavy trespassing.

·Improving signalling system by providing automatic signalling /double distancing signal

·Improving OHE infrastructure- removing of infringement to enhance the speed

Chennai-Gudur Section now at 130 kmph

Chennai – Gudur section (134.3 Km), which is categorized as Group A Golden Quadrilateral route  was authorized fit for running trains at 130 Kmph o­n 5^thOCtober 2022. With this, the section became the first section in Southern Railway capable of handling trains at 130 Kmph.   Prior to the speed upgrade,a series of trial runs were conducted by Railways and RDSO for assessing the fitness of tracks, traction, signals and rolling stock. And in compliance with all the requirements laid down, the section is now equipped to handle trains at 130 Kmph.

DPR Submitted to Railway Board

Southern Railway has prepared a Detailed Project Report (DPR) for increasing the speed in the Chennai-Bengaluru Section to 160 kmph and the same has been submitted to Railway board.Similarly Detailed Project Report (DPR) for Chennai - Gudur, Chennai – Renigunta sections for 160kmph are also submitted to Railway Board by nominated nodal Railways.

Railway Board had approved-in-principle for up gradation of speed to 160 kmph in eight routes of Indian Railways networks.  Various Zonal Railways were nominated as Nodal Railway for preparation of Detail Project Report.  Southern Railway was nominated as nodal railway for preparation of DPR for Chennai – Bengaluru (362 kms) route.

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Tender has been awarded for Redevelopment of Kanniyakumari railway station at a cost of Rs.49.36 Crores

Revamped Kanniyakumari Station to house world-class infrastructure and state-of-the-art facilities for passengers

Soon, Kanniyakumari railway station will be identified o­n the map of redeveloped railway stations.  Work tender for redevelopment of Kanniyakumari railway station has been awarded at a cost of Rs.49.36 Crores and Letter of Acceptance (LOA) has been issued o­n 23-11-2022.  The station, functioning under Thiruvananthapuram Division of Southern Railway, will offer airport-like experience for rail passengers with futuristic infrastructure and novel amenities upon redevelopment.

 The revamped station will house the following facilities:

·Futuristic World-class amenities promising to meet the requirements of next 40 to 60 years

·Seamless movement of passengers by separate Arrival and Departure corridor

·Aesthetically designed stations with facade lighting arrangements, good illuminationand landscaping

·Dedicated Parking lots for streamlined movement of different categories of vehicles and pedestrians in exclusive lanesand multi level vehicle parking wherever feasible.

·Inter-modal connectivity

·Hassle-free access to all platforms by escalators, lifts, stairways, skywalks

·Spacious concourse(Roof Plaza), waiting halls, acoustically designed and soothing public announcement system, coverage of entire area by CCTV cameras

·Differently-abled friendly modern stations

·Efficient water & energy management measures

·Clear cut division of Train operation facilities and Passenger amenities

·Spacious Entrance Lobby with Ticketing facility

·State of the Art External Façade & landscaping

·Platforms well connected with Sub-ways, adequate parking facilities

Including Kanniyakumari, Southern Railway has so far awarded tenders for redevelopment of 9 railway stations –, Chennai Egmore, Katpadi Jn , Madurai Jn, Rameswaram (Total- 5 in Tamil Nadu) ErnakulamJn, Ernakulam Town, Kollam (Three in Kerala) and Puducherry.

Redevelopment of other Stations in SR

Southern Railway has also undertaken feasibility study for preparation of Detailed Project Report (DPR) for 4 stations, viz., Kumbakonam, TirunelveliJn (2 in Tamil Nadu), Chengannur and Thrissur (2 in Kerala).

RLDA had undertaken a feasibility study for preparation of Detailed Project Report (DPR) for 8 stations, viz., Puratchi Thalaivar Dr.M.G. Ramachandran Central, Tambaram, Avadi, Coimbatore Jn (4 in Tamil Nadu), Thiruvananthapuram Central, Varkala, Kozhikode (3 in Kerala) and Mangalore Central in Karnataka.

Further 38 stations in Southern Railway have been identified for redevelopment and techno economic feasibility study is to be undertaken after final approval from the Railway board.

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