>Vatsmaxed: /* top */updated template, replaced: Broad gauge → {{Track gauge|5ft6in|lk=on}} broad gauge

2021-06-24T12:19:15Z

top: updated template, replaced: Broad gauge → {{Track gauge|5ft6in|lk=on}} broad gauge

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{{short description|Railway route in India}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2016}}
{{Use Indian English|date=January 2016}}
{{Infobox rail line
| box_width =
| name = Howrah–Chennai main line
| color =
| logo =
| logo_width =
| image = File:(Howrah - Chennai) Mail Express Route map.jpg
| image_width = 230px
| caption = Howrah–Chennai railway route
| type =
| system =
| status = Operational
| locale = [[West Bengal]], [[Odisha]],<br/>[[Andhra Pradesh]], [[Tamil Nadu]]
| start = [[Howrah railway station|Howrah]]
| end = [[Puratchi Thalaivar Dr. M.G. Ramachandran Central Railway Station]]
| stations =
| routes =
| daily_ridership =
| open = 1901
| close =
| owner = [[Indian Railways]]
| operator = [[South Eastern Railway zone|South Eastern Railway]], [[East Coast Railway zone|East Coast Railway]], [[South Central Railway zone|South Central Railway]], [[Southern Railway zone|Southern Railway]]
| character =
| depot =
| stock =
| linelength = {{convert|1661|km|mi|0|abbr=on}}
| tracklength =
| tracks = 2
| gauge = {{Track gauge|5ft6in|lk=on}} [[broad gauge]]
| old_gauge =
| minradius =
| racksystem =
| electrification = 2005 with 25 kV overhead line
| speed = up to 130 km/h (for Kharagpur–Vijayawada section) and up to 160 km/hr (for Howrah–Kharagpur and Vijayawada–Chennai sections)
| elevation =
| website =
| map = {{Howrah–Chennai main line}}
| map_state = collapsed
}}

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 {{convert|1661|km|mi}} across, [[West Bengal]], [[Odisha]], [[Andhra Pradesh]] and [[Tamil Nadu]].

==Sections==
The {{convert|1661|km|mi|0|abbr=on}} long trunk line has been treated in more detail in its sections:
# [[Howrah–Kharagpur line|Howrah–Kharagapur section]]
# [[Kharagpur–Khurda Road section]]
# [[Khurda Road–Visakhapatnam section]] (approximately {{cvt|430|km|mi}})
# [[Duvvada–Vijayawada section]] (approximately {{cvt|350|km|mi}}) (from {{stnlnk|Anakapalle}} south) [[South Coast Railway zone]]
# [[Vijayawada–Gudur section]] (approximately {{cvt|310|km|mi}}) [[South Coast Railway zone]]
# [[Gudur–Chennai section]] (approximately {{cvt|140|km|mi}}) (except {{stnlnk|Gudur Junction}}) [[Southern Railway zone]]

==Geography==
The Howrah–Chennai main line traverses the [[Eastern Coastal Plains]] crossing such major rivers as the [[Mahanadi]], [[Godavari River|Godavari]] and [[Krishna River|Krishna]]. The coastal plains lying between the [[Eastern Ghats]] and the [[Bay of Bengal]] are fertile agricultural lands with high density of population.<ref>{{cite web| url = http://www.kwintessential.co.uk/articles/india/Coastal-Plains-of-India/3029|title = Coastal Plains of India|publisher= Country facts – the world at your finger tips| access-date = 2013-01-17}}</ref><ref>{{cite web| url = http://www.zahie.com/categories/details/social-studies/the-coastal-plains-of-india.html|title = The Coastal Plains of India|publisher= Zahie.com| access-date = 2013-01-17}}</ref>

==History==
The [[Howrah–Delhi main line]] was the first trunk route in India connecting two metropolises. It was opened in 1866.<ref name=irfcai>{{cite web| url=http://www.irfca.org/faq/faq-hist.html| title=IR History: Early Days – I| work=Chronology of railways in India, Part 2 (1832–1865)| access-date = 27 October 2012 }}</ref> The second trunk route was [[Howrah–Allahabad–Mumbai line]], opened in 1870.<ref name=irfcaii>{{cite web| url=http://www.irfca.org/faq/faq-history2.html| title=IR History: Early Days – II| work=Chronology of railways in India, Part 2 (1870–1899)| access-date = 27 October 2012 }}</ref> The [[Howrah–Nagpur–Mumbai line]] was opened in 1900 as the third trunk route in the country. Close on its heels was the Howrah–Chennai main line in 1901.<ref name=ser>{{cite web|url=http://www.ser.indianrailways.gov.in/view_section.jsp?lang=0&id=0,1 |title=Major Events in the Formation of S.E. Railway |publisher=South Eastern Railway |access-date=19 February 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130401151628/http://www.ser.indianrailways.gov.in/view_section.jsp?lang=0&id=0%2C1 |archive-date=1 April 2013 |df=dmy-all }}</ref>

The first train service in southern India was operated from {{stnlnk|Royapuram}}/{{stnlnk|Vyasarpadi Jeeva}} in [[Chennai]] to [[Walajah Road railway station|Walajah Road]], near [[Vellore]], covering around {{convert|100|km|mi|0|abbr=on}} long, and operated by Madras Railway Company, on 1 July 1856. Several other lines were also developed.<ref name=irfcai/>
During the period 1893 to 1896, {{convert|1287|km|mi|0|abbr=on}} of the [[East Coast State Railway]], from {{stnlnk|Vijayawada Junction}} to [[Cuttack railway station|Cuttack]] was built and opened to traffic,<ref name=ser/><ref name="waltair"/> and construction of the Vijayawada–Chennai link in 1899 enabled the through running of trains along the eastern coast of India.<ref name=irfcaii/>[[Bengal Nagpur Railway]] was working on both the Howrah–Kharagpur and Kharagpur–Cuttack lines, completed the bridge over the [[Rupnarayan River|Rupnarayan]] in 1900 and the [[Mahanadi]] in 1901, thus completing the through connection between Chennai and Kolkata.<ref name=ser/>

===Railway reorganization===
The southern part of the East Coast State Railway (from Waltair to Vijayawada) was taken over by Madras Railway in 1901.<ref name=irfcaiii>{{cite web| url =http://www.irfca.org/faq/faq-history3.html |title = IR History: Part III (1900-1947)| publisher= IRFCA| access-date = 2013-01-19}}</ref> The {{convert|514|km|mi|0|abbr=on}} long northern portion of the East Coast line to Cuttack, including the branch line to [[Puri railway station|Puri]], was taken over by [[Bengal Nagpur Railway]] in 1902.<ref name=waltair>{{cite web | url = http://www.mannanna.com/mannannaArt1.html | title = History of Waltair Division | publisher = Mannanna.com | access-date = 2013-01-02 | url-status = dead | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20121011235936/http://www.mannanna.com/mannannaArt1.html | archive-date = 11 October 2012 | df = dmy-all }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.eastcoastrail.indianrailways.gov.in/view_section.jsp?lang=0&id=0,1,261 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110131114416/http://www.eastcoastrail.indianrailways.gov.in/view_section.jsp?lang=0&id=0%2C1%2C261 |url-status=dead |archive-date=31 January 2011 |title=History |publisher=East Coast Railway |access-date=2013-01-02 }}</ref>

In 1908 Madras Railway was merged with the Southern Mahratta Railway to form [[Madras and Southern Mahratta Railway]].<ref>{{cite book| url = https://books.google.com/books?id=d-4sgbfdutMC&q=Madras+Railway+merger&pg=PA755 |title =Railways|work=The Cambridge Economic History of India|year =2005|volume=2|page=755| publisher= Orient Longmans Private Limited|isbn =9788125027317| access-date = 2013-02-13 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web| url = http://indianrlys.wordpress.com/tag/royapuram-railway-station/ |title =Third oldest railway station in country set to turn 156 |publisher=Indian Railways Turn Around News | access-date = 2013-02-13 }}</ref>

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 zone|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 zone|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 zone|South Western Railway]], which was carved out of Southern Railway.<ref>{{cite web| url = http://www.irfca.org/faq/faq-geog.html#newzone |title = Geography – Railway Zones| publisher= IRFCA| access-date = 2013-01-23}}</ref>

The [[Bengal Nagpur Railway]] was nationalized in 1944.<ref name=irfcaiii/>[[Eastern Railway zone|Eastern Railway]] was formed on 14 April 1952 with the portion of [[East Indian Railway Company]] east of [[Mughalsarai]] and the Bengal Nagpur Railway.<ref name=zones>{{cite web| url = http://www.irfca.org/faq/faq-geog.html#newzone |title = Geography – Railway Zones| publisher= IRFCA| access-date = 2012-11-21 }}</ref> In 1955, [[South Eastern Railway zone|South Eastern Railway]] was carved out of Eastern Railway. It comprised lines mostly operated by BNR earlier.<ref name=zones/><ref name=irfca1v>{{cite web| url = http://www.irfca.org/faq/faq-history4.html |title = IR History: Part - IV (1947 - 1970)| publisher= IRFCA| access-date = 2012-11-21 }}</ref> Amongst the new zones started in April 2003 were [[East Coast Railway zone|East Coast Railway]] and [[South East Central Railway zone|South East Central Railway]]. Both these railways were carved out of South Eastern Railway.<ref name=zones/> Amongst the new zone to be started in April 2020 is [[South Coast Railway zone|South Coast Railway]] this railway was carved out of South Central Railway and East Coast Railway.<ref name=zones/>

==Electrification==
[[Howrah–Chennai Mail]] was the first train in South Eastern Railway to be hauled by a diesel engine ([[Indian locomotive class WDM-2|WDM-1]]) in 1965.<ref name=irfca1v/>

The Howrah–Chennai route was completely electrified by 2005.<ref>{{cite web| url = http://www.irfca.org/faq/faq-history7.html |title = IR History Part VII (2000-present) | publisher= IRFCA| access-date = 2013-01-23 }}</ref>

==Speed limits==
The New Delhi–Chennai Central line (Grand Trunk route), of which the Vijayawada–Chennai section is a part, and Howrah–Nagpur–Mumbai line, of which the Howrah–Kharagpur section is a part, are classified 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.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.indianrailways.gov.in/railwayboard/uploads/codesmanual/IRPWM/PermanentWayManualCh2_data.htm |title=Chapter II – The Maintenance of Permanent Way |access-date=2013-01-02 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131203030524/http://www.indianrailways.gov.in/railwayboard/uploads/codesmanual/IRPWM/PermanentWayManualCh2_data.htm |archive-date=3 December 2013 |df=dmy-all }}</ref>

==Passenger movement==
[[Howrah railway station|Howrah]], [[Kharagpur railway station|Kharagpur]], [[Balasore railway station|Balasore]], [[Cuttack railway station|Cuttack]], [[Bhubaneswar railway station|Bhubaneswar]], [[Brahmapur railway station|Brahmapur]], [[Vizianagaram railway station|Vizianagaram]], [[Visakhapatnam railway station|Visakhapatnam]], [[Rajahmundry railway station|Rajahmundry]], [[Eluru railway station|Eluru]], [[Vijayawada railway station|Vijayawada]], [[Nellore railway station|Nellore]], [[Gudur railway station|Gudur]] and [[Chennai Central railway station|Chennai Central]] on this line are amongst the top hundred booking stations of Indian Railway.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.indianrail.gov.in/7days_Avl.html |title=Indian Railways Passenger Reservation Enquiry |work=Availability in trains for Top 100 Booking Stations of Indian Railways |publisher=IRFCA |access-date=2012-12-30 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140510115649/http://www.indianrail.gov.in/7days_Avl.html |archive-date=10 May 2014 |df=dmy-all }}</ref>

==Golden quadrilateral==
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.<ref>{{cite web| url = http://www.irfca.org/faq/faq-geog.html#newzone |title = Geography – Railway Zones |work= Major routes| publisher= IRFCA| access-date = 5 March 2013}}</ref>

==References==
{{reflist|2}}

{{Indian Railways}}
|{{Railways in Eastern India}}
{{Railways in Southern India}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Howrah-Chennai main line}}
[[Category:5 ft 6 in gauge railways in India]]
[[Category:Rail transport in West Bengal]]
[[Category:Rail transport in Odisha]]
[[Category:Rail transport in Andhra Pradesh]]
[[Category:Rail transport in Tamil Nadu]]

Howrah–Chennai main line - Revision history

>Vatsmaxed: /* top */updated template, replaced: Broad gauge → {{Track gauge|5ft6in|lk=on}} broad gauge