Southern Railway zone: Difference between revisions

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{{short description|Railway zone of Indian Railways}}
{{short description|Railway zone of Indian Railways}}
{{Other uses|Southern Railway (disambiguation)}}
{{Other uses|Southern Railway (disambiguation)}}
{{coord|13.08240|N|80.27705|E|display=title}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2020}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2020}}
{{Use Indian English|date=August 2020}}
{{Use Indian English|date=August 2020}}
{{Infobox rail
{{Infobox rail
| railroad_name    = Southern Railway
| railroad_name    = Southern Railway
| logo_filename    = File:Shortened form of Southern Railway zone of India.jpg
| logo_filename    =Southern Railway Zone.svg
| logo_size        = 80px
| logo_size        = 130px
| map_size          =  
| map_size          = 300px
| marks            =  
| marks            = SR
| image            = Indianrailwayzones-numbered.png
| image            = Indianrailwayzones-numbered.png
| image_size        =
| image_size        =
| image_caption    = 7-Southern Railway
| image_caption    = 7-Southern Railway
| locale            = [[Tamil Nadu]], [[Kerala]], [[Andhra Pradesh]], [[Karnataka]] and [[Puducherry (union territory)|Puducherry]]
| regions          = [[South India]]
| start_year        = {{start date and age|1951}}
| locale            = [[Tamil Nadu]], parts of [[Kerala]], Southern parts of [[Andhra Pradesh]], [[Karnataka]], & [[Puducherry (union territory)|Puducherry]],
| start_year        = {{start date and age|14 April 1950}}
| end_year          =
| end_year          =
| predecessor_line  = [[South Indian Railway Company]]<br />[[Madras and Southern Mahratta Railway]]<br />[[Mysore State Railway]]
| predecessor_line  = [[South Indian Railway Company|South Indian Railway]] <br />[[Madras and Southern Mahratta Railway]] <br /> [[Mysore State Railway]]
| successor_line    =
| successor_line    = Southern Railway<br />[[South Coast Railway zone|South Coast Railway]]<br />[[South Central Railway Zone|South Central Railway]]<br />[[South Western Railway Zone|South Western Railway]]
| gauge            = Broad gauge and Metre gauge
| gauge            = [[Broad gauge]]
| old_gauge        =
| old_gauge        = [[Metre gauge]]<br />[[Narrow gauge]]
| electrification  = Yes
| electrification  = [[25 kV AC]]
| length            = {{Convert|5081| km}} route<ref>{{cite web|title=Southern Railway vital statistics|url=http://www.sr.indianrailways.gov.in/cris//uploads/files/1547203315572-vital-statistics-2018.pdf|publisher=Southern Railway|access-date=20 January 2019}}</ref>
| stations          = 727
| hq_city          = [[Chennai]]
| speed            = {{cvt|130|kph}}
| website          = {{url|sr.indianrailways.gov.in}}
| length            = {{cvt|5081|km}} route<ref>{{cite web|title=Southern Railway vital statistics|url=http://www.sr.indianrailways.gov.in/cris//uploads/files/1547203315572-vital-statistics-2018.pdf|publisher=Southern Railway|access-date=20 January 2019|archive-date=20 January 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190120144312/http://www.sr.indianrailways.gov.in/cris//uploads/files/1547203315572-vital-statistics-2018.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref>
| headquarters      = [[Chennai]]
| notrack          = 9 (main lines)
| website          = {{URL|sr.indianrailways.gov.in|Southern Railway}}
}}
}}


The '''Southern Railway''' (abbreviated '''SR'''), headquartered at [[Chennai]], is one of the 18 zones of [[Indian Railways]]. It is the earliest of the 18 zones of the [[Indian Railways]] created in independent India. It was created on 14 April 1951 by merging three state railways, namely, the [[Madras and Southern Mahratta Railway]], the [[South Indian Railway Company]], and the [[Mysore State Railway]]. The South Indian Railway was originally created in the British colonial times as Great Southern India Railway Co founded in [[United Kingdom|Britain]] in 1853 and registered in 1859. Its original headquarters was in [[Tiruchirappalli]] (Trichy) and was registered as a company in [[London]] only in 1890. At present, after re-organization of existing railway zones and creation of new zones undertaken by the Indian Railways between 2002–03, Southern Railway has emerged as the 4th largest zone after undertaking some gauge conversion projects and creation of new lines.<ref name="srmain">{{cite web|url=http://www.hinduonnet.com/thehindu/thscrip/print.pl?file=2006070300250500.htm&date=2006/07/03/&prd=mp&|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090110031635/http://www.hinduonnet.com/thehindu/thscrip/print.pl?file=2006070300250500.htm&date=2006/07/03/&prd=mp&|url-status=dead|archive-date=10 January 2009|title=Origins of Southern Railway|publisher=www.hinduonnet.com|access-date=17 Jul 2008}}</ref>
'''Southern Railway''' (abbreviated '''SR''') is one of the [[Zones and divisions of Indian Railways|18 zones]] of [[Indian Railways]]. It is headquartered at [[Chennai]] and operates across the [[States of India|states]] of [[Tamil Nadu]], [[Kerala]], [[Karnataka]] , [[Andhra Pradesh]] and the [[Union Territories of India|union territory]] of [[Puducherry (union territory)|Puducherry]]. It maintains about {{cvt|5081|km}} of railway lines and operates 727 [[railway station]]s.
 
The origin of the Southern Railway can be traced back to the mid-19th century. In 1835, the first railway track in India was constructed in Madras and became operational in 1837. The [[Madras Railway]] was formally established later in 1845. The Southern Railway was created on 14 April 1950 by merging three state railways, namely, the [[Madras and Southern Mahratta Railway]], the [[South Indian Railway Company]], and the [[Mysore State Railway]] and became the first railway zone of the [[Indian Railways]].


==History==
==History==
{{see also|Timeline of Southern Railway zone}}
{{see also|Timeline of Southern Railway zone|Madras Railway}}
In 1944, all Railway companies were taken over by the Government. And three years later, when India woke up to independence in 1947, the stage was set for the integration of different Railways into smaller zones. In 1948, immediately after independence, there were as many as 42 different railway systems - a multiplicity of railway administrations, varying in size and standards.


The regrouping proposals put forward by the various committees were studied in great detail to ensure that a unification could be achieved with the least disturbance and dislocation. Important associations of railway-users, Chambers of Commerce and Industry, the State Governments and acknowledged experts both in India and abroad were fully consulted.
[[File:60The South Indian Railway.jpg|thumb|upright=0.8|left|Map of South Indian Railway in 1910]]


Shri [[N. Gopalaswami Ayyangar]] - the then Minister for Railways, was the principal architect of the regrouping of Indian Railways. In December 1950, the Central Advisory Committee for Railways approved the plan for Indian Railways into six Zonal systems, namely, the Northern, the North-Eastern, the Southern, the Central, the Eastern and the Western.
The history of the Southern Railway can be traced back to the [[Madras Railway]]. In 1832, the proposal to construct the first railway line in India at [[Madras]] was made by the [[British India|British]].<ref>{{cite report|url=https://indianrailways.gov.in/railwayboard/uploads/directorate/Heritage/2021/PDF/3%20Presentation%20Shradha%20Arora%20IRICEN%202019.pdf|title=Understanding Indian Railway Heritage|publisher=[[Indian Railways]]|page=6|access-date=1 December 2023|archive-date=26 December 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231226101121/https://indianrailways.gov.in/railwayboard/uploads/directorate/Heritage/2021/PDF/3%20Presentation%20Shradha%20Arora%20IRICEN%202019.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref> In 1835, the [[railway track]] was constructed between [[Chinnamalai|Little Mount]] and [[Chintadripet]] in [[Chennai|Madras]] and became operational in 1837.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/cities/chennai/2018/apr/16/chennai-the-track-record-1801999.html|title=Chennai: The track record|date=16 April 2018|newspaper=[[New Indian Express]]|access-date=9 August 2023|archive-date=12 August 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230812065026/https://www.newindianexpress.com/cities/chennai/2018/apr/16/chennai-the-track-record-1801999.html|url-status=live}}</ref> The [[Madras Railway]] was established later in 1845 and the construction on the first main line between Madras and [[Arcot]] started in 1853, which became operational in 1856.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/chennai/on-the-forgotten-track/articleshow/99129882.cms?from=mdr|title=On Forgotten Road|date=31 March 2013|newspaper=[[The Times of India]]|access-date=9 August 2023|archive-date=12 August 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230812065104/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/chennai/on-the-forgotten-track/articleshow/99129882.cms?from=mdr|url-status=live}}</ref> In 1908, [[Madras Railway]] merged with [[Southern Mahratta Railway]] to form the [[Madras and Southern Mahratta Railway]].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://indianrlys.wordpress.com/tag/royapuram-railway-station/|title=Third oldest railway station in country set to turn 156|publisher=[[Indian Railways]]|access-date =13 February 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=d-4sgbfdutMC&q=Madras+Railway+merger&pg=PA755|title=The Cambridge Economic History of India|volume=2|page=755|year =2005|publisher=Orient Longmans Private Limited|isbn=978-8-1250-2731-7}}</ref>


The Southern Railway zone {{convert|9654|km}} was the first zone to be formed.<ref>{{cite web|title=Origins and history of Southern Railway|url=http://shodhganga.inflibnet.ac.in/bitstream/10603/12705/10/10_chapter%202.pdf|access-date=14 February 2015}}</ref> Created on 14 April 1951 by the merger of the Madras and Southern Mahratta Railway, the South Indian Railway and the Mysore State Railway, the economic and geographical factors of this zone facilitated an early integrated network. This amalgamation was a major step towards streamlining and organizing the working pattern of the Railway system. The Railway Press at Royapuram was expanded during 1957.<ref>https://eparlib.nic.in/bitstream/123456789/1777/1/lsd_02_05_27-09-1958.pdf page 68</ref>
In 1944, all the railway companies operating in [[British India]] were taken over by the Government.<ref>{{cite report|url=http://www.indianrailways.gov.in/financecode/ADMIN_FINANCE/AdminFinanceCh1_Data.htm|title=Evolution of Indian Railways-Historical Background|publisher=[[Indian Railways]]|access-date=1 December 2023|archive-date=1 June 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090601024404/http://www.indianrailways.gov.in/financecode/ADMIN_FINANCE/AdminFinanceCh1_Data.htm|url-status=live}}</ref> Post [[Indian Independence Act 1947|Independence]], various re-grouping proposals were studied as there were 42 different railway systems. In December 1950, the Central Advisory Committee for Railways approved the plan for Indian Railways into six zonal systems and the Southern Railway zone was created on 14 April 1950 by merging three state railways, namely, the [[Madras and Southern Mahratta Railway]], the [[South Indian Railway Company]], and the [[Mysore State Railway]].<ref name="SR">{{cite web|url=https://sr.indianrailways.gov.in/view_section.jsp?lang=0&id=0,1|title=Southern Railways, about us|publisher=Southern Railway|access-date=12 August 2023|archive-date=16 September 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230916104302/https://sr.indianrailways.gov.in/view_section.jsp?lang=0&id=0,1|url-status=live}}</ref>


Shri K R Ramanujam was appointed the first General Manager of the newly formed Southern Railways.
==Organisation==
[[File:Southern_Railway_HQ.jpg|thumb|Southern Railway headquarters in [[Chennai]]]]


Divisional system of working on the Southern Railway was introduced in stages, and the dates on which the various Divisions started working are givenbelow:
Southern Railway zone covers the states of [[Tamil Nadu]], [[Kerala]], [[Puducherry (union territory)|Puducherry]] and a small portion of [[Andhra Pradesh]].<ref name="SR"/> [[Andaman and Nicobar Islands|Andaman and Nicobar]] will form part of the zone once the proposed new railway line between [[Port Blair]] and [[Diglipur]] becomes operational.<ref>{{cite news|date=6 February 2017|title=Railways to show green signal to a train in Andaman and Nicobar|url=https://indianexpress.com/article/india/railways-to-show-green-signal-to-a-train-in-andaman-and-nicobar-port-blair-diglipur-4509732/|access-date=12 August 2023|publisher=[[Indian Express]]|archive-date=12 August 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230812082551/https://indianexpress.com/article/india/railways-to-show-green-signal-to-a-train-in-andaman-and-nicobar-port-blair-diglipur-4509732/|url-status=live}}</ref>
{| class="wikitable"
 
The Southern Railway is headed by the General Manager, assisted by an Additional General Manager. Southern Railway is headquartered in Chennai and is divided into six divisions namely [[Chennai railway division|Chennai]], [[Tiruchirappalli railway division|Tiruchirappalli]], [[Madurai railway division|Madurai]], [[Palakkad railway division|Palakkad]], [[Salem railway division|Salem]] and [[Trivandrum railway division|Thiruvananthapuram]].<ref name="SR"/>
 
{|class="sortable wikitable"style="text-align:left
|-
!! style="background-color:#FFD700"| Name of Division
!! style="background-color:#FFD700"| Established
!! style="background-color:#FFD700"| Headquarters
!! style="background-color:#FFD700"| Comments
|-
| [[Vijayawada railway division|Bezawada]]
| 6-May-1956
| [[Vijayawada]]
| Moved to [[South Central Railway zone|SCR]] in 1966 and [[South Coast Railway zone|SCoR]] in 2019
|-
| [[Madurai railway division|Madurai]]
| 6-May-1956
| [[Madurai]]
|
|-
|-
!! style="background-color:#FFD700" | Name of Division
| [[Tiruchirappalli railway division|Tiruchirappalli]]
!! style="background-color:#FFD700" | Date
| 6-May-1956
| [[Tiruchirappalli]]
|  
|-
|-
| valign="top" |Bezwada
| [[Chennai railway division|Madras]]
| valign="top" |6-5-1958
| 1-August-1956
| [[Chennai]]
|
|-
|-
| valign="top" |Madura
| [[Palakkad railway division|Palakkad]]
| valign="top" |6-5-1956
| 4-August-1956
| [[Palakkad]]
| previously known as Olavacode. Formed from Podanur division.
|-
|-
| valign="top" |Trichinopoly
| [[Guntakal railway division|Guntakal]]
| valign="top" |1-6-1956
| 10-October-1956
| [[Guntakal]]
| Moved to [[South Central Railway zone|SCR]] in 1977 and [[South Coast Railway zone|SCoR]] in 2019
|-
|-
| valign="top" |Olavakkot
| [[Mysore railway division|Mysore]]
| valign="top" |4-8-1956
| 31-October-1956
| [[Mysuru]]
| Moved to [[South Western Railway zone|SWR]] in 2003
|-
|-
| valign="top" |Madras
| [[Hubli railway division|Hubli]]
| valign="top" |1-8-1956
| 31-October-1956
| [[Hubli]]
| Moved to [[South Central Railway zone|SCR]] in 1966 and [[South Western Railway zone|SWR]] in 2003
|-
|-
| valign="top" |Guntakal
| [[Bangalore railway division|Bangalore]]
| valign="top" |10-10-1956
| 31-October-1971
| [[Bangalore]]
| Moved to [[South Western Railway zone|SWR]] in 2003
|-
|-
| valign="top" |Mysore
| [[Thiruvananthapuram railway division|Thiruvananthapuram]]
| valign="top" |31-10-1956
| 2-October-1979
| [[Thiruvananthapuram]]
|
|-
|-
| valign="top" |Hubli
| [[Salem railway division|Salem]]
| valign="top" |31-10-1956<ref>https://eparlib.nic.in/bitstream/123456789/1668/1/lsd_02_04_07-03-1958.pdf page 37</ref>
| 14-November-2001
| [[Salem, Tamil Nadu|Salem]]
|
|-
|-
|}
|}


==Organisation==
==Operations and infrastructure==
The Southern Railway is headed by the General Manager Officer, assisted by an Additional General Manager.
The zone operates both passenger and freight trains. Various classes of passenger trains including [[Vande Bharat Express]], Amrit Bharat Express, [[Shatabdi Express]], Antyodaya Express, Double Decker Express and [[Tejas Express]] are operated by Southern Railways.<ref name="IR"/> Freight operations include container traffic from the ports, [[coal]] bound to the thermal power stations, [[oil]] and [[petroleum]] products from refineries, [[cement]] and food grains. Most of the lines inside ports, thermal stations, manufacturing industries and owned by the respective companies and the zone provides a link connecting to its network along with the wagons and locomotives. The zone has a larger proportion of passenger traffic compared to freight.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/chennai/southern-railway-punctuality-and-fiscal-performance-hit/articleshow/62666618.cms|title=Southern Railway punctuality and fiscal performance hit|newspaper=[[The Times of India]]|access-date=24 February 2018|archive-date=15 June 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180615133325/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/chennai/southern-railway-punctuality-and-fiscal-performance-hit/articleshow/62666618.cms|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/chennai/southern-railways-financial-and-operational-performance-dips/articleshow/60077695.cms|title=Southern Railway's financial and operational performance dips|newspaper=[[The Times of India]]|access-date=24 February 2018|archive-date=28 May 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180528174815/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/chennai/southern-railways-financial-and-operational-performance-dips/articleshow/60077695.cms|url-status=live}}</ref> There are about 727 stations on the Southern railway network.<ref name="SRS">{{cite web|type=pdf|url=https://sr.indianrailways.gov.in/cris//uploads/files/1659695525713-SR.pdf|title=Southern Railway stations|publisher=Indian Railways|access-date=12 August 2023|archive-date=23 December 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231223095122/https://sr.indianrailways.gov.in/cris//uploads/files/1659695525713-SR.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref>


==Divisions==
===Locomotives===
Southern Railway has its headquarters in Chennai and has the following six divisions:
[[File:Erode.png|thumb|A [[Electric Loco Shed, Erode|Erode]] [[Indian locomotive class WAP-7|WAP-7 locomotive]] of Southern Railway]]
 
[[File:NMR_37385_in_Delhi_05-02-17_M49.jpeg|thumb|A [[Nilgiri Mountain Railway X class|X class locomotive]] of the [[Nilgiri Mountain Railway]]]]
* [[Chennai railway division]]
Southern Railway utilizes various classes of [[electric locomotive|electric]] and [[diesel locomotive|diesel]] locomotives to haul the trains. [[Steam locomotives]] are used by the [[Nilgiri Mountain Railway]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Coimbatore/coonoor-loco-shed-viewing-gallery-opened-for-tourists/article29550658.ece|title=Coonoor loco shed opened for tourists|date=29 September 2019|access-date=12 August 2023|newspaper=[[The Hindu]]|archive-date=12 August 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230812094318/https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Coimbatore/coonoor-loco-shed-viewing-gallery-opened-for-tourists/article29550658.ece|url-status=live}}</ref> The zone has three [[electric locomotive]] sheds and four [[diesel locomotive]] sheds.<ref name="IRFCA">{{cite web|title=Sheds and Workshops – Southern Railway|url=https://irfca.org/faq/faq-shed.html|publisher=IRFCA|access-date=1 November 2023|archive-date=4 December 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231204040010/https://www.irfca.org/faq/faq-shed.html|url-status=live}}</ref>
*[[Tiruchirappalli railway division]]
{|class="sortable wikitable"style="text-align:left;"style="font-size: 85%"
* [[Madurai railway division]]
|-
* [[Palakkad railway division]]
!! style="background-color:#FFD700"| Name
* [[Salem railway division]]
!! style="background-color:#FFD700"| Location
* [[Trivandrum railway division]]
!! style="background-color:#FFD700"| Type
 
!! style="background-color:#FFD700"| Locomotive class
==Jurisdiction==
!! style="background-color:#FFD700"|Count
[[File:Indianrailwayzones-numbered.svg|thumb|Southern Railway Zone is denoted by 7]]
|-
It covers the states of [[Tamil Nadu]], [[Kerala]], [[Puducherry (union territory)|Puducherry]] and small portions of [[Andhra Pradesh]] and [[Karnataka]]. More than 50 [[crore]] passengers travel on the network every year.
| [[Electric Loco Shed, Arakkonam]]
 
| [[Arakkonam]]
== Operations ==
| [[Electric locomotive|Electric]]
The zone operates both passenger and freight trains. The biggest station of the Zone is [[Puratchi Thalaivar Dr. M.G. Ramachandran Central Railway Station]]. Other major stations of the Zone includes [[Chennai Egmore railway station|Chennai Egmore]], [[Arakkonam Junction railway station|Arakkonam Junction]], [[Katpadi Junction railway station|Katpadi]] Junction, [[Mangalore Central railway station|Mangalore Central]], [[Mangalore Junction railway station|Mangalore Jn.]], [[Coimbatore Junction railway station|Coimbatore]], [[Salem Junction|Salem]], [[Kumbakonam Railway station|Kumbakonam]], [[Dindigul Junction|Dindigul]], [[Palakkad Junction railway station|Palakkad]], [[Kozhikode railway station|Kozhikode]], [[Shoranur Junction railway station|Shoranur]], [[Ottapalam]], [[Viluppuram Junction|Viluppuram]], [[Ernakulam Junction railway station|Ernakulam Junction]], [[Alappuzha railway station|Alappuzha]], [[Kottayam Railway Station]], [[Madurai Junction railway station|Madurai]], [[Tirunelveli Junction railway station|Tirunelveli]], [[Tiruchirappalli Junction railway station|Trichy]], [[Thiruvananthapuram Central railway station|Thiruvananthapuram Central]], [[Kochuveli railway station|Trivandrum Kochuveli]], [[Nagercoil Junction railway station|Nagercoil Junction]], [[Jolarpettai Junction railway station|Jolarpettai]] Junction, [[Erode Junction|Erode]], [[Kollam Junction Railway Station|Kollam Junction]], Karur, Pollachi Junction, Thrissur, [[Kannur Railway Station|Kannur]], [[Puducherry railway station|Puducherry]], Tambaram, [[Tiruvallur railway station|Tiruvallur]], Perambur and Avadi. Passenger trains range from day intercity trains to overnight trains, long-distance trains to other zones, [[Shatabdi Express|Shatabdi]] and passenger trains stopping at many stations. The zone owns a large number of coaches.  These are maintained at coach care centres. Basin Bridge coach care centre serving Chennai central is one of the biggest in the country. Most major stations have a coach care Centre. The stations which don't have such facilities are served by trains through sometimes complex rake-sharing arrangements which also increases the utilization of the coaches. Apart from these Centres, the zone has MEMU and DEMU car sheds. These are available in Avadi, Trichy, Erode, Palakkad and Kollam. The zone also operates [[Chennai Suburban Railway|suburban system in Chennai]].
| [[Indian locomotive class WAP-4|WAP-4]], [[Indian locomotive class WAG-5|WAG-5]], [[Indian locomotive class WAG-9|WAG-9]]
 
| 184
Freight operations mainly include container traffic from all the ports falling under its jurisdiction ([[Chennai Port|Chennai]], [[Kamarajar Port Limited|Ennore]], [[Cochin Port|Kochi]], [[New Mangalore Port|Mangaluru]] and [[V. O. Chidambaranar Port Trust|Thoothukkudi]] are some of the major ports) and coal-traffic bound to the thermal power stations in Tamil Nadu state from the ports. Public sector oil companies also transport petroleum products from refineries to storage terminals using the zone. Cement plants also use the railway system extensively. Food grains are also transported through freight trains. Most of the lines inside ports, thermal stations, manufacturing industries and owned by the respective companies and the zone provides a link connecting its network and the wagons and locomotives. There is a wagon care centre in Tondiarpet, Chennai.
 
The zone has electric loco sheds at Royapuram, Erode and Arakkonam. Diesel loco sheds are present at Tondiarpet, Golden Rock, Ernakulam and Erode.  Most of the important routes are electrified and only low traffic lines are unelectrified. However, it is common to see diesel locos in electrified lines due to various operational constraints. It is also common to see other zones' locomotives operating inside the zone and vice versa.
 
Since the zone has little freight traffic compared to other zones and huge passenger traffic (which are run at low fares across the country), the zones' finances are often in a bad shape.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/chennai/southern-railway-punctuality-and-fiscal-performance-hit/articleshow/62666618.cms|title=Southern Railway punctuality and fiscal performance hit - Times of India|work=The Times of India|access-date=2018-02-24}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/chennai/southern-railways-financial-and-operational-performance-dips/articleshow/60077695.cms|title=Southern Railway's financial and operational performance dips - Times of India|work=The Times of India|access-date=2018-02-24}}</ref>
 
Terminal railway stations in this zone are listed below.
 
They are:
 
•[[Mangalore Central railway station|Mangalore central]]
 
•[[Thiruvananthapuram Central railway station|Thiruvananthapuram central]]
 
•[[Nilambur Road railway station|Nilambur Road]]
 
•[[Guruvayur railway station|Guruvayur]]
 
•[[Cochin Harbour Terminus]]
 
•[[Kanniyakumari railway station|Kanniyakumari]]
 
•[[Tiruchendur railway station|Tiruchendur]]
 
•[[Tuticorin railway station|Thoothukudi]]
 
•[[Rameswaram railway station|Rameshwaram]]
 
•[[Bodinayakkanur railway station|Bodi Nayakkanur]]
 
•[[Mannargudi railway station|Mannargudi]]
 
•[[Velankanni railway station|Velankanni]]
 
•[[Point calimere railway station|Point Calimere]]
 
•[[Tharangambadi railway station|Tranquebar]]
 
•[[Puducherry railway station|Puducherry]]
 
•[[Mettur Dam railway station|Mettur]]
 
•[[Udhagamandalam railway station|Udhagamandalam]] (Ooty)
 
•[[Pattabiram East Depot railway station|Pattabiramam East depot]]
 
•[[Anna Nagar railway station|Anna Nagar West]]
 
•[[Puratchi Thalaivar Dr. M.G. Ramachandran Central Railway Station]]
 
•[[Chennai Beach railway station|Chennai Beach]]
 
•[[Ranippet railway station|Ranippet]]
 
•[[Moore Market Complex railway station|Chennai Central Suburban Terminal]]
 
==Infrastructure==
=== Assets ===
 
Southern Railway has many factories & sheds:
* '''Mechanical Workshops'''
** Carriage, Wagon and Loco Works, Perambur, Chennai
** [[Golden Rock Railway Workshop|Central Workshop, Ponmalai, Tiruchirapalli]]
** Engineering Work Shop, Arakkonam
* '''Signal & Telecommunication Workshop'''
** Southern Railway Signal & Telecom Workshop, Podanur, Coimbatore
* '''Sheds'''
** Locomotive Sheds
*** Diesel
**** [[Diesel Loco Shed, Golden Rock]], [[Tiruchirapalli]]
**** Diesel Loco Shed, [[Tondiarpet]], [[Chennai]]
**** [[Diesel Loco Shed, Erode]]
**** [[Diesel Loco Shed, Ernakulam]]
*** Electrical
**** Electrical Loco Shed, [[Arakkonam]]
**** Electrical Loco Shed, [[Erode]]
**** Electrical Loco Shed, [[Royapuram]], Chennai
*** Steam Loco Shed
**** Coonoor, [[The Nilgiris District|The Nilgiris]]
*** Defunct Loco sheds
**** Kollam (Quilon) Steam Loco Shed<ref name=":0" />
**** Shoranur Steam Loco Shed<ref name=":0" />
**** Egmore Meter Gauge Electric Loco Shed<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|title=[IRFCA] Indian Railways FAQ: Locomotive Sheds and Workshops|url=https://www.irfca.org/faq/faq-shed.html|access-date=2020-12-18|website=www.irfca.org}}</ref>
**** Thiruvarur Meter Gauge Diesel Loco Shed<ref name=":0" />
**** Sengottai Meter Gauge Diesel Loce Shed (Makeshift shed to handle Meter gauge Locos in South Tamilnadu).
**** Jolarpettai Diesel Loco Shed<ref name=":0" />
** [[MEMU]] Car Shed
*** [[Kollam MEMU Shed|MEMU Car Shed]], [[Kollam]]
*** [[MEMU]] Car Shed, [[Palakkad]]
** EMU Car Shed
*** EMU Car Shed, Avadi
*** EMU Car Shed, Tambaram
*** EMU Car Shed, Velachery
** '''BG Coaching Maintenance Depots'''
*** [[Basin Bridge]], [[Chennai]]
*** GSN Yard [[Egmore]], [[Chennai]]
*** [[Madurai Junction]]
*** [[Salem, Tamil Nadu|Salem]]
*** [[Erode Junction]]
*** [[Coimbatore]]
*** [[Mettupalayam, Coimbatore|Mettupalayam]]
*** [[Shoranur]]
*** [[Thiruvananthapuram]]
*** [[Ernakulam]]
*** [[Alappuzha]]
*** [[Mangalore Central]]
*** [[Tirunelveli]]
*** [[Nagercoil]]
*** [[Rameswaram]]
*** [[Thoothukudi]]
*** [[Tiruchirapalli]]
*** [[Viluppuram]]
*** [[Tambaram]]
** '''Wagon Maintenance Depots'''
*** Tondiarpet, Chennai
*** Egmore, Chennai
*** Madurai
*** Jolarpettai
*** Kochi Harbour
*** [[Arakkonam Junction]]
*** Royapuram, Chennai
*** Pattibiram Military Siding
*** Erode
*** [[Mangalore]] junction
*** Ernakulam
*** Milavittan
*** Irumpanam
*** Tiruchirapalli
*** Viluppuram
*** Uthagamandalam
* '''Printing Presses'''
** General Printing Press, Royapuram, Chennai
** Ticket Printing Factory, Thiruvananthapuram,
** Ticket Printing Factory, Tiruchirappalli
 
=== Rail transport ===
==== Surveys ====
{| class="wikitable"
|-
|-
!! style="background-color:#FFD700" | Route
| [[Electric Loco Shed, Erode]]
!! style="background-color:#FFD700" | State
| [[Erode]]
!! style="background-color:#FFD700" | Length in km
| [[Electric locomotive|Electric]]
| [[Indian locomotive class WAP-4|WAP-4]], [[Indian locomotive class WAP-7|WAP-7]], [[Indian locomotive class WAG-7|WAG-7]]
| 211
|-
|-
 
| [[Electric Loco Shed, Royapuram]]
| valign="top" |Bulb rail line at Shoranur
| [[Chennai]]
| valign="top" |Kerala
| [[Electric locomotive|Electric]]
| valign="top" |5
| [[Indian locomotive class WAP-5|WAP-5]], [[Indian locomotive class WAP-7|WAP-7]]
| 122
|-
|-
| valign="top" |Sabrimala-Chengannur
| [[Diesel Loco Shed, Ernakulam]]
| valign="top" |Kerala
| [[Ernakulam]]
| valign="top" |64
| [[Diesel locomotive|Diesel]]
| [[Indian locomotive class WDM-3A|WDM-3A]], [[Indian locomotive class WDG-2/3A|WDG-3A]], [[Indian locomotive class WDM-3D|WDM-3D]], [[Indian locomotive class WDG-4|WDG-4]], [[Indian locomotive class WDG-4|WDG-4D]]
| 39
|-
|-
 
| [[Diesel Loco Shed, Erode]]
| valign="top" |Morappur-Dharmapuri via Mukkanur
| [[Erode]]
| valign="top" |Tamil Nadu
| [[Electric locomotive|Electric]]
| valign="top" |36
| [[Indian locomotive class WAP-1|WAP-1]], [[Indian locomotive class WAP-4|WAP-4]], [[Indian locomotive class WAG-5|WAG-5]], [[Indian locomotive class WAG-7|WAG-7]]
| 145
|-
|-
| valign="top" |Needmangalam-Pattukottai via Mannargudi, Madukkur
| [[Diesel Loco Shed, Golden Rock]]
| valign="top" |Tamil Nadu
| [[Tiruchirappalli]]
| valign="top" |54
| [[Diesel locomotive|Diesel]]
| [[Indian locomotive class WDG-2/3A|WDG-3A]], [[Indian locomotive class WDP-3A|WDP-3A]], [[Indian locomotive class WDM-3D|WDM-3D]], [[Indian locomotive class WDP-4|WDP-4]], [[Indian locomotive class WDG-4|WDG-4]], [[Indian locomotive class YDM-4|YDM-4]], [[Indian locomotive class WDS-6|WDS-6]], [[Indian locomotive class WDM-7|WDM-7]]
| 152
|-
|-
| valign="top" |Rameshwaram-Dhanuskodi
| [[Diesel Loco Shed, Tondiarpet]]
| valign="top" |Tamil Nadu
| [[Chennai]]
| valign="top" |17
| [[Diesel locomotive|Diesel]]
| [[Indian locomotive class WDM-3A|WDM-3A]], [[Indian locomotive class WDG-2/3A|WDG-3A]], [[Indian locomotive class WDS-6|WDS-6]], [[Indian locomotive class WDG-4|WDG-4]], [[Indian locomotive class WDG-4|WDG-4D]]
| 55
|-
|-
| Coonoor Loco Shed, Coonoor
| [[Coonoor]]
| [[Steam locomotive|Steam]], [[Diesel locomotive|Diesel]]
| [[Nilgiri Mountain Railway X class|X Class]], [[Indian locomotive class YDM-4|YDM-4]]
|
|}
===Maintenance and workshops===
Southern Railway maintains wagon and locomotive workshops at [[Perambur Loco Works railway station|Perambur, Chennai]] and [[Golden Rock Railway Workshop|Ponmalai, Tiruchirapalli]], engineering workshop at [[Arakkonam]], carriage maintenance workshops at [[Basin Bridge]] and [[Egmore]] and a signal and telecommunication workshop at [[Podanur]], [[Coimbatore]]. It has three [[Electric multiple unit|EMU]] car sheds in Chennai at [[Avadi]], [[Tambaram]], [[Velachery]] and MEMU sheds at [[Kollam MEMU Shed|Kollam]]<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/kerala/three-iso-certificates-for-memu-maintenance-shed/article33308748.ece|title=Three ISO certificates for MEMU maintenance shed|newspaper=[[The Hindu]]|date=3 September 2019|access-date=27 September 2023|archive-date=27 September 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230927151928/https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/kerala/three-iso-certificates-for-memu-maintenance-shed/article33308748.ece|url-status=live}}</ref> and [[Palakkad Junction|Palakkad]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.deccanchronicle.com/nation/current-affairs/180518/memu-rakes-yet-to-reach-kerala.html|title=Memu rakes yet to reach Kerala|newspaper=[[Deccan Chronicle]]|date=18 May 2018|access-date=27 September 2023|archive-date=27 September 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230927151953/https://www.deccanchronicle.com/nation/current-affairs/180518/memu-rakes-yet-to-reach-kerala.html|url-status=live}}</ref> Southern Railway maintains trip sheds at [[Basin Bridge]], [[Egmore]], [[Tondiarpet]] and [[Jolarpettai]].<ref name="IRFCA"/> Southern Railway operated ticket printing presses at [[Royapuram]], [[Thiruvananthapuram]] and [[Tiruchirappalli]], but these have been phased out due to [[digitization]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.thehindu.com/society/history-and-culture/ticket-to-the-past/article24818073.ece|title=Ticket to the Past|newspaper=[[The Hindu]]|date=30 August 2018|access-date=12 August 2023|archive-date=12 August 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230812094315/https://www.thehindu.com/society/history-and-culture/ticket-to-the-past/article24818073.ece|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/chennai/railway-board-plans-to-ease-out-100-year-old-printing-press-at-royapuram/articleshow/61513176.cms|title=Railway board plans to ease out 100 year old printing press|date=5 November 2017|publisher=[[Times of India]]|access-date=12 August 2023|archive-date=12 August 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230812094315/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/chennai/railway-board-plans-to-ease-out-100-year-old-printing-press-at-royapuram/articleshow/61513176.cms|url-status=live}}</ref>


|-
===Railway coaches and wagons===
Southern Railways uses both [[ICF coach]]es and [[LHB coach]]es for its trains. ICF coaches manufactured by the [[Integral Coach Factory]] in [[Chennai]] have been used predominantly for over sixty years since the formation of the zone in 1951.<ref>{{cite news|title=Is It Time for Indian Railways to Tear Up Ageing Tracks and Old Machinery?|url=https://zeenews.india.com/india/dna-exclusive-is-it-time-for-indian-railways-to-tear-up-ageing-tracks-and-old-machinery-2427973.html|work=[[Zee Media Corporation]]|date=14 January 2022|access-date=6 June 2023|archive-date=6 June 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230606192252/https://zeenews.india.com/india/dna-exclusive-is-it-time-for-indian-railways-to-tear-up-ageing-tracks-and-old-machinery-2427973.html|url-status=live}}</ref> The ICF coaches are slowly being replaced by newer [[LHB coach|LHB]] rakes which provide better passenger comfort and safety.<ref>{{cite news|last=Ayyappan|first=V.|title=Leakage Found in ICF Coaches|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/chennai/leakage-found-in-icf-coaches/articleshow/80095746.cms|newspaper=[[The Times of India]]|date=4 January 2021|access-date=6 June 2023|archive-date=6 June 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230606193410/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/chennai/leakage-found-in-icf-coaches/articleshow/80095746.cms|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Debroy|first=Bibek|title=A 70-Year-Old Vs a 30-Year-Old: LHB Coaches Perform Better than ICF Ones|url=https://www.business-standard.com/article/opinion/a-70-year-old-vs-a-30-year-old-lhb-coaches-perform-better-than-icf-ones-118020801725_1.html|url-access=subscription|newspaper=[[Business Standard]]|date=9 February 2018|access-date=6 June 2023|archive-date=29 April 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230429153338/https://www.business-standard.com/article/opinion/a-70-year-old-vs-a-30-year-old-lhb-coaches-perform-better-than-icf-ones-118020801725_1.html|url-status=live}}</ref>


|}
===Railway lines===
Following are the list of railway lines operational.<ref>{{cite report|url=https://sr.indianrailways.gov.in/cris/uploads/files/1444728316895-A4SMap-2015.pdf|title=Southern Railway Route Map|publisher=[[Indian Railways]]|access-date=12 August 2023|archive-date=12 August 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230812121221/https://sr.indianrailways.gov.in/cris/uploads/files/1444728316895-A4SMap-2015.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web| title=Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General of India for the year ended March 2020 | url=https://cag.gov.in/uploads/download_audit_report/2021/22%20of%202021-0624d80426ef498.58288689.pdf | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220407075028/https://cag.gov.in/uploads/download_audit_report/2021/22%20of%202021-0624d80426ef498.58288689.pdf | archive-date=2022-04-07}}</ref>
<!-- Pl do not include under construction lines -->


==== New lines ====
{|class="sortable wikitable"style="text-align:left;"style="font-size: 85%"
{| class="wikitable"
|-
!! style="background-color:#FFD700" | Name of the Project(s)
!! style="background-color:#FFD700" | State
! style="background-color:#FFD700" ! | Length in km
! style="background-color:#FFD700" ! | Status
|-
| valign="top" |[[Dharmapuri]]-Morapur via Mukanur, Ranimukanur
| valign="top" |[[Tamilnadu]]
| valign="top" |36
| valign="top" |under construction
|-
|-
| valign="top" |[[Kumbakonam]]-Virudhachalam Jn
!! style="background-color:#FFD700"| Line
| valign="top" |[[Tamilnadu]]
!! style="background-color:#FFD700"| Start
| valign="top" |65
!! style="background-color:#FFD700"| End
| valign="top" |Survey completed<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Tiruchirapalli/build-vriddhachalamkumbakonam-line-early-in-tiruchi/article6260173.ece|title = 'Build Vriddhachalam-Kumbakonam line early in Tiruchi'|newspaper = The Hindu|date = 29 July 2014|last1 = Saqaf|first1 = Syed Muthahar}}</ref>
!! style="background-color:#FFD700"| Type
!! style="background-color:#FFD700"| Gauge
!! style="background-color:#FFD700"| Electrified
!! style="background-color:#FFD700"| No. of Lines
!! style="background-color:#FFD700"| Speed limit
!! style="background-color:#FFD700"| Length
!! style="background-color:#FFD700"| Major stations
|-
|-
| valign="top" |[[Sabarimala Railway]]
| [[Chennai Central–Bangalore City line|Chennai Central-Jolarpettai]]
| valign="top" |[[Kerala]]
| [[Chennai Central railway station|Chennai Central]]
| valign="top" |{{Convert|120|km}}  
| [[Jolarpettai Junction railway station|Jolarpettai]]
| valign="top" |No Progress
| Main
| [[Broad-gauge railway|Broad]]
| Yes
| 2 (4 till Arakkonam)
|
| {{convert|213|km|abbr=on}}
| [[Arakkonam Junction railway station|Arakkonam]]
|-
|-
| valign="top" | [[Guruvayur]]-[[Tirunavaya]]
| [[Chennai Central railway station|Chennai Central]]-[[Renigunta Junction railway station|Renigunta]]
| valign="top" |[[Kerala]]  
| [[Chennai Central railway station|Chennai Central]]
| valign="top" | 51
| [[Renigunta Junction railway station|Renigunta]]
| valign="top" |No Progress
| Main
| [[Broad-gauge railway|Broad]]
| Yes
| 2 (4 till Arakkonam)
| {{cvt|130|kph}}<ref name="Speed">{{cite web | url=https://news.railanalysis.com/southern-railway-increases-maximum-permissible-speed-on-around-2037-route-kms-in-the-financial-year-2022-23/ | title=Southern Railway increases maximum permissible speed on around 2037 route KMS in the Financial Year 2022-23 |work=Rail Analysis India |access-date=1 June 2025}}</ref>
| {{convert|135|km|abbr=on}}
| [[Arakkonam Junction railway station|Arakkonam]]
|-
|-
| valign="top" |Attipattu-Puttur
| [[Gudur–Chennai section|Chennai Central-Gudur]]
| valign="top" |[[Tamil Nadu]] and [[Andhra Pradesh]]
| [[Chennai Central railway station|Chennai Central]]
| valign="top" |88.3
| [[Gudur Junction railway station|Gudur]]
| valign="top" |
| Main
| [[Broad-gauge railway|Broad]]
| Yes
| 2
| {{cvt|130|kph}}<ref name="Speed"/>
| {{convert|136|km|abbr=on}}
| [[Sullurupeta railway station|Sullurupeta]]
|-
|-
| valign="top" |[[Salem, Tamil Nadu|Salem]]-[[Kallakurichi]] via [[Chinnasalem]]
| [[Jolarpettai–Shoranur line|Jolarpettai–Shoranur]]
| valign="top" | [[Tamil Nadu]]  
| [[Jolarpettai Junction railway station|Jolarpettai]]
| valign="top" |58
| [[Shoranur Junction railway station|Shoranur]]
| valign="top" | Not started
| Main
| [[Broad-gauge railway|Broad]]
| Yes
| 2
|  
| {{convert|366|km|abbr=on}}
| [[Salem Junction railway station|Salem]], [[Erode Junction railway station|Erode]], [[Coimbatore Junction railway station|Coimbatore]], [[Coimbatore North Junction railway station|Coimbatore North]], [[Podanur Junction railway station|Podanur]], [[Palakkad Junction railway station|Palakkad]]
|-
|-
| valign="top" |[[Erode]]-[[Palani]]
| [[Shoranur–Mangalore section|Shoranur-Mangalore railway line]]
| valign="top" |[[Tamil Nadu]]
| [[Shoranur Junction railway station|Shoranur]]
| valign="top" |91.05
| [[Mangalore Junction railway station|Mangalore]]
| valign="top" | Not started
| Main
| [[Broad-gauge railway|Broad]]
| Yes
| 2
|  
| {{convert|315|km|abbr=on}}
| [[Kannur railway station|Kannur]], [[Kozhikode railway station|Kozhikode]]
|-
|-
| valign="top"|[[Madurai]]-[[Aruppukkottai]]-[[Tuticorin]]
| [[Shoranur–Cochin Harbour section|Shoranur-Ernakulam line]]
| valign="top"|[[Tamil Nadu]]
| [[Shoranur Junction railway station|Shoranur]]
| valign="top"|144
| [[Cochin Harbour Terminus]]
| valign="top" | Under progress
| Main
| [[Broad-gauge railway|Broad]]
| Yes
| 2
|  
| {{convert|107|km|abbr=on}}
| [[Thrissur railway station|Thrissur]], [[Aluva railway station|Aluva]], [[Ernakulam Junction railway station|Ernakulam Junction]], [[Ernakulam Town railway station|Ernakulam Town]]
|-
|-
| valign="top" |[[Tindivanam]]-[[Gingee]]-[[Tiruvannamalai]]
| [[Chennai Egmore railway station|Chennai Egmore]]-[[Tuticorin railway station|Thoothukudi]]
| valign="top" |[[Tamil Nadu]]
| [[Chennai Egmore railway station|Chennai Egmore]]
| valign="top" |70
| [[Tuticorin railway station|Thoothukudi]]
| valign="top" | Under slow progress
| Main
| [[Broad-gauge railway|Broad]]
| Yes
| 2 (4 till Chengalpattu)
|  
| {{convert|654|km|abbr=on}}
| [[Chengalpattu Junction railway station|Chengalpattu]], [[Villupuram Junction railway station|Villupuram]], [[Virudhachalam Junction railway station|Virudhachalam]], [[Tiruchirappalli Junction railway station|Tiruchirappalli]], [[Dindigul Junction railway station|Dindigul]], [[Madurai Junction railway station|Madurai]], [[Virudhunagar Junction railway station|Virudhunagar]], [[Vanchi Maniyachchi Junction railway station|Vanchi]]
|-
|-
| valign="top" |[[Tindivanam]]-[[Nagari, Andhra Pradesh|Nagari]]
| [[Tiruchirappalli Junction railway station|Tiruchirappalli]]-[[Thanjavur Junction railway station|Thanjavur]]
| valign="top" |[[Tamil Nadu]] & [[Andhra Pradesh]]
| [[Tiruchirappalli Junction railway station|Tiruchirappalli]]
| valign="top" |179.2
| [[Thanjavur Junction railway station|Thanjavur]]
| valign="top" | Under slow progress
| Branch
|}
| [[Broad-gauge railway|Broad]]
 
| Yes
==== Gauge conversion ====
| 2
{| class="wikitable"
|
| {{convert|50|km|abbr=on}}
|
|-
|-
!! style="background-color:#FFD700" | Name of the Project (s)
| [[Tiruchirappalli Junction railway station|Tiruchirappalli]]-[[Erode Junction railway station|Erode]]
!! style="background-color:#FFD700" | State
| [[Tiruchirappalli Junction railway station|Tiruchirappalli]]
! style="background-color:#FFD700" ! | Length in km
| [[Erode Junction railway station|Erode]]
! style="background-color:#FFD700" ! | Status
| Branch
| [[Broad-gauge railway|Broad]]
| Yes
| 1
|  
| {{convert|141|km|abbr=on}}
| [[Karur Junction railway station|Karur]]
|-
|-
| valign="top" |[[Madurai–Bodinayakkanur branch line|Madurai-Bodinayakkanur]]
| [[Salem Junction railway station|Salem]]-[[Dindigul Junction railway station|Dindigul]]
| valign="top" |Tamil Nadu
| [[Salem Junction railway station|Salem]]
| valign="top" |90.41
| [[Dindigul Junction railway station|Dindigul]]
| valign="top" |Under progress (partially completed)
| Branch
| [[Broad-gauge railway|Broad]]
| Yes
| 1
|
| {{convert|159|km|abbr=on}}
| [[Karur Junction railway station|Karur]]
|-
|-
| valign="top" |[[Thiruthuraipoondi Junction railway station|Thiruthuraipoondi]]-[[Point calimere railway station|point Calimere]] (kodiyarkarai)
| [[Madurai Junction railway station|Madurai]]-[[Rameswaram railway station|Rameswaram]]
| valign="top" |TN
| [[Madurai Junction railway station|Madurai]]
| valign="top" |44.42
| [[Rameswaram railway station|Rameswaram]]
| valign="top" |Under construction
| Branch
| [[Broad-gauge railway|Broad]]
| Yes
| 1
|
| {{convert|173.82|km|abbr=on}}
| [[Manamadurai Junction railway station|Manamadurai]]
|-
|-
| valign="top" |[[Peralam–Karaikal line|Karaikal-peralam]]
| [[Tiruchirappalli Junction railway station|Tiruchirappalli]]-[[Sengottai railway station|Sengottai]]
| valign="top" |TN
| [[Tiruchirappalli Junction railway station|Tiruchirappalli]]
| valign="top" |23.5
| [[Sengottai railway station|Sengottai]]
| valign="top" |Under construction
| Branch
| [[Broad-gauge railway|Broad]]
| Yes
| 1
|
| {{convert|320|km|abbr=on}}
| [[Karaikudi Junction railway station|Karaikudi]], [[Manamadurai Junction railway station|Manamadurai]], [[Virudhunagar Junction railway station|Virudhunagar]]
|-
|-
| valign="top" |[[Tharangambadi railway station|Tharagambadi]]- [[Mayiladuthurai Junction railway station|mayiladuthurai junction]]
| [[Vanchi Maniyachchi Junction railway station|Vanchi Maniyachchi]]-[[Tirunelveli Junction railway station|Tirunelveli]]
| valign="top" |Tamil Nadu
| [[Vanchi Maniyachchi Junction railway station|Vanchi Maniyachchi]]
| valign="top" |29.20
| [[Tirunelveli Junction railway station|Tirunelveli]]
| valign="top" |Under construction
| Branch
|}
| [[Broad-gauge railway|Broad]]
 
| Yes
==== Doubling ====
| 2
{| class="wikitable"
|
| {{convert|28.9|km|abbr=on}}
|
|-
|-
!! style="background-color:#FFD700" | Name of the Project(s)
| [[Tiruchirappalli Junction railway station|Tiruchirappalli]]-[[Thanjavur Junction railway station|Thanjavur]]
!! style="background-color:#FFD700" | State
| [[Tiruchirappalli Junction railway station|Tiruchirappalli]]
!! style="background-color:#FFD700" | Length in km
| [[Thanjavur Junction railway station|Thanjavur]]
! style="background-color:#FFD700" ! | Status
| Branch
| [[Broad-gauge railway|Broad]]
| Yes
| 2
|
| {{convert|50|km|abbr=on}}
|  
|-
|-
| valign="top" |Erode-Karur-Dindigul
| [[Coimbatore North Junction railway station|Coimbatore North]]-[[Mettupalayam railway station|Mettupalayam]]
| valign="top" |Tamil Nadu
| [[Coimbatore North Junction railway station|Coimbatore North]]
| valign="top" |139
| [[Mettupalayam railway station|Mettupalayam]]
| valign="top" |Proposed
| Branch
| [[Broad-gauge railway|Broad]]
| Yes
| 1
|
| {{convert|32.8|km|abbr=on}}
|  
|-
|-
| valign="top" |Salem-Karur
| [[Nilgiri Mountain Railway]]
| valign="top" |Tamil Nadu
| [[Mettupalayam railway station|Mettupalayam]]
| valign="top" |84
| [[Udhagamandalam railway station|Udhagamandalam]]
| valign="top" |Proposed
| Branch
| [[Metre-gauge railway|Metre]]
| No
| 1
|
| {{convert|45.9|km|abbr=on}}
| [[Coonoor railway station|Coonoor]]
|-
|-
| valign="top" |Villuppuram-Thanjavur
| [[Guruvayur–Thrissur spur line|Thrissur-Guruvayur line]]
| valign="top" |Tamil Nadu
| [[Thrissur railway station|Thrissur]]
| valign="top" |192
| [[Guruvayur railway station|Guruvayur]]
| valign="top" |Proposed
| Branch
| [[Broad-gauge railway|Broad]]
| Yes
| 1
|
| {{convert|22.6|km|abbr=on}}
|  
|-
|-
| valign="top" |Ernakulam-Ambalappuzha
| [[Nilambur–Shoranur line|Shoranur -Nilambur line]]
| valign="top" |Kerala
| [[Shoranur Junction railway station|Shoranur]]
| valign="top" |87
| [[Nilambur Road railway station|Nilambur Road]]
| valign="top" |Under slow progress
| Branch
| [[Broad-gauge railway|Broad]]
| Yes <ref>{{Cite news | url = https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/kerala/electrification-of-shoranur-nilambur-rail-line-completed/article68010446.ece | title = Electrification of Shoranur-Nilambur rail line completed | newspaper = The Hindu | access-date = 2024-03-30 | archive-date = 5 April 2024 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20240405095838/https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/kerala/electrification-of-shoranur-nilambur-rail-line-completed/article68010446.ece | url-status = live }}</ref>
| 1
|
| {{convert|65.8|km|abbr=on}}
|  
|-
|-
| valign="top" |Attipattu-Korukkupettai
| [[Ernakulam–Kayamkulam coastal line]]
| valign="top" |Tamil Nadu
| [[Ernakulam Junction railway station|Ernakulam]]
| valign="top" |18
| [[Kayamkulam Junction railway station|Kayamkulam]]
| valign="top" | Completed
| Branch
| [[Broad-gauge railway|Broad]]
| Yes
| 1
|
| {{convert|100.34|km|abbr=on}}
| [[Alappuzha railway station|Alappuzha]]
|-
|-
| valign="top" |Chennai Beach-Attipattu 4th line
| [[Ernakulam–Kottayam–Kayamkulam line]]
| valign="top" |Tamil Nadu
| [[Ernakulam Junction railway station|Ernakulam]]
| valign="top" |22.1
| [[Kayamkulam Junction railway station|Kayamkulam]]
| valign="top" | Completed
| Branch
| [[Broad-gauge railway|Broad]]
| Yes
| 2
|
| 156&nbsp;km (97&nbsp;mi)
| [[Kottayam railway station|Kottayam]], [[Chengannur railway station|Chengannur]]
|-
|-
| valign="top" |Chennai Beach-Korukkupettai 3rd line
| [[Kollam–Sengottai Chord Line|Kollam-Sengottai line]]
| valign="top" |Tamil Nadu
| [[Kollam Junction railway station|Kollam]]
| valign="top" |4.1
| [[Sengottai railway station|Sengottai]]
| valign="top" | Completed
| Branch
| [[Broad-gauge railway|Broad]]
| Yes
| 1
|
| {{convert|94|km|abbr=on}}
|  
|-
|-
|Tambaram-chengalpattu 3rd line
| [[Kollam–Thiruvananthapuram trunk line|Kollam-Thiruvananthapuram line]]
|Tamil Nadu
| [[Kollam Junction railway station|Kollam]]
|30
| [[Thiruvananthapuram Central railway station|Thiruvanathapuram Central]]
|Under progress(partially completed)
| Main
| [[Broad-gauge railway|Broad]]
| Yes<ref>{{cite news | url = http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-kerala/rail-electrification-inspection-begins/article3033562.ece | title = Rail electrification: inspection begins | newspaper = [[The Hindu]] | date = 14 December 2006 | access-date = 9 January 2017 | archive-date = 18 May 2024 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20240518163838/https://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-kerala/rail-electrification-inspection-begins/article3033562.ece | url-status = live }}</ref>
| 2
|
| {{cvt|65|km}}
| [[Kochuveli railway station|Kochuveli]]
|-
|-
| valign="top" |Mangalore Junction-Panambur Patch Doubling
| [[Thiruvananthapuram–Nagercoil–Kanyakumari line]]
| valign="top" |Karnataka
| [[Thiruvananthapuram Central railway station|Thiruvanathapuram Central]]
| valign="top" |19
| [[Kanniyakumari railway station|Kanniyakumari]]
| valign="top" |Under progress
| Branch
| [[Broad-gauge railway|Broad]]
| Yes
| 1
|
| {{convert|89|km|abbr=on}}
| [[Nagercoil Junction railway station|Nagercoil]]
|-
|-
| valign="top" |Ettumanur-Chingavanam
| [[Nagercoil–Tirunelveli line|Nagercoil - Tirunelveli]]
| valign="top" |Kerala
| [[Nagercoil Junction railway station|Nagercoil]]
| valign="top" |26.58
| [[Tirunelveli Junction railway station|Tirunelveli]]
| valign="top" |Under progress
| Main
| [[Broad-gauge railway|Broad]]
| Yes
| 2
| {{cvt|110|kph}}<ref>{{cite web | url=https://news.railanalysis.com/southern-railway-targets-on-speed-enhancement-works-to-increase-trains-speed-on-vital-sections-in-the-current-financial-year-2023-24/#:~:text=Over%20413.62%20Route%20Kms%20of,completed%20in%20FY%202022%2D23. | title=Southern Railway targets on speed enhancement works to increase trains speed on vital sections in the current Financial Year 2023-24 |work=Rail Analysis India |access-date=1 June 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=https://railanalysis.in/rail-news/insights-on-speed-enhancement-achieved-by-southern-railway-and-works-in-progress-in-tamil-nadu/ | title=Insights on speed enhancement achieved by Southern Railway and works in progress in Tamil Nadu | date=2 February 2023 |access-date=1 June 2025 |work=Rail Analysis India}}</ref>
| {{cvt|73|km}}
|
|-
|-
| valign="top" |Tiruvallur-Arakkonam 4th line
| [[Tenkasi Junction railway station|Tenkasi]]-[[Tiruchendur railway station|Tiruchendur]]
| valign="top" |Tamil Nadu
| [[Tenkasi Junction railway station|Tenkasi]]
| valign="top" |26.83
| [[Tiruchendur railway station|Tiruchendur]]
| valign="top" | Completed
| Branch
| [[Broad-gauge railway|Broad]]
| Yes
| 1
|
| {{convert|61.2|km|abbr=on}}
|  
|-
|-
| valign="top" |Villupuram-Dindigul
| [[Tenkasi Junction railway station|Tenkasi]]-[[Sengottai railway station|Sengottai]]
| valign="top" |Tamil Nadu
| [[Tenkasi Junction railway station|Tenkasi]]
| valign="top" |273
| [[Sengottai railway station|Sengottai]]
| valign="top" |  Completed
| Branch
|-  
| [[Broad-gauge railway|Broad]]
| valign="top" |Thiruchirapalli-Thanjavur
| Yes
| valign="top" |Tamil Nadu
| 1
| valign="top" |50
|
| valign="top" | Completed
| {{convert|8|km|abbr=on}}
|  
|-
|-
| valign="top" |Madurai-Maniyachi-Tuticorin
| [[Irugur Junction railway station|Irugur]]-[[Podanur Junction railway station|Podanur]]
| valign="top" |Tamil Nadu
| [[Irugur Junction railway station|Irugur]]
| valign="top" |159
| [[Podanur Junction railway station|Podanur]]
| valign="top" | Under construction (partially completed)
| Branch
|-  
| [[Broad-gauge railway|Broad]]
| valign="top" |Maniyachi-Nagarcoil
| Yes
| valign="top" |Tamil Nadu
| 1
| valign="top" |102
|
| valign="top" | Under construction (partially completed)
| {{convert|10.9|km|abbr=on}}
|  
|-
|-
| valign="top" |Thiruvananthapuram-Kaniyakumari
| [[Dindigul Junction railway station|Dindigul]]-[[Pollachi Junction railway station|Pollachi]]
| valign="top" |Tamil Nadu and Kerala
| [[Dindigul Junction railway station|Dindigul]]
| valign="top" |86.56
| [[Pollachi Junction railway station|Pollachi]]
| valign="top" | Under construction
| Branch
|}
| [[Broad-gauge railway|Broad]]
 
| Yes
==== New line survey ====
| 1
{| class="wikitable"
|
| {{convert|120.7|km|abbr=on}}
| [[Palani railway station|Palani]]
|-
|-
!! style="background-color:#FFD700" | Name of the Project(s)
| [[Podanur Junction railway station|Podanur]]-[[Pollachi Junction railway station|Pollachi]]
!! style="background-color:#FFD700" | State
| [[Podanur Junction railway station|Podanur]]
!! style="background-color:#FFD700" | Year
| [[Pollachi Junction railway station|Pollachi]]
!! style="background-color:#FFD700" | Length
| Branch
!! style="background-color:#FFD700" | Cost
| [[Broad-gauge railway|Broad]]
!! style="background-color:#FFD700" | ROR%age
| Yes
! style="background-color:#FFD700" ! | Status
| 1
|
| {{convert|40|km|abbr=on}}
|  
|-
|-
| valign="top" |Dindigal-Gudalur
| [[Palakkad–Pollachi line]]
| valign="top" |Tamil Nadu
| [[Palakkad Junction railway station|Palakkad]]
| valign="top" |1946-49
| [[Pollachi Junction railway station|Pollachi]]
| valign="top" |-
| Branch
| valign="top" |-
| [[Broad-gauge railway|Broad]]
| valign="top" |-
| Yes
| valign="top" |unremunerative<ref>https://eparlib.nic.in/bitstream/123456789/1841/1/lsd_02_02_11-09-1957.pdf page 56</ref>
| 1
|
| {{convert|57.8|km|abbr=on}}
|  
|-
|-
| valign="top" |Portblair and Diglipur
| [[Salem Junction railway station|Salem]]-[[Mettur Dam railway station|Mettur Dam]]
| valign="top" |Andaman Islands
| [[Salem Junction railway station|Salem]]
| valign="top" |2010-11
| [[Mettur Dam railway station|Mettur Dam]]
| valign="top" |240
| Branch
| valign="top" |-
| [[Broad-gauge railway|Broad]]
| valign="top" |-
| Yes
| valign="top" |Updating survey
| 2
|
| {{convert|38.9|km|abbr=on}}
|  
|-
|-
| valign="top" |Thanjavur and Pudukkottai via Gandarvakkottai
| [[Salem Junction railway station|Salem]]-[[Virudhachalam Junction railway station|Virudhachalam]]
| valign="top" |Tamil Nadu
| [[Salem Junction railway station|Salem]]
| valign="top" |2012-13
| [[Virudhachalam Junction railway station|Virudhachalam]]
| valign="top" |71.72
| Branch
| valign="top" |-
| [[Broad-gauge railway|Broad]]
| valign="top" |-
| Yes
| valign="top" |Under progress
| 1
|  
| {{convert|139|km|abbr=on}}
|  
|-
|-
| valign="top" |Kanchipuram-Tiruvannamalai-Katpadi
| [[Cuddalore Port Junction railway station|Cuddalore]]-[[Thanjavur Junction railway station|Thanjavur]]
| valign="top" |Tamil Nadu
| [[Cuddalore Port Junction railway station|Cuddalore]]
| valign="top" |2012-13
| [[Thanjavur Junction railway station|Thanjavur]]
| valign="top" |116
| Branch
| valign="top" |-
| [[Broad-gauge railway|Broad]]
| valign="top" |-
| Yes
| valign="top" |Under progress
| 1
|
| {{convert|146|km|abbr=on}}
| [[Mayiladuthurai Junction railway station|Mayiladuthurai]]
|-
|-
| valign="top" |Kumbakkonam and Vridhachalamvia Jayankondam & Andimadam
| [[Cuddalore Port Junction railway station|Cuddalore]]-[[Virudhachalam Junction railway station|Virudhachalam]]
| valign="top" |Tamil Nadu
| [[Cuddalore Port Junction railway station|Cuddalore]]
| valign="top" |2012-13
| [[Virudhachalam Junction railway station|Virudhachalam]]
| valign="top" |74.31
| Branch
| valign="top" |-
| [[Broad-gauge railway|Broad]]
| valign="top" |-
| Yes
| valign="top" |Under progress
| 1
|
| {{convert|57|km|abbr=on}}
|
|-
|-
| valign="top" |Attippattu and Ennore Sea Port
| [[Villupuram Junction railway station|Villupuram]]-[[Puducherry railway station|Puducherry]]
| valign="top" |Tamil Nadu
| [[Villupuram Junction railway station|Villupuram]]
| valign="top" |2012-13
| [[Puducherry railway station|Puducherry]]
| valign="top" |6
| Branch
| valign="top" |-
| [[Broad-gauge railway|Broad]]
| valign="top" |-
| Yes
| valign="top" |Advisesent to Board for closure
| 1
|  
| {{convert|37.6|km|abbr=on}}
|  
|-
|-
| valign="top" |Dindigul to Kumuli via Bodinayakkanur & Theni
| [[Villupuram Junction railway station|Villupuram]]-[[Katpadi Junction railway station|Katpadi]]
| valign="top" |Tamil Nadu
| [[Villupuram Junction railway station|Villupuram]]
| valign="top" |2012-13
| [[Katpadi Junction railway station|Katpadi]]
| valign="top" |257
| Branch
| valign="top" |-
| [[Broad-gauge railway|Broad]]
| valign="top" |-
| Yes
| valign="top" |Completed
| 1
|
| {{convert|161|km|abbr=on}}
| [[Tiruvannamalai railway station|Tiruvannamalai]]
|-
|-
| valign="top" |Karaikudi and Dindigul via Nattam.
| [[Thanjavur Junction railway station|Thanjavur]]-[[Karaikal railway station|Karaikal]]
| valign="top" |Tamil Nadu
| [[Thanjavur Junction railway station|Thanjavur]]
| valign="top" |2013-14
| [[Karaikal railway station|Karaikal]]
| valign="top" |105
| Branch
| valign="top" |-
| [[Broad-gauge railway|Broad]]
| valign="top" |-
| Yes
| valign="top" |Completed
| 1
|-
|  
| valign="top" |Tirunelveli and Sankarankoil via Pettai, Pudur, Sendamaram, Veerasigmamani.
| {{convert|95.4|km|abbr=on}}
| valign="top" |Tamil Nadu
| [[Nagapattinam Junction railway station|Nagapattinam]]
| valign="top" |2013-14
| valign="top" |77.95
| valign="top" |-
| valign="top" |-
| valign="top" |Completed
|-
|-
| valign="top" |Aloor–Nagercoil-Chettikulam.
| [[Mayiladuthurai Junction railway station|Mayiladuthurai]]-[[Thiruvarur Junction railway station|Thiruvarur]]
| valign="top" |Tamil Nadu
| [[Mayiladuthurai Junction railway station|Mayiladuthurai]]
| valign="top" |2013-14
| [[Thiruvarur Junction railway station|Thiruvarur]]
| valign="top" |24
| Branch
| valign="top" |-
| [[Broad-gauge railway|Broad]]
| valign="top" |-
| Yes
| valign="top" |Completed
| 1
|-
|
| valign="top" |Thanjavur and Ariyalur.
| {{convert|39|km|abbr=on}}
| valign="top" |Tamil Nadu
|  
| valign="top" |2013-14
| valign="top" |50
| valign="top" |-
| valign="top" |-
| valign="top" |Under progress
|-
| valign="top" |Morappur-Dharmapuri
| valign="top" |Tamil Nadu
| valign="top" |2013-14
| valign="top" |36
| valign="top" |239
| valign="top" |-8.040
| valign="top" |Under Construction
|-
| valign="top" |Salem-Karaikal via Perambalur, Mayiladuthurai
| valign="top" |Tamil Nadu
| valign="top" |2012-13
| valign="top" |227
| valign="top" |1240
| valign="top" |2.63%
| valign="top" |Project shelved
|-
| valign="top" |Ramanathapuram- Kanniyakumari via Tuticorin (Millavittanam)
| valign="top" |Tamil Nadu
| valign="top" |2011-12
| valign="top" |248
| valign="top" |1080
| valign="top" |-8.88%
| valign="top" |Project shelved
|-
| valign="top" |Karaikudi - Tuticorin via Ramanathapuram
| valign="top" |Tamil Nadu
| valign="top" |2011-12
| valign="top" |215
| valign="top" |879
| valign="top" |-8.3%
| valign="top" |Project shelved
|-
| valign="top" |Karaikal-Sarkazi
| valign="top" |Tamil Nadu
| valign="top" |2011-12
| valign="top" |41
| valign="top" |187
| valign="top" |10.996
| valign="top" |Project shelved
|-
| valign="top" |Madurai(Bodinayakanur)-Kottayam
| valign="top" |Tamil Nadu
| valign="top" |2010-11
| valign="top" |120
| valign="top" |1229
| valign="top" |-5.96
| valign="top" |Project shelved
|-
| valign="top" |Jolarpettai-Hossur via Krishnagiri (PARTIALLY FALLS UNDER SOUTH WEST RAILWAY ZONE)
| valign="top" |Tamil Nadu
| valign="top" |2010-11
| valign="top" |101
| valign="top" |688
| valign="top" |-2.52
| valign="top" |Project shelved
|-
| valign="top" |Chidambaram-Attur via Ariyalur, Perambalur
| valign="top" |Tamil Nadu
| valign="top" |2009-10
| valign="top" |167
| valign="top" |1050
| valign="top" |-1.07
| valign="top" |Project shelved
|-
| valign="top" |Bodinayakanur-Kottayam
| valign="top" |Tamil Nadu
| valign="top" |2009-10
| valign="top" |120
| valign="top" |1229
| valign="top" |-5.96
| valign="top" |Project shelved
|-
| valign="top" |Avadi-Sriperumbadur
| valign="top" |Tamil Nadu
| valign="top" |2009-10
| valign="top" |25
| valign="top" |225
| valign="top" |-9.13
| valign="top" |Project shelved
|-
| valign="top" |Tiruvannamalai-Jolarpettai
| valign="top" |Tamil Nadu
| valign="top" |2008-09
| valign="top" |85
| valign="top" |357
| valign="top" |-6.56
| valign="top" |Project shelved
|-
| valign="top" |Thanjavur to Ariyalur via Tirumanur & Valampuri
| valign="top" |Tamil Nadu
| valign="top" |2008-09
| valign="top" |50
| valign="top" |279
| valign="top" |2.556
| valign="top" |Project shelved
|-
| valign="top" |Madurai-Karaikkudi va Melur, Tiruppattur
| valign="top" |Tamil Nadu
| valign="top" |2008-09
| valign="top" |91
| valign="top" |382
| valign="top" |-7.302
| valign="top" |Project shelved
|-
| valign="top" |Jolarpettai-Hossur via Krishnagiri
| valign="top" |Tamil Nadu
| valign="top" |2008-09
| valign="top" |101
| valign="top" |558
| valign="top" |0.6
| valign="top" |Project shelved
|-
| valign="top" |Villivakkam-Katpadi(154&nbsp;km)
| valign="top" |Tamil Nadu
| valign="top" |2008-09
| valign="top" |153
| valign="top" |1353
| valign="top" |-9.58
| valign="top" |Project shelved
|-
| valign="top" |Morappur-Dharmapuri via Mukkanur
| valign="top" |Tamil Nadu
| valign="top" |2007-08
| valign="top" |36
| valign="top" |146
| valign="top" |-6.68
| valign="top" |Under Construction
|-
| valign="top" |Erode to Satyamanglam
| valign="top" |Tamil Nadu
| valign="top" |2007-08
| valign="top" |63
| valign="top" |430
| valign="top" |-0.87
| valign="top" |Project shelved
|-
| valign="top" |Satyamangalam- Mettur
| valign="top" |Tamil Nadu
| valign="top" |2006-07
| valign="top" |90
| valign="top" |326
| valign="top" |-5.6
| valign="top" |Project shelved
|-
| valign="top" |Mayiladuturai-Tirukkaidaiyar-Taramgambadi-Tirunallar-Karaikal
| valign="top" |Tamil Nadu
| valign="top" |2006-07
| valign="top" |47
| valign="top" |186
| valign="top" |11.50
| valign="top" |Project shelved
|-
| valign="top" |Madurai-Kottayam
| valign="top" |Tamil Nadu
| valign="top" |2005-06
| valign="top" |234
| valign="top" |1331
| valign="top" |-3.77
| valign="top" |Project shelved
|-
| valign="top" |Jolarpettai-Hossur with link line from Krishnagiri to Dharmapuri (PARTIALLY FALLS UNDER SOUTH WEST RAILWAY ZONE)
| valign="top" |Tamil Nadu
| valign="top" |2005-06
| valign="top" |159
| valign="top" |447
| valign="top" |-5.08
| valign="top" |Project shelved
|-
| valign="top" |Cuddalore-Jolarpettai via Tindivanum
| valign="top" |Tamil Nadu& Pondichery
| valign="top" |2005-06
| valign="top" |236
| valign="top" |563
| valign="top" |-6.23
| valign="top" |Work sanctioned
|-
| valign="top" |Tindivanam to Cuddalore via Pondichery
| valign="top" |Tamil Nadu
| valign="top" |2004-05
| valign="top" |77
| valign="top" |157
| valign="top" |-8.69
| valign="top" |Project shelved
|-
| valign="top" |Thanjavur-Chennai Egmore via Ariyalur
| valign="top" |Tamil Nadu
| valign="top" |2004-05
| valign="top" |315
| valign="top" |907
| valign="top" |-5.57
| valign="top" |Project shelved
|-
| valign="top" |Chennai-Sriperumbudur via Poonamalli
| valign="top" |Tamil Nadu
| valign="top" |2004-05
| valign="top" |38
| valign="top" |242
| valign="top" |-7.57
| valign="top" |Project shelved
|-
| valign="top" |Erumeli-Punalur- Trivandrum
| valign="top" |Kerala
| valign="top" |2005-06
| valign="top" |136
| valign="top" |999
| valign="top" |-3.68
| valign="top" |Project shelved
|-
| valign="top" |Tirur-Angadipuram
| valign="top" |Kerala
| valign="top" |2005-06
| valign="top" |41
| valign="top" |233
| valign="top" |-8.9
| valign="top" |Project shelved
|-
| valign="top" |Kayankulum-Kottakara via Adoor
| valign="top" |Kerala
| valign="top" |2006-07
| valign="top" |48
| valign="top" |276
| valign="top" |-5.37
| valign="top" |Project shelved
|-
| valign="top" |Kollengode-Trichur
| valign="top" |Kerala
| valign="top" |2006-07
| valign="top" |59
| valign="top" |301
| valign="top" |-8.45
| valign="top" |Project shelved
|-
| valign="top" |Nanjangud-Nilambur via Sultan Bathery
| valign="top" |Kerala
| valign="top" |2007-08
| valign="top" |238
| valign="top" |3384
| valign="top" |-5.90
| valign="top" |Project shelved
|-
| valign="top" |Sabarimala-Chenganur
| valign="top" |Kerala
| valign="top" |2007-08
| valign="top" |64
| valign="top" |612
| valign="top" |-11.89
| valign="top" |Project shelved
|-
| valign="top" |Thalassery-Mysore via Kodagu
| valign="top" |Kerala
| valign="top" |2008-09
| valign="top" |298
| valign="top" |2946
| valign="top" |-5.606
| valign="top" |Project shelved
|-
| valign="top" |Angadippuram-Kozhikode
| valign="top" |Kerala
| valign="top" |2009-10
| valign="top" |77
| valign="top" |823
| valign="top" |-3.38
| valign="top" |Project shelved
|-
| valign="top" |Kanhangad-Panathur
| valign="top" |Kerala
| valign="top" |2009-10
| valign="top" |41
| valign="top" |385
| valign="top" |2.02
| valign="top" |Project shelved
|-
| valign="top" |Kannur- Mattannur
| valign="top" |Kerala
| valign="top" |2012-13
| valign="top" |23
| valign="top" |237
| valign="top" |3.89%
| valign="top" |Project shelved
|-
| valign="top" |Kozhikode-Beypore
| valign="top" |Kerala
| valign="top" |2012-13
| valign="top" |8
| valign="top" |82
| valign="top" |6.17
| valign="top" |Project shelved
|-
| valign="top" |Thakazhy-Tiruvalla
| valign="top" |Kerala
| valign="top" |2012-13
| valign="top" |21
| valign="top" |213
| valign="top" |-6.71%
| valign="top" |Project shelved
|-
| valign="top" |Thiruvalla-Ranny-Pamba
| valign="top" |Kerala
| valign="top" |2012-13
| valign="top" |60
| valign="top" |1242
| valign="top" |-8.70%
| valign="top" |Project shelved
|-
| valign="top" |Chenganur-Thiruvananthapuram
| valign="top" |Kerala
| valign="top" |2013-14
| valign="top" |101
| valign="top" |815
| valign="top" |7.61%
| valign="top" |Project shelved
|-
| valign="top" |Erumeli-Pathanamthitta-Punalur-Thiruvananthapuram
| valign="top" |Kerala
| valign="top" |2013-14
| valign="top" |145
| valign="top" |1343
| valign="top" |-2.19
| valign="top" |Project shelved
|-
| valign="top" |Kollengode-Thrisur
| valign="top" |Kerala
| valign="top" |2013-14
| valign="top" |59
| valign="top" |481
| valign="top" |-7.67%
| valign="top" |Project shelved
|-
| valign="top" |Nanjangod-Nilambur Road
| valign="top" |Kerala
| valign="top" |2013-14
| valign="top" |236
| valign="top" |4267
| valign="top" |0.90%
| valign="top" |Project shelved
|-
| valign="top" |Thalassery-Mysore
| valign="top" |Kerala
| valign="top" |2013-14
| valign="top" |299
| valign="top" |3379
| valign="top" |-6.56%
| valign="top" |Project shelved
|}
 
==== Unused lines ====
{| class="wikitable"
!Route
!State
!Length in km
|-
|-
|[[Ernakulam Junction railway station|Ernakulam Jn]]- [[Cochin Harbour Terminus]]
| [[Arakkonam Junction railway station|Arakkonam]]-[[Chengalpattu Junction railway station|Chengalpattu]]
(Currently used as a parking lot for empty rakes)
| [[Arakkonam Junction railway station|Arakkonam]]
|Kerala
| [[Chengalpattu Junction railway station|Chengalpattu]]
|7.62
| Branch
| [[Broad-gauge railway|Broad]]
| Yes
| 1
|
| {{convert|68|km|abbr=on}}
|  
|-
|-
|[[Ernakulam Terminus railway station|Ernakulam Terminus Railway Station]] - [[Ernakulam Town railway station|Ernakulam Town Railway Station]]
| [[Nagapattinam Junction railway station|Nagapattinam]]-[[Velankanni railway station|Velankanni]]
(Not in use)
| [[Nagapattinam Junction railway station|Nagapattinam]]
|Kerala
| [[Velankanni railway station|Velankanni]]
|1.3
| Branch
| [[Broad-gauge railway|Broad]]
| Yes
| 1
|
| {{convert|10.4|km|abbr=on}}
|
|-
|-
|[[Walajah Road railway station|Walaja Road Junction]]- [[Ranippet railway station|Ranippettai railway station]]
| [[Madurai Junction railway station|Madurai]]-[[Bodinayakkanur railway station|Bodinayakkanur]]
(For freight transport only<ref>{{Cite web|date=January 20, 2021|first=V.|last=Ayyappan|title=Ranipet railway station gets new lease of life |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/chennai/ranipet-railway-station-gets-new-lease-of-life-after-25-years/articleshow/80368371.cms|access-date=2021-02-01|website=The Times of India|language=en}}</ref>)<ref>{{Cite web|title=ராணிப்பேட்டை ரயில் நிலையத்தில் சென்னை ரயில்வே கூடுதல் பொது மேலாளா் ஆய்வு|url=https://www.dinamani.com/all-editions/edition-chennai/ranipet/2020/nov/05/chennai-railway-additional-general-manager-inspection-at-ranipettai-railway-station-3498343.html|access-date=2020-11-24|website=Dinamani|language=ta}}</ref>
| [[Madurai Junction railway station|Madurai]]
|Tamil Nadu
| [[Bodinayakkanur railway station|Bodinayakkanur]]
|6
| Branch
| [[Broad-gauge railway|Broad]]
| Yes
| 1
|
| {{convert|88|km|abbr=on}}
|
|-
|-
|[[Villivakkam railway station|Villivakkam junction]]-[[Anna Nagar railway station|Anna nagar West railway station]]
| [[Thiruvarur Junction railway station|Thiruvarur]]-[[Tiruturaipundi Junction railway station|Tiruturaipundi]]
(Currently used by ICF for trail run)
| [[Thiruvarur Junction railway station|Thiruvarur]]
|Tamil Nadu
| [[Tiruturaipundi Junction railway station|Tiruturaipundi]]
|3
| Branch
| [[Broad-gauge railway|Broad]]
| No
| 1
|
| {{convert|26|km|abbr=on}}
|  
|-
|-
|[[Rameswaram railway station|Rameshwaram railway station]]-[[Dhanushkodi railway station|Dhanuskodi railway station]]
| [[Karaikkudi Junction railway station|Karaikkudi]]-[[Tiruturaipundi Junction railway station|Tiruturaipundi]]
(Currently under survey)
| [[Karaikkudi Junction railway station|Karaikkudi]]
|Tamil Nadu
| [[Tiruturaipundi Junction railway station|Tiruturaipundi]]
|17
| Branch
| [[Broad-gauge railway|Broad]]
| No
| 1
|
| {{convert|149|km|abbr=on}}
|  
|-
|-
| [[Tiruturaipundi Junction railway station|Tiruturaipundi]]-[[Vedaranyam|Agastiyampalli]]
| [[Tiruturaipundi Junction railway station|Tiruturaipundi]]
| [[Vedaranyam|Agastiyampalli]]
| Branch
| [[Broad-gauge railway|Broad]]
| No
| 1
|
| {{convert|36.8|km|abbr=on}}
|
|-
|-
|}
|}


==== Railway Lines Existed during Colonial India which no longer exist today ====
[[File:5th_Vande_Bharat_Express_departing_towards_Mysuru_Jn.jpg|thumb|[[MGR Chennai Central - Mysuru Vande Bharat Express|Chennai-Mysore Vande Bharat Express]]]]
[[File:Chennai_Central_D.jpg|thumb|[[Chennai Central]], the busiest station of Southern railway]]
 
Defunct railway lines include [[Kundala Valley Railway]]s,<ref>{{cite web|title=Remains of Kundala Valley Railway, Munnar|url=https://www.irfca.org/gallery/Heritage/Kundala/|access-date=30 December 2020|publisher=IRFCA|archive-date=11 February 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210211033506/http://www.irfca.org/gallery/Heritage/Kundala/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|date=22 June 2019|title=Monorail may return to Munnar|newspaper=[[The Hindu]]|url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/kerala/return-of-the-rail-in-munnar/article28110616.ece|access-date=30 December 2020|issn=0971-751X|archive-date=8 November 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201108001952/https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/kerala/return-of-the-rail-in-munnar/article28110616.ece|url-status=live}}</ref> [[Kochi tram|Kochin Tramways]],<ref>{{cite web|title=Cochin State Forest Tramway|url=https://wiki.fibis.org/w/Cochin_State_Forest_Tramway|access-date=30 December 2020|publisher=FIBIS|archive-date=29 September 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210929174256/https://wiki.fibis.org/w/Cochin_State_Forest_Tramway|url-status=live}}</ref> [[Trams in Chennai|Madras Tramways]],<ref>{{cite web|title=Madras Tramways – FIBIwiki|url=https://wiki.fibis.org/w/Madras_Tramways|access-date=30 December 2020|publisher=FIBIS|archive-date=12 May 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210512235926/https://wiki.fibis.org/w/Madras_Tramways|url-status=live}}</ref> [[Tiruchendur]] Light Railway,<ref>{{cite web|title=Kulasekharapatnam Tissainvillai Light Railway – FIBIwiki|url=https://wiki.fibis.org/w/Kulasekharapatnam_Tissainvillai_Light_Railway#cite_note-TN39-4|access-date=30 December 2020|publisher=FIBIS|archive-date=26 June 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210626135817/https://wiki.fibis.org/w/Kulasekharapatnam_Tissainvillai_Light_Railway#cite_note-TN39-4|url-status=live}}</ref> [[Dharmapuri]] and [[Krishnagiri]] famine light railways,<ref>{{cite web|title=Morappur-Dharmapuri-Hosur Railway – FIBIwiki|url=https://wiki.fibis.org/w/Morappur-Dharmapuri-Hosur_Railway|access-date=30 December 2020|publisher=FIBIS|archive-date=1 October 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211001005812/https://wiki.fibis.org/w/Morappur-Dharmapuri-Hosur_Railway|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Tirupattur-Krishnagiri Railway – FIBIwiki|url=https://wiki.fibis.org/w/Tirupattur-Krishnagiri_Railway|access-date=30 December 2020|publisher=FIBIS|archive-date=29 September 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210929093013/https://wiki.fibis.org/w/Tirupattur-Krishnagiri_Railway|url-status=live}}</ref> Kodaikanal Light Railway.<ref>{{cite web|title=South Indian Railway 1909|url=https://wiki.fibis.org/images/0/08/South_Indian_Railway_1909.png|access-date=30 December 2020|publisher=FIBIS|archive-date=11 January 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210111180256/https://wiki.fibis.org/images/0/08/South_Indian_Railway_1909.png|url-status=live}}</ref>
<ref>{{cite web|title=[IRFCA] Mysteries of a Defunct Ropeway|url=https://www.irfca.org/articles/defunct-ropeway.html|access-date=30 December 2020|publisher=FIBIS|archive-date=7 May 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210507051959/https://www.irfca.org/articles/defunct-ropeway.html|url-status=live}}</ref>
 
===Trains===
Southern Railways operates 41 sets of [[express train]]s and 97 sets of [[Superfast trains in India|superfast]] trains. The superfast trains include: [[Vande Bharat Express]] (10), [[Shatabdi Express]] (2), [[Garib Rath Express]] (2), [[Duronto Express]] (1), [[Jan Shatabdi Express]] (4), [[Sampark Kranti Express]] (1), [[Anuvrat AC Superfast Express|Anuvrat Express]] (1), [[Humsafar Express]] (1), [[Tejas Express]] (1), [[Uday Express]] (1), [[Antyodaya Express]] (2) and [[Double Decker Express]] (1). Apart from this, it operates various [[Passenger train]]s, [[Diesel-electric Multiple Unit|DEMU]], [[Electric Multiple Unit|EMU]] services, [[Chennai Suburban]] and the Nilgiri Mountain Railway.<ref name="IR">{{cite web|url=https://indiarailinfo.com/trains?date=undefined&drev=undefined&arev=undefined&zone=14&|title=Southern Railways|publisher=Indiarailinfo|access-date=12 August 2023|archive-date=12 August 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230812125557/https://indiarailinfo.com/trains?date=undefined&drev=undefined&arev=undefined&zone=14&|url-status=live}}</ref>
 
===Stations===
{{see also|Categorization of Indian Railway stations by commercial importance}}
There are about 727 stations on the Southern railway network, including 486 non suburban stations, 74 suburban stations and 166 halt stations. The major and highest revenue earning stations are [[Chennai Central railway station|Chennai Central]], [[Chennai Egmore railway station|Chennai Egmore]], [[Coimbatore Junction railway station|Coimbatore Junction]], [[Tambaram railway station|Tambaram]], [[Madurai Junction railway station|Madurai Junction]], [[Thiruvananthapuram Central railway station|Thiruvananthapuram Central]] and [[Ernakulam Junction railway station|Ernakulam Junction]].<ref name="SRS"/>
 
==Chennai Suburban==
[[File:Chennai_Rail.png|thumb|upright=0.75|Chennai suburban map]]
{{see also|Chennai Suburban Railway|Madras Railway}}
 
Chennai Suburban Railway is the [[commuter rail]] system in the city of [[Chennai]], operated by the Southern Railways. The system operates four lines with a track length of {{convert|1174.21|km|abbr=on}}, of which {{convert|509.71|km|abbr=on}} are dedicated dual tracks for EMUs.<ref>{{cite report|url=https://www.cmdachennai.gov.in/Volume1_English_PDF/Vol1_Chapter04_Transport.pdf|title=Transport in Chennai|publisher=[[Chennai Metropolitan Development Authority]]|page=4|access-date=1 December 2023|archive-date=28 October 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231028121316/https://www.cmdachennai.gov.in/Volume1_English_PDF/Vol1_Chapter04_Transport.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite report|title=Project Brief of Chennai Metro Rail|url=https://ta.chennaimetrorail.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2015/11/project_brief_updated_aug081.pdf|publisher=[[Chennai Metro]]|access-date=24 May 2013|archive-date=12 July 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170712124328/http://ta.chennaimetrorail.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2015/11/project_brief_updated_aug081.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref>
 
{| class="wikitable"
{| class="wikitable"
!Route
!State
!References
|-
|-
|[[Kundala Valley Railway]]s
!! style="background-color:#FFD700"| Line
|Kerala
!! style="background-color:#FFD700"| Start
|<ref>{{Cite web|title=Remains of Kundala Valley Railway, Munnar|url=https://www.irfca.org/gallery/Heritage/Kundala/|access-date=2020-12-30|website=www.irfca.org}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|last=Correspondent|first=A.|others=Special Correspondent|date=2019-06-22|title=Monorail may return to Munnar|language=en-IN|work=The Hindu|url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/kerala/return-of-the-rail-in-munnar/article28110616.ece|access-date=2020-12-30|issn=0971-751X}}</ref>
!! style="background-color:#FFD700"| End
!! style="background-color:#FFD700"| Type
!! style="background-color:#FFD700"| Length
!! style="background-color:#FFD700"| Stations
|-
|-
|[[Kochi tram|Kochin Tramways]]
| [[North Line, Chennai Suburban|North Line]]
|Kerala
| [[Chennai Central railway station|Chennai Central]]
|<ref>{{Cite web|title=Cochin State Forest Tramway - FIBIwiki|url=https://wiki.fibis.org/w/Cochin_State_Forest_Tramway|access-date=2020-12-30|website=wiki.fibis.org}}</ref>
| [[Sullurupeta railway station|Sullurpeta]]
| Suburban
| {{convert|82|km|abbr=on}}
| 30
|-
|-
|[[Trams in Chennai|Madras Tramways]]
| [[South Line, Chennai Suburban|South Line]]
|Tamil Nadu
| [[Chennai Beach railway station|Chennai Beach]]
|<ref>{{Cite web|title=Madras Tramways - FIBIwiki|url=https://wiki.fibis.org/w/Madras_Tramways|access-date=2020-12-30|website=wiki.fibis.org}}</ref>
| [[Chengalpattu Junction railway station|Chengalpattu]]
| Suburban
| {{convert|60|km|abbr=on}}
| 50
|-
|-
|Tiruchendur-Kulasekarapattinam-Tissainvillai Light Railway
| [[West Line, Chennai Suburban|West Line]]
|Tamil Nadu
| [[Chennai Beach railway station|Chennai Beach]]
|<ref>{{Cite web|title=Kulasekharapatnam Tissainvillai Light Railway - FIBIwiki|url=https://wiki.fibis.org/w/Kulasekharapatnam_Tissainvillai_Light_Railway#cite_note-TN39-4|access-date=2020-12-30|website=wiki.fibis.org}}</ref>
| [[Tiruttani]]
| Suburban
| {{convert|69|km|abbr=on}}
| 57
|-
|-
|Morappur-Dharmapuri famine Light Railway
| [[Chennai Mass Rapid Transit System|Chennai MRTS]]
|Tamil Nadu
| [[Chennai Beach railway station|Chennai Beach]]
|<ref>{{Cite web|title=Morappur-Dharmapuri-Hosur Railway - FIBIwiki|url=https://wiki.fibis.org/w/Morappur-Dharmapuri-Hosur_Railway|access-date=2020-12-30|website=wiki.fibis.org}}</ref>
| [[Velachery railway station|Velachery]]
| MRTS
| {{convert|19|km|abbr=on}}
| 25
|-
|-
|Tiruppattur-Krishnagiri famine Light Railway
|}
|Tamil Nadu
|<ref>{{Cite web|title=Tirupattur-Krishnagiri Railway - FIBIwiki|url=https://wiki.fibis.org/w/Tirupattur-Krishnagiri_Railway|access-date=2020-12-30|website=wiki.fibis.org}}</ref>
|-
|Ammanayakkanur(Kodaikanal Road Railway station)-Nilakottai-Periyakulam-Theni-karuwanooth(Kumily Lower Camp) Light Railway


Periyakulam-Kodaikanal Foothills Light Railway (as a branch line from Periyakulam)
==Nilgiri Mountain Railway==
[[File:NMR train at Ketti 05-02-26 75.jpeg|thumb|Nilgiri Mountain Railway]]
{{see also|Nilgiri Mountain Railway}}


Theni-Bodi Nayakkanur- Kottagudi Light Railway (as a branch line from theni)
Nilgiri Mountain Railway is a {{Track gauge|1000mm|allk=on}} railway in [[Nilgiris district]] connecting [[Mettupalayam railway station|Mettupalayam]] and [[Udhagamandalam railway station|Udagamandalam]]. It was built during the [[British Raj]] in 1908 and is currently operated by the Southern Railways.<ref>{{cite web|title=Nilgiri Mountain railway|url=https://sr.indianrailways.gov.in/view_section.jsp?fontColor=black&backgroundColor=LIGHTSTEELBLUE&lang=0&id=0,1,304,374,492,552|website=Indianrailway.gov.in|access-date=21 August 2019|archive-date=6 December 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191206122930/https://sr.indianrailways.gov.in/view_section.jsp?fontColor=black&backgroundColor=LIGHTSTEELBLUE&lang=0&id=0,1,304,374,492,552|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="UNESCO"/> It is the only [[rack railway]] in India and operates on its own fleet of [[steam locomotive]]s between [[Coonoor railway station|Coonoor]] and Udhagamandalam.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/tamil-nadu/in-pictures-nilgiri-mountain-railway-as-old-as-the-hills/article28732489.ece|title=he Nilgiri Mountain Railway as old as the hills|date=27 July 2019|access-date=1 March 2023|newspaper=[[The Hindu]]|archive-date=30 March 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230330055908/https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/tamil-nadu/in-pictures-nilgiri-mountain-railway-as-old-as-the-hills/article28732489.ece|url-status=live}}</ref> In July 2005, [[UNESCO]] added the Nilgiri Mountain Railway as an extension to the [[World Heritage Site]] of [[Mountain Railways of India]].<ref name="UNESCO">{{cite web|publisher=UNESCO World Heritage Centre|url=https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/944|title=Mountain Railways of India|access-date=30 April 2006|archive-date=3 May 2006|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060503143242/https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/944/|url-status=live}}</ref>
 
|Tamil Nadu
|<ref name=":1">{{Cite web|title=Imperial gazzette of India 1909|url=https://wiki.fibis.org/images/0/08/South_Indian_Railway_1909.png}}</ref>
|-
|Erode-Gopichettippalayam-Sathiyamangalam-Chamarajanagar (under construction under colonial India)
|Tamil Nadu, karnataka
|<ref name=":1" />
|}
 
==Loco sheds==
* [[Electric Loco Shed, Arakkonam]]
* [[Electric Loco Shed, Erode]]
* [[Electric Loco Shed, Royapuram]]
* [[Diesel Loco Shed, Ernakulam]]
* [[Diesel Loco Shed, Erode]]
* [[Diesel Loco Shed, Golden Rock]]
* [[Diesel Loco Shed, Tondiarpet]]
* Steam Loco Shed, Coonoor


==See also==
==See also==
* [[Zones and divisions of Indian Railways]]
* [[Zones and divisions of Indian Railways]]
* [[All India Station Masters' Association (AISMA)]]
* [[All India Station Masters' Association (AISMA)]]


==References==
==References==
{{Reflist}}
{{Reflist|3}}


==External links==
==External links==
{{commons category|Southern Railway Zone, India}}
{{commons category|Southern Railway Zone, India}}
* [https://sr.indianrailways.gov.in/cris//uploads/files/1686894847523-System%20Map%202023%20signed.pdf Southern Railways System Map]
* [http://www.sr.indianrailways.gov.in/ Southern Railway official website]
* [http://www.sr.indianrailways.gov.in/ Southern Railway official website]


Line 988: Line 767:
[[Category:1951 establishments in Madras State]]
[[Category:1951 establishments in Madras State]]
[[Category:Zones of Indian Railways]]
[[Category:Zones of Indian Railways]]
[[Category:Southern Railway Zone|*]]
[[Category:Southern Railway zone|*]]

Latest revision as of 21:59, 26 March 2026


For other uses, see Southern Railway (disambiguation).

Southern Railway
7-Southern Railway
Overview
Main region(s)South India
Stations called at727
HeadquartersChennai
Reporting markSR
LocaleTamil Nadu, parts of Kerala, Southern parts of Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, & Puducherry,
Dates of operation14 April 1950; 76 years ago (14 April 1950)–
PredecessorSouth Indian Railway
Madras and Southern Mahratta Railway
Mysore State Railway
SuccessorSouthern Railway
South Coast Railway
South Central Railway
South Western Railway
Technical
Track gaugeBroad gauge
Previous gaugeMetre gauge
Narrow gauge
Electrification25 kV AC
Length5,081 km (3,157 mi) route[1]
No. of tracks9 (main lines)
Operating speed130 km/h (81 mph)
Other
WebsiteSouthern Railway

Southern Railway (abbreviated SR) is one of the 18 zones of Indian Railways. It is headquartered at Chennai and operates across the states of Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Karnataka , Andhra Pradesh and the union territory of Puducherry. It maintains about 5,081 km (3,157 mi) of railway lines and operates 727 railway stations.

The origin of the Southern Railway can be traced back to the mid-19th century. In 1835, the first railway track in India was constructed in Madras and became operational in 1837. The Madras Railway was formally established later in 1845. The Southern Railway was created on 14 April 1950 by merging three state railways, namely, the Madras and Southern Mahratta Railway, the South Indian Railway Company, and the Mysore State Railway and became the first railway zone of the Indian Railways.

History[edit | edit source]

See also: Timeline of Southern Railway zone and Madras Railway
Map of South Indian Railway in 1910

The history of the Southern Railway can be traced back to the Madras Railway. In 1832, the proposal to construct the first railway line in India at Madras was made by the British.[2] In 1835, the railway track was constructed between Little Mount and Chintadripet in Madras and became operational in 1837.[3] The Madras Railway was established later in 1845 and the construction on the first main line between Madras and Arcot started in 1853, which became operational in 1856.[4] In 1908, Madras Railway merged with Southern Mahratta Railway to form the Madras and Southern Mahratta Railway.[5][6]

In 1944, all the railway companies operating in British India were taken over by the Government.[7] Post Independence, various re-grouping proposals were studied as there were 42 different railway systems. In December 1950, the Central Advisory Committee for Railways approved the plan for Indian Railways into six zonal systems and the Southern Railway zone was created on 14 April 1950 by merging three state railways, namely, the Madras and Southern Mahratta Railway, the South Indian Railway Company, and the Mysore State Railway.[8]

Organisation[edit | edit source]

Southern Railway headquarters in Chennai

Southern Railway zone covers the states of Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Puducherry and a small portion of Andhra Pradesh.[8] Andaman and Nicobar will form part of the zone once the proposed new railway line between Port Blair and Diglipur becomes operational.[9]

The Southern Railway is headed by the General Manager, assisted by an Additional General Manager. Southern Railway is headquartered in Chennai and is divided into six divisions namely Chennai, Tiruchirappalli, Madurai, Palakkad, Salem and Thiruvananthapuram.[8]

Name of Division Established Headquarters Comments
Bezawada 6-May-1956 Vijayawada Moved to SCR in 1966 and SCoR in 2019
Madurai 6-May-1956 Madurai
Tiruchirappalli 6-May-1956 Tiruchirappalli
Madras 1-August-1956 Chennai
Palakkad 4-August-1956 Palakkad previously known as Olavacode. Formed from Podanur division.
Guntakal 10-October-1956 Guntakal Moved to SCR in 1977 and SCoR in 2019
Mysore 31-October-1956 Mysuru Moved to SWR in 2003
Hubli 31-October-1956 Hubli Moved to SCR in 1966 and SWR in 2003
Bangalore 31-October-1971 Bangalore Moved to SWR in 2003
Thiruvananthapuram 2-October-1979 Thiruvananthapuram
Salem 14-November-2001 Salem

Operations and infrastructure[edit | edit source]

The zone operates both passenger and freight trains. Various classes of passenger trains including Vande Bharat Express, Amrit Bharat Express, Shatabdi Express, Antyodaya Express, Double Decker Express and Tejas Express are operated by Southern Railways.[10] Freight operations include container traffic from the ports, coal bound to the thermal power stations, oil and petroleum products from refineries, cement and food grains. Most of the lines inside ports, thermal stations, manufacturing industries and owned by the respective companies and the zone provides a link connecting to its network along with the wagons and locomotives. The zone has a larger proportion of passenger traffic compared to freight.[11][12] There are about 727 stations on the Southern railway network.[13]

Locomotives[edit | edit source]

A Erode WAP-7 locomotive of Southern Railway
A X class locomotive of the Nilgiri Mountain Railway

Southern Railway utilizes various classes of electric and diesel locomotives to haul the trains. Steam locomotives are used by the Nilgiri Mountain Railway.[14] The zone has three electric locomotive sheds and four diesel locomotive sheds.[15]

Name Location Type Locomotive class Count
Electric Loco Shed, Arakkonam Arakkonam Electric WAP-4, WAG-5, WAG-9 184
Electric Loco Shed, Erode Erode Electric WAP-4, WAP-7, WAG-7 211
Electric Loco Shed, Royapuram Chennai Electric WAP-5, WAP-7 122
Diesel Loco Shed, Ernakulam Ernakulam Diesel WDM-3A, WDG-3A, WDM-3D, WDG-4, WDG-4D 39
Diesel Loco Shed, Erode Erode Electric WAP-1, WAP-4, WAG-5, WAG-7 145
Diesel Loco Shed, Golden Rock Tiruchirappalli Diesel WDG-3A, WDP-3A, WDM-3D, WDP-4, WDG-4, YDM-4, WDS-6, WDM-7 152
Diesel Loco Shed, Tondiarpet Chennai Diesel WDM-3A, WDG-3A, WDS-6, WDG-4, WDG-4D 55
Coonoor Loco Shed, Coonoor Coonoor Steam, Diesel X Class, YDM-4

Maintenance and workshops[edit | edit source]

Southern Railway maintains wagon and locomotive workshops at Perambur, Chennai and Ponmalai, Tiruchirapalli, engineering workshop at Arakkonam, carriage maintenance workshops at Basin Bridge and Egmore and a signal and telecommunication workshop at Podanur, Coimbatore. It has three EMU car sheds in Chennai at Avadi, Tambaram, Velachery and MEMU sheds at Kollam[16] and Palakkad.[17] Southern Railway maintains trip sheds at Basin Bridge, Egmore, Tondiarpet and Jolarpettai.[15] Southern Railway operated ticket printing presses at Royapuram, Thiruvananthapuram and Tiruchirappalli, but these have been phased out due to digitization.[18][19]

Railway coaches and wagons[edit | edit source]

Southern Railways uses both ICF coaches and LHB coaches for its trains. ICF coaches manufactured by the Integral Coach Factory in Chennai have been used predominantly for over sixty years since the formation of the zone in 1951.[20] The ICF coaches are slowly being replaced by newer LHB rakes which provide better passenger comfort and safety.[21][22]

Railway lines[edit | edit source]

Following are the list of railway lines operational.[23][24]

Line Start End Type Gauge Electrified No. of Lines Speed limit Length Major stations
Chennai Central-Jolarpettai Chennai Central Jolarpettai Main Broad Yes 2 (4 till Arakkonam) 213 km (132 mi) Arakkonam
Chennai Central-Renigunta Chennai Central Renigunta Main Broad Yes 2 (4 till Arakkonam) 130 km/h (81 mph)[25] 135 km (84 mi) Arakkonam
Chennai Central-Gudur Chennai Central Gudur Main Broad Yes 2 130 km/h (81 mph)[25] 136 km (85 mi) Sullurupeta
Jolarpettai–Shoranur Jolarpettai Shoranur Main Broad Yes 2 366 km (227 mi) Salem, Erode, Coimbatore, Coimbatore North, Podanur, Palakkad
Shoranur-Mangalore railway line Shoranur Mangalore Main Broad Yes 2 315 km (196 mi) Kannur, Kozhikode
Shoranur-Ernakulam line Shoranur Cochin Harbour Terminus Main Broad Yes 2 107 km (66 mi) Thrissur, Aluva, Ernakulam Junction, Ernakulam Town
Chennai Egmore-Thoothukudi Chennai Egmore Thoothukudi Main Broad Yes 2 (4 till Chengalpattu) 654 km (406 mi) Chengalpattu, Villupuram, Virudhachalam, Tiruchirappalli, Dindigul, Madurai, Virudhunagar, Vanchi
Tiruchirappalli-Thanjavur Tiruchirappalli Thanjavur Branch Broad Yes 2 50 km (31 mi)
Tiruchirappalli-Erode Tiruchirappalli Erode Branch Broad Yes 1 141 km (88 mi) Karur
Salem-Dindigul Salem Dindigul Branch Broad Yes 1 159 km (99 mi) Karur
Madurai-Rameswaram Madurai Rameswaram Branch Broad Yes 1 173.82 km (108.01 mi) Manamadurai
Tiruchirappalli-Sengottai Tiruchirappalli Sengottai Branch Broad Yes 1 320 km (200 mi) Karaikudi, Manamadurai, Virudhunagar
Vanchi Maniyachchi-Tirunelveli Vanchi Maniyachchi Tirunelveli Branch Broad Yes 2 28.9 km (18.0 mi)
Tiruchirappalli-Thanjavur Tiruchirappalli Thanjavur Branch Broad Yes 2 50 km (31 mi)
Coimbatore North-Mettupalayam Coimbatore North Mettupalayam Branch Broad Yes 1 32.8 km (20.4 mi)
Nilgiri Mountain Railway Mettupalayam Udhagamandalam Branch Metre No 1 45.9 km (28.5 mi) Coonoor
Thrissur-Guruvayur line Thrissur Guruvayur Branch Broad Yes 1 22.6 km (14.0 mi)
Shoranur -Nilambur line Shoranur Nilambur Road Branch Broad Yes [26] 1 65.8 km (40.9 mi)
Ernakulam–Kayamkulam coastal line Ernakulam Kayamkulam Branch Broad Yes 1 100.34 km (62.35 mi) Alappuzha
Ernakulam–Kottayam–Kayamkulam line Ernakulam Kayamkulam Branch Broad Yes 2 156 km (97 mi) Kottayam, Chengannur
Kollam-Sengottai line Kollam Sengottai Branch Broad Yes 1 94 km (58 mi)
Kollam-Thiruvananthapuram line Kollam Thiruvanathapuram Central Main Broad Yes[27] 2 65 km (40 mi) Kochuveli
Thiruvananthapuram–Nagercoil–Kanyakumari line Thiruvanathapuram Central Kanniyakumari Branch Broad Yes 1 89 km (55 mi) Nagercoil
Nagercoil - Tirunelveli Nagercoil Tirunelveli Main Broad Yes 2 110 km/h (68 mph)[28][29] 73 km (45 mi)
Tenkasi-Tiruchendur Tenkasi Tiruchendur Branch Broad Yes 1 61.2 km (38.0 mi)
Tenkasi-Sengottai Tenkasi Sengottai Branch Broad Yes 1 8 km (5.0 mi)
Irugur-Podanur Irugur Podanur Branch Broad Yes 1 10.9 km (6.8 mi)
Dindigul-Pollachi Dindigul Pollachi Branch Broad Yes 1 120.7 km (75.0 mi) Palani
Podanur-Pollachi Podanur Pollachi Branch Broad Yes 1 40 km (25 mi)
Palakkad–Pollachi line Palakkad Pollachi Branch Broad Yes 1 57.8 km (35.9 mi)
Salem-Mettur Dam Salem Mettur Dam Branch Broad Yes 2 38.9 km (24.2 mi)
Salem-Virudhachalam Salem Virudhachalam Branch Broad Yes 1 139 km (86 mi)
Cuddalore-Thanjavur Cuddalore Thanjavur Branch Broad Yes 1 146 km (91 mi) Mayiladuthurai
Cuddalore-Virudhachalam Cuddalore Virudhachalam Branch Broad Yes 1 57 km (35 mi)
Villupuram-Puducherry Villupuram Puducherry Branch Broad Yes 1 37.6 km (23.4 mi)
Villupuram-Katpadi Villupuram Katpadi Branch Broad Yes 1 161 km (100 mi) Tiruvannamalai
Thanjavur-Karaikal Thanjavur Karaikal Branch Broad Yes 1 95.4 km (59.3 mi) Nagapattinam
Mayiladuthurai-Thiruvarur Mayiladuthurai Thiruvarur Branch Broad Yes 1 39 km (24 mi)
Arakkonam-Chengalpattu Arakkonam Chengalpattu Branch Broad Yes 1 68 km (42 mi)
Nagapattinam-Velankanni Nagapattinam Velankanni Branch Broad Yes 1 10.4 km (6.5 mi)
Madurai-Bodinayakkanur Madurai Bodinayakkanur Branch Broad Yes 1 88 km (55 mi)
Thiruvarur-Tiruturaipundi Thiruvarur Tiruturaipundi Branch Broad No 1 26 km (16 mi)
Karaikkudi-Tiruturaipundi Karaikkudi Tiruturaipundi Branch Broad No 1 149 km (93 mi)
Tiruturaipundi-Agastiyampalli Tiruturaipundi Agastiyampalli Branch Broad No 1 36.8 km (22.9 mi)
Chennai-Mysore Vande Bharat Express
Chennai Central, the busiest station of Southern railway

Defunct railway lines include Kundala Valley Railways,[30][31] Kochin Tramways,[32] Madras Tramways,[33] Tiruchendur Light Railway,[34] Dharmapuri and Krishnagiri famine light railways,[35][36] Kodaikanal Light Railway.[37] [38]

Trains[edit | edit source]

Southern Railways operates 41 sets of express trains and 97 sets of superfast trains. The superfast trains include: Vande Bharat Express (10), Shatabdi Express (2), Garib Rath Express (2), Duronto Express (1), Jan Shatabdi Express (4), Sampark Kranti Express (1), Anuvrat Express (1), Humsafar Express (1), Tejas Express (1), Uday Express (1), Antyodaya Express (2) and Double Decker Express (1). Apart from this, it operates various Passenger trains, DEMU, EMU services, Chennai Suburban and the Nilgiri Mountain Railway.[10]

Stations[edit | edit source]

See also: Categorization of Indian Railway stations by commercial importance

There are about 727 stations on the Southern railway network, including 486 non suburban stations, 74 suburban stations and 166 halt stations. The major and highest revenue earning stations are Chennai Central, Chennai Egmore, Coimbatore Junction, Tambaram, Madurai Junction, Thiruvananthapuram Central and Ernakulam Junction.[13]

Chennai Suburban[edit | edit source]

Chennai suburban map
See also: Chennai Suburban Railway and Madras Railway

Chennai Suburban Railway is the commuter rail system in the city of Chennai, operated by the Southern Railways. The system operates four lines with a track length of 1,174.21 km (729.62 mi), of which 509.71 km (316.72 mi) are dedicated dual tracks for EMUs.[39][40]

Line Start End Type Length Stations
North Line Chennai Central Sullurpeta Suburban 82 km (51 mi) 30
South Line Chennai Beach Chengalpattu Suburban 60 km (37 mi) 50
West Line Chennai Beach Tiruttani Suburban 69 km (43 mi) 57
Chennai MRTS Chennai Beach Velachery MRTS 19 km (12 mi) 25

Nilgiri Mountain Railway[edit | edit source]

Nilgiri Mountain Railway
See also: Nilgiri Mountain Railway

Nilgiri Mountain Railway is a 1,000 mm (3 ft 3+3⁄8 in) metre gauge railway in Nilgiris district connecting Mettupalayam and Udagamandalam. It was built during the British Raj in 1908 and is currently operated by the Southern Railways.[41][42] It is the only rack railway in India and operates on its own fleet of steam locomotives between Coonoor and Udhagamandalam.[43] In July 2005, UNESCO added the Nilgiri Mountain Railway as an extension to the World Heritage Site of Mountain Railways of India.[42]

See also[edit | edit source]

References[edit | edit source]

  1. ↑ "Southern Railway vital statistics" (PDF). Southern Railway. Archived (PDF) from the original on 20 January 2019. Retrieved 20 January 2019.
  2. ↑ Understanding Indian Railway Heritage (PDF) (Report). Indian Railways. p. 6. Archived (PDF) from the original on 26 December 2023. Retrieved 1 December 2023.
  3. ↑ "Chennai: The track record". New Indian Express. 16 April 2018. Archived from the original on 12 August 2023. Retrieved 9 August 2023.
  4. ↑ "On Forgotten Road". The Times of India. 31 March 2013. Archived from the original on 12 August 2023. Retrieved 9 August 2023.
  5. ↑ "Third oldest railway station in country set to turn 156". Indian Railways. Retrieved 13 February 2013.
  6. ↑ The Cambridge Economic History of India. Vol. 2. Orient Longmans Private Limited. 2005. p. 755. ISBN 978-8-1250-2731-7.
  7. ↑ Evolution of Indian Railways-Historical Background (Report). Indian Railways. Archived from the original on 1 June 2009. Retrieved 1 December 2023.
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 "Southern Railways, about us". Southern Railway. Archived from the original on 16 September 2023. Retrieved 12 August 2023.
  9. ↑ "Railways to show green signal to a train in Andaman and Nicobar". Indian Express. 6 February 2017. Archived from the original on 12 August 2023. Retrieved 12 August 2023.
  10. ↑ 10.0 10.1 "Southern Railways". Indiarailinfo. Archived from the original on 12 August 2023. Retrieved 12 August 2023.
  11. ↑ "Southern Railway punctuality and fiscal performance hit". The Times of India. Archived from the original on 15 June 2018. Retrieved 24 February 2018.
  12. ↑ "Southern Railway's financial and operational performance dips". The Times of India. Archived from the original on 28 May 2018. Retrieved 24 February 2018.
  13. ↑ 13.0 13.1 "Southern Railway stations" (PDF) (pdf). Indian Railways. Archived (PDF) from the original on 23 December 2023. Retrieved 12 August 2023.
  14. ↑ "Coonoor loco shed opened for tourists". The Hindu. 29 September 2019. Archived from the original on 12 August 2023. Retrieved 12 August 2023.
  15. ↑ 15.0 15.1 "Sheds and Workshops – Southern Railway". IRFCA. Archived from the original on 4 December 2023. Retrieved 1 November 2023.
  16. ↑ "Three ISO certificates for MEMU maintenance shed". The Hindu. 3 September 2019. Archived from the original on 27 September 2023. Retrieved 27 September 2023.
  17. ↑ "Memu rakes yet to reach Kerala". Deccan Chronicle. 18 May 2018. Archived from the original on 27 September 2023. Retrieved 27 September 2023.
  18. ↑ "Ticket to the Past". The Hindu. 30 August 2018. Archived from the original on 12 August 2023. Retrieved 12 August 2023.
  19. ↑ "Railway board plans to ease out 100 year old printing press". Times of India. 5 November 2017. Archived from the original on 12 August 2023. Retrieved 12 August 2023.
  20. ↑ "Is It Time for Indian Railways to Tear Up Ageing Tracks and Old Machinery?". Zee Media Corporation. 14 January 2022. Archived from the original on 6 June 2023. Retrieved 6 June 2023.
  21. ↑ Ayyappan, V. (4 January 2021). "Leakage Found in ICF Coaches". The Times of India. Archived from the original on 6 June 2023. Retrieved 6 June 2023.
  22. ↑ Debroy, Bibek (9 February 2018). "A 70-Year-Old Vs a 30-Year-Old: LHB Coaches Perform Better than ICF Ones". Business Standard. Archived from the original on 29 April 2023. Retrieved 6 June 2023.
  23. ↑ Southern Railway Route Map (PDF) (Report). Indian Railways. Archived (PDF) from the original on 12 August 2023. Retrieved 12 August 2023.
  24. ↑ "Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General of India for the year ended March 2020" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 7 April 2022.
  25. ↑ 25.0 25.1 "Southern Railway increases maximum permissible speed on around 2037 route KMS in the Financial Year 2022-23". Rail Analysis India. Retrieved 1 June 2025.
  26. ↑ "Electrification of Shoranur-Nilambur rail line completed". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 5 April 2024. Retrieved 30 March 2024.
  27. ↑ "Rail electrification: inspection begins". The Hindu. 14 December 2006. Archived from the original on 18 May 2024. Retrieved 9 January 2017.
  28. ↑ "Southern Railway targets on speed enhancement works to increase trains speed on vital sections in the current Financial Year 2023-24". Rail Analysis India. Retrieved 1 June 2025.
  29. ↑ "Insights on speed enhancement achieved by Southern Railway and works in progress in Tamil Nadu". Rail Analysis India. 2 February 2023. Retrieved 1 June 2025.
  30. ↑ "Remains of Kundala Valley Railway, Munnar". IRFCA. Archived from the original on 11 February 2021. Retrieved 30 December 2020.
  31. ↑ "Monorail may return to Munnar". The Hindu. 22 June 2019. ISSN 0971-751X. Archived from the original on 8 November 2020. Retrieved 30 December 2020.
  32. ↑ "Cochin State Forest Tramway". FIBIS. Archived from the original on 29 September 2021. Retrieved 30 December 2020.
  33. ↑ "Madras Tramways – FIBIwiki". FIBIS. Archived from the original on 12 May 2021. Retrieved 30 December 2020.
  34. ↑ "Kulasekharapatnam Tissainvillai Light Railway – FIBIwiki". FIBIS. Archived from the original on 26 June 2021. Retrieved 30 December 2020.
  35. ↑ "Morappur-Dharmapuri-Hosur Railway – FIBIwiki". FIBIS. Archived from the original on 1 October 2021. Retrieved 30 December 2020.
  36. ↑ "Tirupattur-Krishnagiri Railway – FIBIwiki". FIBIS. Archived from the original on 29 September 2021. Retrieved 30 December 2020.
  37. ↑ "South Indian Railway 1909". FIBIS. Archived from the original on 11 January 2021. Retrieved 30 December 2020.
  38. ↑ "[IRFCA] Mysteries of a Defunct Ropeway". FIBIS. Archived from the original on 7 May 2021. Retrieved 30 December 2020.
  39. ↑ Transport in Chennai (PDF) (Report). Chennai Metropolitan Development Authority. p. 4. Archived (PDF) from the original on 28 October 2023. Retrieved 1 December 2023.
  40. ↑ Project Brief of Chennai Metro Rail (PDF) (Report). Chennai Metro. Archived (PDF) from the original on 12 July 2017. Retrieved 24 May 2013.
  41. ↑ "Nilgiri Mountain railway". Indianrailway.gov.in. Archived from the original on 6 December 2019. Retrieved 21 August 2019.
  42. ↑ 42.0 42.1 "Mountain Railways of India". UNESCO World Heritage Centre. Archived from the original on 3 May 2006. Retrieved 30 April 2006.
  43. ↑ "he Nilgiri Mountain Railway as old as the hills". The Hindu. 27 July 2019. Archived from the original on 30 March 2023. Retrieved 1 March 2023.

External links[edit | edit source]

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