Guntakal–Vasco da Gama section

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Guntakal–Vasco da Gama section
Howrah bound Amaravati Express at Vizianagaram.jpg
Amaravati Express is a prestigious train running on Guntakal–Vasco da Gama section
Overview
StatusOperational
OwnerIndian Railways
LocaleAndhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Goa
TerminiGuntakal Junction (GTL)
Marmagao (MRH)
Stations73
Service
Services1
Route number7/7A/49/49A[1]
Operator(s)South Central Railway zone
South Western Railway zone
Konkan Railway Corporation
Technical
Line length457 km (284 mi)
Number of tracks2
Track gauge1,676 mm (5 ft 6 in)
Old gauge1,000 mm (3 ft 3+3⁄8 in)
ElectrificationGuntakal–Hulkoti (electrified)

Hulkoti-Hubballi (under electrification) Hubballi-Alnavar(electrified)

Alnavar-Vasco-Da-Gamma(Under electrification)
Operating speed100 kilometres per hour (62 mph)
Route map
Template:Guntakal–Vasco da Gama section

The Guntakal–Vasco da Gama section, or Mormugao Railway (formerly known as West of India Portuguese Railway),[2] is a railway line connecting the town of Guntakal in Andhra Pradesh and Vasco da Gama in Goa, India. It traverses the Western Ghats and covers a distance of 457 kilometres (284 mi) across Goa, Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh.

It is operated by the public companies Indian Railways — through its operating subsidiaries South Central Railway zone and South Western Railway zone — and Konkan Railway Corporation.

History[edit]

The Railway Line passes along Dudhsagar Falls

In the year 1878, an agreement was signed between the West of India Portuguese Guaranteed Railway Company (WIPR) and Portuguese Government of Portuguese India for construction of Harbour and connected Railway but the railway work started only in 1882.[3]

In December 1887, The total length of existing meter gauge railway track in the Goan Territory of 43 km between Mormugao-Sanvordem via Vasco da Gama was inaugurated. In 1888, Mormugao was connected with Southern Maharatta Railway at Caranzol-Castle Rock junction[3]

In 1902, with the metre gauge line on the verge of bankruptcy, the company leased the railway to the Southern Mahratta Railway, which continued to manage railway till 1955.[4][3] With independence, the WIPR's operation passed to Indian Railways and, in 1951, to the Southern Railway.[citation needed]

From 1955 to 1961, the lines within the Portuguese enclave of Goa reverted to Portuguese control. An autonomous body named Junta Autónoma dos Portos e Caminhos de Ferro do Estado da Índia ("Autonomous Board of the Ports and Railways of the State of India") constituted by the Portuguese Government took over the administration of the Port and Railway on 1 April 1961 from Western India Portuguese Railway on the termination of the contract.[citation needed]

However, in 1962 upon the liberation of Goa on 19 December 1961, administration of the Port and its connected railway was taken over by the Government of India on 8 January 1962.[3] In 1963, the line was again taken over by Indian Railways and came under Southern Railway. The main Railway section from Vasco da Gama to the border of Goa was transferred to Southern Railway on 1 May 1963, thus delinking the port from the Railway management.[3]

On 19 July 1990, all railways in the Konkan Region (including all sections of the state of Goa), which were managed by the Indian Railways, came under the operational control of the Konkan Railway Corporation. Meanwhile, the inland sections of the states of Karnataka and Andra Pradesh remained under the management of the Indian Railways company — through its operating subsidiaries South Central Railway zone and South Western Railway zone.[citation needed]

In 1996-1997 the Konkan Railway was connected with the Mormugao Railway, in a contiguous stretch of approximately 15 km between Margao and Vasco da Gama.[5]

In 1998, the complete overhaul of the railway was completed, replacing the metric gauge (1.000 mm) with the indian gauge (1.676 mm).[citation needed]

Main stations[edit]

The main railway stations of the Mormugao Railway are:

References[edit]

  1. ↑ "Passenger Train Time Table". Indian Railways. Railway Board. Retrieved 1 July 2016.
  2. ↑ "O Porto e o Caminho de Ferro do Mormugão foram reintegrados na administração directa do Estado" (PDF). Gazeta dos Caminhos de Ferro. 1961. p. 51-52.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 "LANDMARK EVENTS OF THE PAST SEVENTY YEARS". Mormugao Port Trust. Retrieved 27 February 2015.
  4. ↑ "A Portuguese-British deal," New York Times, 16 October 1902, p1
  5. ↑ theevandi (10 August 2013). "The Incredible Konkan Railway Story". 24Coaches. Retrieved 4 July 2021.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)


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