The Southern Railway (SR) Zone of Indian Railways has prepared a Detailed Project Report (DPR) for increasing the speed on the Chennai-Bengaluru section to 160 kmph and the same has been submitted to the Railway Board. The Railway Board has given its in-principle approval to increase the speed to 160 kmph on eight lines of the Indian Railways network.
Various Zonal Railways have been nominated as hubs for preparation of Detailed Project Report (DPR). Southern Railway has been appointed as the hub for preparation of DPR for Chennai – Bengaluru route (362 km).
A similar Detailed Project Report (DPR) for Chennai – Gudur, Chennai – Renigunta sections for 160 kmph has also been submitted to the Railway Board by Southern Railway Zone.
Meanwhile, Southern Railway said in a statement, “Chennai – Gudur section (134.3 km), which is categorized as Group A Golden Quadrilateral route, has been cleared to run trains at a speed of 130 kmph. This makes the section the first in the Southern Railway capable of operating trains at a speed of 130 km/h.”
Before the speed upgrade, the railways and RDSO conducted a series of trial runs to assess the suitability of tracks, traction, signals and rolling stock. And in accordance with all the prescribed requirements, the section is now equipped to accommodate trains at a speed of 130 kmph.
Also in another related development, the Southern Railway is taking steps to increase the maximum permissible speed of trains on key routes in Tamil Nadu.
As part of a systematic and planned effort to strengthen the track, traction and signaling systems, the zone is focusing on upgrading the speed on Group A and Golden Quadrilateral-Golden Diagonal (GQ-GD) routes and identified Group B routes in Tamil Nadu. Group A and Group B lines are those railway lines on which the speed can be increased to a maximum of 160 km/h and 130 km/h respectively, according to the railway manual.
Chennai – Renigunta section
On the Chennai – Renigunta section (134.78 km), which belongs to Group B, also the Golden Four Wheeler, the work to increase the speed from the existing 110 km/h to 130 km/h has already been completed. After receiving the sanction of the Commissioner for Railway Safety, the section is intended for speed upgrading in the current fiscal year.
Once the speed increase is approved, trains plying on these important routes in Tamil Nadu will run at higher speeds, greatly easing travel time for passengers.
Other routes of group B
Speed upping works are underway on Arakkonam – Jolarpettai, Jolarpettai – Podanur and Chennai – Dindigul (Group B routes). On these sections, it is proposed to increase the maximum permitted speed from the existing 110 km/h to 130 km/h. In particular, on the Arakkonam – Jolarpettai section (144.54 km), the target date for completion of speed improvement works has now been shifted to March 2023 as this crucial section handles premium trains such as the Vande Bharat and Shatabti trains.
Speed increase to 110 km/h
In the current year 2022-23 and till date, various infrastructural upgrades have been completed and the maximum speed limit has been increased to 110 kmph on Vriddhachalam – Salem sections from 80 kmph, Thanjavur – Ponmalai from 100 kmph, Villupuram – Katpadif with 50 -80 km/h, Nagercoil – Tirunelveli from 100 km/h, Villupuram – Puducherry from 100 km/h, Thanjavur – Karaikalf from 50-90 km/h, Coimbatore North – Mettupalayam from 90 km/h.
The maximum speed limit is proposed to be increased to 110 km/h for the remainder of 2022-23 on Arakkonam – Chengalpattu (75/90 km/h*), Tirunelveli – Tiruchendur (70 km/h*), Tambaram – Chengalpattu (100 km/h ). *), Tirunelveli – Tenkasi (70 km/h*), Salem – Karur- Namakkal (100 km/h*), Cuddalore Port – Vriddhachalam (60/75), Dindigul – Pollachi (100 km/h*) and Madurai – VanchiManiyachchi (100 kmph*) sections.
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