Madurai–Tirunelveli line

The Madurai–Tirunelveli Line connects the major cities of Madurai and Tirunelveli in the state of Tamil Nadu in India. The line was inaugurated on 1 January 1876.[1] This Rail route is under control of Southern Railways. It covers the distance of 157.1 km. The line covers the districts of Tirunelveli, Thoothukudi, Viruthunagar, Madurai. The speed limit for most of this rail is 100 km/h.

Madurai–Tirunelveli Line
Madurai Railway Station
Overview
Native name	மதுரை – திருநெல்வேலி ரயில் பாதை
Status	Operational
Owner	Southern Railways
Locale	Tamil Nadu
Termini	Tirunelveli Madurai
Connecting lines	Tuticorin – VanchiManiyachi Jn Tenkasi Jn – Viruthunagar Jn Manamadurai–Virudhunagar Jn Bodinayakkanur – Madurai Jn Manamaduarai – Madurai Jn Tirunelveli Jn – Tenkasi In Tirunelveli Jn – Tiruchendur
Stations	18
Website	Southern Railway
Service
Type	Regional Line
Operator(s)	Madurai Division
Rolling stock	WAP1, WAP4, WAP7, WDP3, WDP4D, WDG4, WDG3
History
Opened	1 January 1876
Technical
Track length	157.1 km (97.6 mi)
Number of tracks	1
Track gauge	1,676 mm (5 ft 6 in)
Electrification	Overhead catenary
Operating speed	100 km/h (62 mph)
Signalling	Three-aspect Colour-Light signalling (3CL)
Route map km to Dindigul Junction 0 Madurai Junction to Bodinayakkanur to Manamadurai Junction 7 Tirupparankundram 18 Tirumangalam 27 Sivarakkottai 32 Kalligudi to Manamadurai Junction 43 Virudhunagar Junction to Tenkasi Junction 56 Tulukapati 71 Satur 80 Nalli 92 Kovilpatti 104 Kumarapuram 114 Kadambur 121 Ilavelangal 128 Vanchi Maniyachchi Junction to Tuticorin 135 Naraikkinar 143 Gangaikondan 150 Talaiyuthu 157 Tirunelveli Junction to Tenkasi Junction to Tiruchendur to Nagercoil Junction

History

The line was inaugurated on 1 January 1876. The conversion from meter gauge to broad gauge completed on 4 August 1981. The gauge conversion process was performed by retaining the old meter gauge line and constructing the new line on the other side to avoid extended cancellation of service. The electrification process for the line started in January 2010 and completed in January 2015.

Stations

Tirunelveli Railway Station

There are a total of 18 stations in the route, some of the most important being Madurai Junction,Virudhunagar Junction, Sattur, Kovilpatti, and Tirunelveli Junction.[2]

S.No	Station	Station Code	Old Category	New Category
1	Madurai Jn	MDU	A1	NSG2
2	Tirupparankundram	TDN	D	NSG5
3	Tirumangalam	TMQ	D	NSG5
4	Sivarakottai	SVK	E	NSG6
5	Kalligudi	KGD	E	NSG6
6	Virudunagar Jn	VPT	A	NSG4
7	Tulukapati	TY	E	NSG6
8	Satur	SRT	B	NSG5
9	Nalli	NLL	E	NSG6
10	Kovilpatti	CVP	A	NSG4
11	Kumarapuram	KPM	E	NSG6
12	Kadambur	KDU	E	NSG6
13	Ilavelangal	IVL	E	NSG6
14	Vanchi Maniyachchi Jn	MEJ	D	NSG5
15	Naraikkinar	NRK	E	NSG6
16	Gangaikondan	GDN	E	NSG6
17	Talaiyuthu	TAY	E	NSG6
18	Tirunelveli Jn	TEN	A	NSG3

Track doubling and electrification

The line has been fully electrified since 3 January 2015,[3] The doubling process started in January 2018 and was planned out in different phases. The project is expected to be completed in 2022. The first phase (Gangaikondan-VanchiManyachi and Kadambur-Thattaparai) is expected to be completed at the end of December 2019.[4]

References

1. 4 Jan, J. Arockiaraj | TNN | Updated; 2015; Ist, 5:37. "Electric trains go beyond Madurai; to cut travel time | Madurai News – Times of India". The Times of India. Retrieved 12 October 2019.CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
2. "Annual originating passengers & earnings for the year 2017–18" (PDF). Southern Railways. Retrieved 13 October 2019.
3. "Madurai Division saves Rs.50 Lakh in 10 days on haulage of trains on newly electrified route – RailNews Media India Ltd". Retrieved 12 October 2019.
4. Ananth, M. K. (13 June 2019). "Phase 1 of Madurai-Tuticorin double line by December". The Times of India. Retrieved 14 August 2020.