Jump to content

Palakkad–Pollachi line

Add links
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Palakkad - Pollachi line
Meenakshipuram near Pollachi
Overview
StatusOperational
OwnerIndian Railways
LocaleKerala and Tamilnadu
Termini
Stations19
Service
TypeBROAD GAUGE LINES IN WORLD
SystemSingle Line Broad gauge
Services3
Operator(s)Southern Railway zone
Depot(s)PALAKKAD JUNCTION
Rolling stockWAP-4, [WAP 7),(WAP -1)
Daily ridershipIRCTC & INDIAN RAILWAY (SOUTHERN ZONE )
History
Opened1932; 93 years ago (1932)
Closed2008 - 2015
Technical
Line length58 km (36 mi)
Track length58 KM
Number of tracks1+2=2
CharacterSINGLE ELECTRIFIED LINE
Track gauge1,676 mm (5 ft 6 in)
Old gauge1,000 mm (3 ft 3+3⁄8 in)
ElectrificationYes
Operating speed110 km/h (68 mph)
Highest elevation247 metres above msl
Route map

Legend
km
0
 Palakkad Junction Parking
NH 966 overpass
Malampuzha River
BOC Road
Shakunthala Junction overpass
4
 Palakkad Town Bus interchangeParking
English Church Road
Bharathappuzha River
NH 544 overpass
Peruvamba overpass
15
 Pudunagaram
SH 27 overpass
20
 Vadakannikaapuram
23
 Kollengode
Muthalamada North overpass
31
 Muthalamada
Muthalamada overpass
42
 Minatchipuram
Kerala
Tamil Nadu
49
 Anaimalai Road
Bharathappuzha River
58
 Pollachi Junction
Mural at Olavakkod railway station
Palakkad town railway station

The Palakkad–Pollachi line is a railway line between Palakkad and Pollachi in the states of Kerala and Tamil Nadu, India which comes under Palakkad railway division of Southern Railway zone.[1] It connects Palakkad with Dindigul - Pollachi railway section.

History

[edit]

The line was completed as a Metre-gauge railway during British Raj when the region was under Madras Presidency on 1 April 1932.[2] The line was closed for gauge conversion as per Project Unigauge on 10 December 2008 and the same got completed in 2015.

The section of the line between Palakkad Town and Pollachi completed safety testing on 2 October 2015.[3] The safety inspection that followed conversion of the track was completed on 7 October 2015.[3] The line was approved for passenger train services by the Commissioner of Railway Safety on 8 October 2015.[4][5][6]

On 25 October, a load tolerance test was conducted with a train with 42 wagons carrying 3,720 tonnes of fertiliser and goods services resumed.[7][8][9] Passenger services resumed on 16 November.[10][11]

Gauge

[edit]

The Palakkad–Pollachi line is a 5 ft 6 in (1,676 mm) broad gauge railway line.[5]

Before the conversion which was completed in April 2015, the line was formerly partly 1676 mm-gauge (Palakkad Junction to Palakkad Town) and partly 1,000 mm (3 ft 3+3⁄8 in) metre gauge, between Palakkad Junction and Pollachi Junction.[1] The maximum permissible speed in this section is 110 kmph.[12]

Train services

[edit]

The route has only three train services as of present.

There are Railway Board approvals to,

These services have not commenced due to alleged regional lobbying in Tamil Nadu.[13][14]

There are two MEMU services and an Express train to Tiruchirappalli operates from Palakkad Town via Jolarpettai–Shoranur line

Lacunae

[edit]

During Metre-gauge railway period the section had more trains and there is massive criticism over under utilization of network. The lack of rail bypass to enter Shoranur line without loco-reversal at Palakkad Junction is often cited as major bottleneck in development of the line.[15][16] The lack of pitline in Palakkad is another factor hindering operation of more trains.[17] There is criticism that electrification has reduced beauty and tourist potential of stations like Muthalamada railway station.[18]

Rolling stock

[edit]

Rolling stock as of 2017:

Historic rolling stock:

  • YDM-4(1983-2009)
  • WDP 4D(2019-2022)
  • WDG 3A(2019-2021)
  • WDM 2(2017-2019)
  • WDG 4 (2015-2020)
  • WDM 3A.(from 2016-2021)
  • WDP 3A (until 24 September 2021)

Stations

[edit]
[edit]
  • Muthalamada
    Muthalamada
  • A village on Pollachi line
    A village on Pollachi line
  • At a level crossing
    At a level crossing
  • Pudunagaram
    Pudunagaram
  • Pollachi junction
    Pollachi junction

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b Shaji, K.A. (21 April 2015). "Palakkad–Pollachi line gauge conversion over". The Hindu. Retrieved 6 October 2015.
  2. ^ "Pollachi Railway Junction on track to cross rare milestone". The Hindu. 9 October 2015. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 10 November 2025.
  3. ^ a b "CRS completes inspection of Pollachi–Palakkad BG line". The Hindu. Retrieved 7 October 2015.
  4. ^ "Pollachi – Palakkad BG line cleared for passenger train services". The Hindu: Mobile Edition. Retrieved 9 October 2015.
  5. ^ a b c d "Indian Railways Living Atlas — India Rail Info". India Rail Info. Retrieved 6 October 2015.
  6. ^ "Palakkad–Pollachi broad-gauge rail route to open for service soon". The Hindu. Retrieved 7 October 2015.
  7. ^ "Trial Run Held on Pkd-Pollachi broad gauge Line". The New Indian Express. Archived from the original on 17 November 2015. Retrieved 26 October 2015.
  8. ^ "Load tolerance test held on new rail route". The Hindu: Mobile Edition. Retrieved 26 October 2015.
  9. ^ "Palakkad-Pollachi section restarts goods train service – TOI Mobile". The Times of India. Retrieved 28 October 2015.
  10. ^ "Four trains to run between Pollachi and Palakkad". The Hindu: Mobile Edition. Retrieved 14 November 2015.
  11. ^ "Train Service Restarts on Pollachi Route". The New Indian Express. Archived from the original on 17 November 2015. Retrieved 17 November 2015.
  12. ^ Bureau, The Hindu (8 December 2023). "Pollachi train passengers seek reduction of travel duration to Coimbatore". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 10 November 2025. {{cite news}}: |last= has generic name (help)
  13. ^ "No lobbies working against Railways in Kerala: Suresh Prabhu". The Economic Times. 16 June 2016. ISSN 0013-0389. Retrieved 10 November 2025.
  14. ^ Bureau, The Hindu (8 December 2023). "Pollachi train passengers seek reduction of travel duration to Coimbatore". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 10 November 2025. {{cite news}}: |last= has generic name (help)
  15. ^ "Palakkad-Pollachi rail route underutilised". The Hindu. 8 August 2016. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 10 November 2025.
  16. ^ "Palakkad railway bypass project to roll out soon with an estimated budget of ₹200 crore". @mathrubhumi. 16 September 2025. Retrieved 10 November 2025.
  17. ^ Bureau, The Hindu (24 February 2023). "Railways sanction pit line for Palakkad". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 10 November 2025. {{cite news}}: |last= has generic name (help)
  18. ^ "Tourists denied entry to Muthalamada railway station, authorities cite safety issues". @mathrubhumi. 2 September 2023. Retrieved 10 November 2025.
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Palakkad–Pollachi_line&oldid=1321417228"