arshyam wrote:As usual, lots of detailed updates!
vsunder wrote:CRS inspection GC Podanur to Pollachi last Friday
Palakkad-Pollachi GC is already done, right?
Intercity Yeshwantpur-Hassan on the new line. This is the first train on this line. SWR claims no trains to Mangalore due to shortage of rakes, did the bus lobby strike again:
There is a lot of demand for better connectivity on this route, but a severe paucity of trains. SWR claims too much freight movement, rake shortage, etc. Even the latest demand for starting the already announced Kudla express seems to be in abeyance. It's sad that BLR is much better connected to MAS and CBE than MAQ. Heck, MAS is better connected to MAQ! In general, I don't know if it is all due to the bus lobby, but intercity/overnight trains with KA are a poor shadow of what one sees in TN or AP.
The last 1.5km at Srirangapatna, track linking to be over by March 31st as Tipu's armoury is now shifted. CRS inspection for double line electrified upto Mysore to be done soon within 5-6 months after substations are up and running.
I assume they will commission the double line without waiting for electrification? This was the last bottleneck, IIRC.
6. Mantralayam Rd.(Brindavana of Shri Raghavendra swami)- Matumari second line (bridge over Tungabhadra river, Chennai-Mumbai doubling project. The original bridge over the Tungabhadra river was designed by the grandfather of Alan Turing the famous computer scientist. His mother was born in the Podanur railway colony) with this Chennai-Gulbarga is completely double lined and only 195 km between Gulbarga-Akkalkot and Kurduwadi(junction for Pandharpur)-Daund is left for doubling between Chennai-Mumbai. Electrification is another matter. Mumbai-Daund-Bhigwan is electrified and Chennai-Guntakal is electrified for sure and about 400km not electrified between Chennai and Mumbai.
I was going to ask about the Tungabhadra bridge
. This was a major pending work forcing traffic to slow down for the single line bridge. How much time do you think the remaining work will take? Any major bridges holding up the work? I don't care for electrification if I can get the extra track to begin with. In any case, Mumbai bound trains are running under electric traction all the way up to Guntakal, which is a substantial improvement over the short MAS-RU (Renigunta) stretch. Even trains out of BLR are now under electric traction (Prashanthi express last week was hauled by an ED WAP4). With the exception of the Rajdhani and Karnataka, the rest would move to electric traction soon.
All fine and dandy, but the pressure on Erode and RPM to supply electric locos will increase significantly. ED especially is already stretched, trying to cover the entire KL region (which will soon include the northern stretch to MAQ) and BLR+CBE traffic. Not to mention their stubborn hold over 'prestigious' links like TN and KL expresses
. RPM is a smaller shed and has to deal with northbound links out of MAS, and the line toward MDU. AJJ was converted into a pure goods shed, not sure if they have any passenger locos left. That would help. Otherwise, GTL shed will need to start operations soon to relieve the pressure, or all these wires will be there, but trains running with D locos - any idea where GTL plan is at?
IMHO, electrifying the BLR - GTL single line was a case of misplaced priorities. Ghat section notwithstanding, doubling the line first would have gone a long way in relieving congestion on this stretch. It is like the NH-7 highway being only a 2 lane road
. What the BLR region needs is not electrification (that can come later), but more double tracks radiating out of the city.
Arshyam I shall try to answer what I know:
1. You saw the video of Podanur-Pollachi CRS inspection that I linked. It was done Friday, so CRS report and then some rectification if needed and then they open. It will be a direct link from Coimbatore and parts of Kongunadu to South TN and temple towns Palani etc. The Pallakad-Pollachi GC link which has been operational for some time will allow a Pilgrimage express, that does Gokarna, Udipi and Mookambika on Konkan, then south past Mangalore to Kaladi, Guruvayoor, then Pallakad, then, Palani, Madurai, Trichy and ends at Rameshwaram. Many people would like to see such a train. Maybe when the Karnaprayag-Rishikesh link is done in a decade one can have a train from Karnaprayag(for Badrinath and Kedarnath) to Rameswaram. Can touch Ujjain and then go on GC,
Mhow-Khandwa and also touch Omkareshwar, so 5 Jyotirlingas including Tryambak(Nashik rd.) so call it Jyotirlinga express. Kedarnath, Ujjain, Omkareshwar, Tryambak, Rameshwaram.
2. Line block and non-interlocking signals for 17-20th March for Matamari-Mantralayam rd. so commissioning is within a few days.
3. Yes ED e-locos are stretched. Remember our poor Manoharan, a few weeks ago he inspected and okayed 64 km Mangalore-Charvattur OHE as you say so end to end Chennai-Mangalore is doubled and electrified. So now that section needs e-locos for West Coast, Mangalore Mail, Egmore exp. leave alone Parsuram, Malabar exp, Ernad exp plying between Mangalore and Trivandrum. If you put in Rajdhani and others between Trivandrum and parts North via Mangalore and Konkan railway, then yes ED shed is stretched and yes you pre-empted them, they have complained that they have few locos to spare. Mangalore-Mangalore Harbour(Panambur) electrification is moving slowly, I hope it is done by year end. Then electrified right up to the SR-Konkan railway border.
4. Regarding bus lobby, it is very powerful. Many of them get awards for "social service" on Karnataka Rajyotsava day. SWR maintains it is the paucity of rakes that prevents them starting Kudla express. Kudla actually means Junction in Konkani but Tulu speakers also refer to Mangalore as Kudla.
Poor Manoharan is everywhere nowadays, one day Mangalore, next day Chennai, they seek me here, they seek me there, those damned DRM's seek me everywhere, they seek me in heaven, they seek me in hell, the death defying.......
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This is the announcement of Mohol-Vakav, DRM Solapur also tweeted, so seems commissioned as this
is non-interlocking work to connect signals to the new double line.
LINE BLOCK IN SUR DIVN OF CR - DOUBLING OF GTL-WADI-GR-SUR-DD
Traffic Blocks between Mohol – Vakav section of Solapur Division from 1.2.2017 to 5.2.2017
Traffic Blocks between Mohol – Vakav section of Solapur Division from 1.2.2017 to 5.2.2017
Central Railway will operate a special traffic blocks for Non-Interlock working in connection with doubling of Mohol - Vakav section of Solapur Division commencing from 1.2.2017 to 5.2.2017 (5 days).
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Here is the answer to your other question: This is non-interlocking work
In order to facilitate works related to commissioning of Double line between Matmari – Mantralayam Road stations of Guntakal Division, traffic blocks are imposed from 17thto 20th March, 2017. Consequently, the following passenger trains are partially cancelled as detailed below.
Trains Partially Cancelled:
1.Train No. 57631 Solapur-Guntakal passenger journey commences on 18th, 19th and 20th March, 2017 is partially cancelled between Raichur and Guntakal stations.
2.Train No. 57632 Guntakal-Gulbarga passenger journey commences on 18th, 19th and 20th March, 2017 is partially cancelled between Guntakal andRaichurstations.
3.Train No. 57428 Guntakal- Raichur passenger journey commences on 17th, 18th and 19th March, 2017 is partially cancelled between Adoni andRaichurstations.
4.Train No. 57427 Raichur – Guntakal passenger journey commences on 18th, 19th and 20thMarch, 2017is partially cancelled between Raichur and Adonistations.
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Regarding Bangalore, the Arsikere-Tumkur doubling earthworks are moving very fast, and also Hubli-Chikjajur doubling. Center has released ample funds and gotten on their case. Also Hotgi-Gadag doubling is moving fast and bypass line at Hotgi is done. This line past Bijapur is very important and Cabinet has released ample funds. Kudgi super thermal plant, many steel industries are coming up in this backward part of North Karnataka and doubling will help the movement of freight rakes. Kudgi station was recently upgraded with several loop lines as the super thermal plant is getting ready and needs ample siding and connectivity. As I say India badal raha hai teji se.