Coimbatore–Pollachi line

The Coimbatore–Pollachi line is a railway line between Coimbatore and Pollachi in Tamil Nadu, India.[1] The line is a gateway which connects western Tamil Nadu with south Tamil Nadu. Coimbatore is connected to Madurai and other southern districts through this line. During the gauge conversion the line was closed. It was reopened in 2017 and train service resumed.

Coimbatore–Pollachi line
Podanur Junction lies on the Coimbatore–Pollachi line
Overview
Status	Operational
Owner	Indian Railways
Termini	Coimbatore Junction Pollachi Junction
Service
Operator(s)	Southern Railways Salem railway division Palakkad railway division
Rolling stock	WAP-4, WDM-2, WDG-3, WDP-3, WDM-3
History
Opened	1915
Closed	2008 (for gauge conversion)
Reopened	2017
Technical
Track length	40 km
Number of tracks	1
Track gauge	1,676 mm (5 ft 6 in) Broad gauge
Electrification	Partly electrified
Route map km Nilgiri Mountain Railway (narrow gauge) 0/36 Mettupalayam 7/29 Karaimadai 19/17 Periyanaikanpalayam 26/10 Thudiyalur Jolarpettai–Shoranur line 33/3 Coimbatore North Junction 36/0 Coimbatore Junction Jolarpettai–Shoranur line 41/5 Podanur Junction Jolarpettai–Shoranur line 49/13 Chettipalayam 60/24 Kinatukkadavu Kovilpalayam 81/45 Pollachi Junction Palakkad–Pollachi line Pollachi–Dindigul branch line Track layout km Palakkad Junction – Podanur Junction 0 Pollachi Junction PGT MDU limits 15 Gomangalam 29 Udumalaipettai 41 Maivadi Road 54 Puspattur 63 Palani 78 Chatrappatti 86 Oddanchatram 111 Akkaraippatti to Karur Junction to Tiruchirappalli Junction 121 Dindigul Junction to Madurai Junction

History

The first service started in 1915 from Pollachi to Podanur line as a metre-gauge section and in 2008 the station was closed for the gauge conversion of the Didugul–Podanur. The old metre-gauge track on the stretch was in use for 110 years since the first train chugged in 1898 before it was closed 2008 when work began to convert the metre-gauge railway line to broad gauge as part of the Dindugul–Palakkad section. On 24 March 2017, CRS successfully completed its speed trial and inspection along with Podanur–Pollachi newly laid broad-gauge line. The inspection was very satisfactory according to CRS. Mr. KA Manohar, Bangalore. Train service resumed in July 2017 and a passenger train was introduced between Coimbatore and Pollachi.[2]

Station

Stations like Podanur Junction, Kinathukadavu are present in this section. There has been a request to revive defunct stations like Chettipalayam, Nallatipalayam, Koilpalayam and Tamaraikulam.[3]

Gauge conversion

The line was closed for gauge conversion in 2008. Rail service was stopped for eight years. In 2017, the Coimbatore–Pollachi line gauge conversion was completed and train service resumed with one passenger train. Before the conversion which was completed in April 2017, the line was formerly 1,000 mm (3 ft 3 ³⁄₈ in) metre gauge between Podanur Junction and Pollachi Junction.

References

1. "Palakkad-Pollachi line gauge conversion over". The Hindu. 21 April 2015.
2. "Coimbatore-Pollachi passenger train begins maiden journey on BG line". The Hindu. 16 July 2017.
3. "Panchayat office picketed". The Hindu. 2 August 2017.