Duvvada–Vijayawada section

The Duvvada–Vijayawada section (also known as Visakhapatnam–Vijayawada line) is a railway line connecting Duvvada in the city of Visakhapatnam and Vijayawada, both in the Indian state of Andhra Pradesh.[1] The main line is part of the Howrah–Chennai main line.[2][3] The track from Duvvada to Thadi is under the administrative jurisdiction of East Coast Railway zone, and the rest of the line from Anakapalle to Vijayawada is under the administrative jurisdiction of South Central Railway zone.

Duvvada–Vijayawada section
Ratnachal Express is one of the fastest and prestigious trains on Duvvada–Vijayawada section
Overview
StatusOperational
OwnerIndian Railways
LocaleAndhra Pradesh
Termini
Service
Operator(s)South Coast Railway
History
Opened1897
Technical
Track length350 km (217 mi)
Number of tracks2
Track gauge5 ft 6 in (1,676 mm) broad gauge
Operating speedup to 130 km/h (81 mph)
Route map

Duvvada–Vijayawada section map

to Khurda Road–Visakhapatnam section
to Kothavalasa–Kirandul line
24
Kothavalasa
15
Pendurti
8
Simhachalam North
7
Simhachalam
6
Gopalapatnam
NH5-IN.svg NH 5
Marshalling yard on right lines
4
Maripallem / Visakhapatnam Airport
Naval Dockyard
Essar Steel
Iron Ore sidings
9
Kottapalem
Visakhapatnam Port - Inner harbour
0
Visakhapatnam
Hindustan Zinc
BHPV
NH5-IN.svg NH 5
Coromandel International
Visakhapatnam Refinery of HPCL
Visakhapatnam port channel in blue
Visakhapatnam Port - Inner harbour
Hindustan Shipyard
Visakhapatnam Port - Outer harbour
Dolphin's Nose (hill with lighthouse)
Link to Bay of Bengal
Visakhapatnam Steel Plant
Gangavaram Port
17
Duvvada
NH5-IN.svg NH 5
Simhadri STPP of NTPC
27
Thadi
NH5-IN.svg NH 5
33
Anakapalle
38
Kasimkoda
42
Bayyavaram
NH5-IN.svg NH 5
50
Narasinghapalli
57
Elamanchili
NH5-IN.svg NH 5
62
Regupalem
75
Narsimapatnam Road
86
Gullipadu
NH5-IN.svg NH 5
Thandav River
97
Tuni
105
Hamsavaram
110
Timmapuram
113
Annavaram
120
Ravikampadu
123
Durgada Gate
133
Golaprollu
138
Pithapuram
150 / 13
Samalkot
Sarpavaram
Kakinada Town
0
Kakinada Port
Nagarjuna Fertlisers and Chemicals
Kakinada Port
Coromandel International
Godavari Fertlisers and Chemicals
6
Kovvada
10
Artalakatta
15
Karapa
18
Vakada
22
Velangi
24
Narasapurapupeta
30
Ramachandrapuram
35
Draksharammam
39
Kunduru
42
Gangavaram
45
Kotipalli
Kotipalli Revu (Yard)
155
Gudaparti
159
Medapadu
162
Pedabraahmadevam
167
Bikavollu
171
Balabhdrapuram
177
Anaparti
181
Dwarapui
185
Kesavaram
GVK Power Plant
191
Kaddayam
NH5-IN.svg NH 5
200
Rajahmundry
204
Godavari / Rajahmundry Airport
Godavari Arch Bridge across Godavari
Godavari Bridge across Godavari
208
Kovvur
211
Pasivedala
215
Chagallu
219
Brahmanagudem
223
Nidadavolu
230
Kaldhari
234
Satyavada
NH5-IN.svg NH 5
239
Tanuku
242
Velpuru
245
Relangi
234
Satyavada
250
Attili
252
Manchili
257
Aravalli
260
Lakshminarayanapuram
262
Vendra
272 / 0
Bhimavaram
30
Narsapur
26
Gorintada
21
Palakollu
16
Lankalakoderu
13
Sivadevuickla
11
Viravasaram
7
Sringavuksam
5
Pennada
274
Bhimavaram Town
281
Undi
286
Cherukuvada
292
Akividu
302
Palleada
308
Kikaluru
316
Manavallu
319
Mokhasa Kalayapui
322
Putlacheruvu
324
Pasalapundi
327
Guntkoduru
330
Moturu
337 / 0
Gudivada
Machilipatnam Port (planned)
374
Machilipatnam
370
Chilakalupundu
364
Pedanna
356
Vadlamannau
352
Kavutaram
348
Gudlavaleru
343
Nujella
7
Dosapau
9
Ventrapragada
13
Indupalli
18
Tarrigopulla
24
Uppalur
30
Nidamanuru
NH5-IN.svg NH 5
35
Ramaverapaddu
39
Madhuranagar
230
Marampalli
234
Nayabpalem
237
Prattiapadu
243
Tadepalligudem
249
Badampudi
254
Ungutudu
257
Chebrol
260
Kaikaram
265
Pulla
271
Bhimadolu
277
Sitampet
281
Denduluru
NH5-IN.svg NH 5
290
Eluru
292
Powerpet
299
Vatlur
NH5-IN.svg NH 5
309
Nuzvid
315
Viravalli
318
Telaprolu
325
Pedda Avatupalle
330
Gannavaram / Vijayawada Airport
337
Mustabada
344
Gunadala
to Warangal
350 / 43
Vijayawada
Krishna River
to Guntur–Krishna Canal section
to Vijayawada–Chennai section

History

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Some years before passenger railways started functioning in India railway lines were laid for carrying construction materials. Amongst these were a line used for construction of the Solani aqueduct over the Ganges Canal near Roorkee in the 1830s, the Red Hill Railroad in 1837 used for construction of a canal near Chennai, and the Godavari Dam Construction Railway used for transporting materials for the construction of the Dowlaisweram Anicut at Rajahmundry around 1845. The project was completed in 1852 and the railway was closed down.[4]

The Red Hill Railroad near Chennai, used in 1837 for transporting granite, is considered by many as the first operational railway in India. Madras Railway was incorporated in 1853 the Great Southern Railway of India was formed in 1858.[5] The Great Southern of India Railway was merged with the Carnatic Railway in 1872 and renamed South Indian Railway in 1874. The main eastward route of Southern Mahratta Railway connected with other routes till Vijayawada (then known as Bezwada) in 1888. The mainline of Nizam's Guaranteed State Railway was extended to Vijayawada in 1889.[6]

During the period 1893 to 1896, 1,287 km (800 mi) of the East Coast State Railway, from Vijayawada to Cuttack was built and opened to traffic.[7][8] The construction of the Old Godavari Bridge in 1897[6] and construction of the Vijayawada–Madras link in 1899 enabled the through running of trains.[6]

The southern part of the East Coast State Railway (from Waltair to Vijayawada) was taken over by Madras Railway in 1901.[9]

Railway reorganization

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In the early 1950s legislation was passed authorizing the central government to take over independent railway systems that were there. On 14 April 1951 the Madras and Southern Mahratta Railway, the South Indian Railway Company and Mysore State Railway were merged to form Southern Railway. Subsequently, Nizam's Guaranteed State Railway was also merged into Southern Railway. On 2 October 1966, the Secunderabad, Solapur, Hubli and Vijayawada Divisions, covering the former territories of Nizam's Guaranteed State Railway and certain portions of Madras and Southern Mahratta Railway were separated from Southern Railway to form the South Central Railway. In 1977, Guntakal division of Southern Railway was transferred to South Coast Railway and the Solapur division transferred to Central Railway. Amongst the seven new zones created in 2010 was South Western Railway, which was carved out of Southern Railway.[10] In 2019 it was moved to South Coast Railway zone.

Stations

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Electrification

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Howrah–Chennai Mail was the first train in South Eastern Railway to be hauled by a diesel engine (WDM-1) in 1965.[14]

Speed limits

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The entire Kharagpur–Duvvada–Vijayawada main line is classified as a "Group B" line which can take speeds up to 130 km/h. On the branch lines the speed limit is 100 km/h.[15]

Passenger movement

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Eluru, Rajahmundry and Vijayawada, on this line, are amongst the top hundred booking stations of Indian Railway.[16]

References

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  1. ^ "Surveys" (PDF). South Central Railway, Indian Railways. 24 July 2015. p. 14. Retrieved 3 May 2019.
  2. ^ "RPF rededicates itself to passenger safety". The Hans India. 2 September 2015. Retrieved 26 March 2016.
  3. ^ "3rd rail line joining Duvvada, Gudur to be completed in 5 yrs". The Business Standard. Vijayawada. 3 November 2015. Retrieved 26 March 2016.
  4. ^ Darvill, Simon. "India's first railways". Godavari Dam Construction Railway. IRFCA. Retrieved 19 January 2013.
  5. ^ "IR History – Early days". 1832–1869. IRFCA. Retrieved 19 January 2013.
  6. ^ a b c "IR History:Early days II". 1870–1899. IRFCA. Retrieved 19 January 2013.
  7. ^ "Major Events in the Formation of S.E. Railway". South Eastern Railway. Archived from the original on 1 April 2013. Retrieved 2013-01-02.
  8. ^ "History of Waltair Division". Mannanna.com. Archived from the original on 11 October 2012. Retrieved 2 January 2013.
  9. ^ "IR History: Part III (1900–1947)". IRFCA. Retrieved 19 January 2013.
  10. ^ "Geography – Railway Zones". IRFCA. Retrieved 23 January 2013.
  11. ^ "PBD/Peddabrahmadevam". India Rail Info. Retrieved 12 February 2019.
  12. ^ "Arrivals at MIPM/Marripalem". India Rail Info. Retrieved 12 February 2019.
  13. ^ "Departures from PDT/Pendurti". India Rail Info. Retrieved 12 February 2019.
  14. ^ "IR History: Part – IV (1947–1970)". IRFCA. Retrieved 21 November 2012.
  15. ^ "Chapter II – The Maintenance of Permanent Way". Archived from the original on 3 December 2013. Retrieved 2013-01-02.
  16. ^ "Indian Railways Passenger Reservation Enquiry". Availability in trains for Top 100 Booking Stations of Indian Railways. IRFCA. Archived from the original on 10 May 2014. Retrieved 2012-12-30.