Chord Line, Tamil Nadu

Chord Line
Overview
Other name(s)	Viluppuram - Trichy railway line
Native name	கார்டு லைன்
Type	Regional rail Heavy rail Light rail
Status	Operating
Locale	Tamil Nadu
Termini	Viluppuram Jn Tiruchirappalli Jn
Stations	29
Services	1
Website	www.sr.indianrailways.gov.in
Operation
Opened	1 February 1929 (1929-02-01)
Owner	Indian Railways
Operator(s)	Southern Railway zone
Depot(s)	Villupuram Golden Rock
Technical
Line length	178 km (111 mi)
Track gauge	1,676 mm (5 ft 6 in)
Operating speed	80 km/h (50 mph)
Route number	21/21A

Chord Line, Tamil Nadu
Legend
km to Chennai Egmore to Katpadi Junction 0 Viluppuram Junction National Highway 45A (India) NH 45A to Puducherry to Cuddalore Port Junction 22 Kandambakkam Thenpennai River 24 Tiruvennainallur 25 Parikkal Gadilam River 36 Ulundurupet National Highway 45 41 Meppuliyur 49 Puvanur to Salem Junction to Cuddalore Port Junction State Highway 69 55 Virudhachalam Junction Vellar River State Highway 16 National Highway 532 (India) National Highway 532 65 Vriddhachalam Town 70 Talanallur 74 Pennadam State Highway 141 Manjal River 79 Ichchangadu 83 Mathur 92 Sendurai 95 Vellur(Halt) 100 Ottakovil Madras Cements State Highway 27 109 Ariyalur Perambalur-Ariyalur Road 116 Sillakudi National Highway 227 (India) NH 227 123 Kallagam 134 Kallakudi Palanganatham 138 Pullambadi 147 Kattur Trichy-Paramsivapuram Road 152 Lalgudi 155 Mandurai 158 Valadi National Highway 227 (India) NH 227 162 Pichchandarkovil NH 45 164 Uttamarkovil Kollidam River 167 Srirangam Kaveri 170 Tiruchirappalli Town to Manjatidal (Golden Rock Byepass line) Diesel Loco Shed, Golden Rock Golden Rock Railway Workshop 176 Ponmalai (Golden Rock) to Tiruchirappalli Goods yard x20px to Karur Junction x20px x20px x20px Good shed road overpass 178 Tiruchirappalli Junction x20px x20px x20px Junction overpass to Pudukkottai x20px Rail yard to Dindigul Junction

The Chord Line connects Viluppuram Jn and Tiruchirappalli Jn in Tamil Nadu. It is the vital, shortest and busiest route connecting Chennai Egmore and Southern Tamil Nadu.

History

Until 1927, Villupuram Jn and Tiruchirappalli Jn were only connected by Main line that traversed through Kumbakonam and Mayavaram, which was 240 kilometres (150 mi). Hence, the need for shorter route arose and construction began on 22 August 1927 for a new railway line via Vriddhachalam in phases. Initially, the stretch between Viluppuram and Virudhachalam were completed and opened on 1 December 1927, the Srirangam - Golden Rock stretch on 22 August 1927, Bikshandarkoil - Srirangam stretch on 12 December 1927 and the entire stretch began its operations since 1 February 1929. This line gradually reduced the Madras - Colombo journey by around four hours.

Gauge conversions

Under Project Unigauge, the conversion from metre gauge to broad gauge was effected during 1992-93 and completed during September 1998.

Electrification

This stretch was proposed for electrification phase by phase by CORE. The electrification was completed during 2010.

Operations

Passenger services

The line experiences a heaviest traffic handling about 30 passenger and 56 express trains passing through every day in addition to goods train, particularly during night.

Freight services

The line has a number of Industrial establishments which utilises their nearby railway stations for their logistics and transports such as Central Workshop (Golden Rock), Cement and gypsum factories at Trichy, Perambalur and Ariyalur, and the Sugar factories at Villupuram and Vridhachalam,

External links

• Southern Railways - Official Website