Palakkad–Pollachi line

The Palakkad–Pollachi line is a railway line between Palakkad and Pollachi in the state of Kerala and Tamil Nadu, India.[1]

Palakkad to Pollachi line
Meenakshipuram near Pollachi
Overview
Status	Operational
Termini	Palakkad Junction (PGT) Pollachi Junction (POY)
Operation
Opened	1898 (1898)
Owner	Indian Railway
Operator(s)	Southern Railway zone
Rolling stock	WAP4, WDM2, WDG3, WDP3, WDM3
Technical
Number of tracks	1
Track gauge	1,676 mm (5 ft 6 in)
Old gauge	1,000 mm (3 ft 3 ^3⁄8 in)
Electrification	Partly electrified
Route map Palakkad–Pollachi line km Jolarpettai–Shoranur line 0 Palakkad Junction 4 Palakkad Town 15 Pudunagaram 20 Vadakannikaapuram 23 Kollengode 31 Muthalamada Kerala Tamilnadu 42 Minatchipuram 49 Anaimalai Road 58 Pollachi Junction Pollachi–Dindigul branch line Coimbatore–Pollachi line

Mural at Olavakkod railway station

Palakkad town railway station

Status

The line was functioning completely between Palakkad Junction and Palakkad Town.[2] 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]

Traffic will be greatly affected in Palakkad and neighboring towns when the rail line is reopened. Because there will be many trains using the route, more overpasses will need to be built.[5]

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.[6][7][8] Passenger services resumed on 16 November.[9][10]

Gauge

As of 2015, the Palakkad–Pollachi line is a 1,676 mm (5 ft 6 in) Indian broad gauge railway line.[2]

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]

Rolling stock

Rolling Stock As of 2017:

• WAP4
• WAG 7
• WDM2
• WDG3
• WDP3
• WDM3
• WDP4D

Historic rolling stock:

• YDM4

Stations

• Palakkad Junction — electrified[2]
• Palakkad Town Railway Station — electrified[2]
• Pudunagaram
• Vadakannikaapuram
• Kollengode
• Muthalamada
• Meenakshipuram
• Annamalai Road (S.G. Pudur)
• Pollachi Junction

Image gallery

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

References

1. Shaji, K.A. (21 April 2015). "Palakkad–Pollachi line gauge conversion over". The Hindu. The Hindu Group. Retrieved 6 October 2015.
2. "Indian Railways Living Atlas — India Rail Info". India Rail Info. Retrieved 6 October 2015.
3. "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. "Palakkad-Pollachi broad gauge rail route to open for service soon". The Hindu. Retrieved 7 October 2015.
6. "Trial Run Held on Pkd-Pollachi Broad Gauge Line". The New Indian Express. Retrieved 26 October 2015.
7. "Load tolerance test held on new rail route". The Hindu: Mobile Edition. Retrieved 26 October 2015.
8. "Palakkad-Pollachi section restarts goods train service - TOI Mobile | The Times of India Mobile Site". m.timesofindia.com. Retrieved 28 October 2015.
9. "Four trains to run between Pollachi and Palakkad". The Hindu: Mobile Edition. Retrieved 14 November 2015.
10. "Train Service Restarts on Pollachi Route". The New Indian Express. Retrieved 17 November 2015.