Bhusawal–Kalyan section

The Bhusawal–Kalyan section is part of the Howrah–Nagpur–Mumbai line and Howrah–Prayagraj–Mumbai line. It connects Bhusawal and Kalyan both in the Indian state of Maharashtra. One of the branch lines, Jalgaon–Surat line, runs partly in Gujarat.

Bhusawal–Kalyan section
Nasik Road an important railway station on Bhusawal–Kalyan section
Overview
Native nameभुसावळ-कल्याण विभाग
StatusOperational
OwnerIndian Railways
LocaleMaharashtra, Gujarat
Termini
Service
SystemElectrified
ServicesHowrah–Nagpur–Mumbai line
Howrah–Prayagraj–Mumbai line
New Delhi–Bhopal–Mumbai line
Operator(s)Central Railway, Western Railway for a part of a branch line
Depot(s)Bhusawal, Kalyan, Manmad, Igatpuri
Rolling stockWAM-4, WAP- 4, WAG-5, WAG-7, WCM-6, WCG-2, WCAM-3, WCAG-1 electric locomotives
History
OpenedAround 1865
Technical
Track lengthMain line: 390 km (242 mi)
Branch lines
Manmad–Daund 238 km (148 mi)
Pachora–Jamner 56 km (35 mi)
Chalisgaon–Dhule 56 km (35 mi)
Jalgaon–Surat 313 km (194 mi)
Number of tracksMain line: 2
Track gauge5 ft 6 in (1,676 mm) broad gauge
Electrification1.5 kV DC overhead system in 1929 for Kalyan–Igatpuri sector, Igatpuri–Bhusawal with 25 kV AC overhead system in 1967–69. DC system has been converted to AC system
Operating speedMain line: up to 130 km/h
Route map

km
to Central line
0
Kalyan
on Mumbai Dadar–Solapur section
NH752-IN.svg NH 752
3
Shahad
Ulhas River
6
Ambivli
11
Titwala
Kalu River
19
Khadavali
Bhatsa River
on Mumbai Dadar–Solapur section
JSW Steel Ltd Vashind Plant
Daund 238
26
Vasind
Daund Chord line 236
32
Asangaon
NH160-IN.svg NH 160
NH160-IN.svg NH 160
Bhima River
42
Atgaon
Kashti 227
48
Thansit
SH 55
NH160-IN.svg NH 160
Shrigonda Road 217
54
Khardi
NH 160
61
Umbermali
SH 50
NH160-IN.svg NH 160
Belwandi 202
67
Kasara
Visapur 189
Ranjangaon Road 182
NH160-IN.svg NH 160
Sarola 172
on Thal Ghat Tunnels
Akolner 167
to Ahmednagar–Parli Vaijnath line
Igatpuri Railway Bridge
NH160-IN.svg NH 160
Mahindra & Mahindra automotive factory
Ahmednagar 154
82
Igatpuri
NH752-IN.svg NH 752
NH160-IN.svg NH 160
Igatpuri Railway Yard
Nimblak 148
Vilad 138
NH160-IN.svg NH 160
Dehare Cabin 133
SH 44
NH160-IN.svg NH 160
90
Ghoti
Vambori 126
NH160-IN.svg NH 160
SH 49
98
Padli
SH 66
NH160-IN.svg NH 160
Mula River
Aund Vahal
Rahuri 113
107
Asvali
Taklimiya 108
115
Lahavit
Padhegaon 99
127
Devlali
Nipani Vadgaon 93
132
Nashik Road
SH 44
NH160-IN.svg NH 160
Belapur 87
Nashik TPS of MAHAGENCO
SH 47
Godavari River
Chitali 75
SH 30
Sainagar Shirdi 84
144
Odha
Puntamba 67
151
Khervadi
SH 47
Banganga River
Godavari River
158
Kasbe Sukene
Kanhegaon 58
Kadwa River
Sanvatsar 50
164
Niphad
SH 30
171
Ugaon
Kopargaon 42
181
Lasalgaon
Yeola 29
Shiv River
SH 30
Kalantri River
to Secunderabad–Manmad line
194
Summit
Ankai 14
Ankai Killa 8
205/0
Manmad
FCI Warehouses
Central Engineering Workshop of IR
Panzan River
on Ahmedabad–Mumbai main line
307
Udhna
311
Surat
299
Niyol
295
Chalthan
NH48-IN.svg NH 48
291
Bagumra
Surat-Bardoli Road
286
Gangadhara
SH 185
280
Bardoli
SH 88
273
Timbarva
270
Mangrolia
Kakrapar Dam Left Canal
265
Madhi
to Manmad–Indore line
SH 5
Panewadi 210
259
Kaher
Hisavahal 219
257
Lotarva
Panjhan 224
NH53-IN.svg NH 53
Shakambari River
250
Vyara
SH 7
NH953-IN.svg NH 953
Nandgaon 231
SH 171
Pimpar Khed 241
238
Kikakui Road
SH 25
236
Dosavada
Naydongri 251
Ukai TPS of GSECL
Rohini 256
231
Ukai Songadh
SH 25
Gujarat
Maharashtra
Hirapur 265
224
Lakkadkot on
Maharashtra
Gujarat
NH52-IN.svg NH 52
219
Bhadbhunja
Chalisgaon 273 / 0
NH53-IN.svg NH 53
Gujarat
Maharashtra
SH 22
208
Navapur
Bhoras Budrukh 7
Rangwati River
Girna River
NH53-IN.svg NH 53
Jamda 14
198
Kolde
Rajmane 23
NH53-IN.svg NH 53
Mordad Tanda 28
191
Chinchpada
Shirud 36
181
Khatgaon
SH 15
173
Khandbara
166
Bhadwad
Borvihir 43
159
Dhekwad
SH 6
NH52-IN.svg NH 52
150
Nandurbar
Mohadi Pragane Lalling 54
NH753B-IN.svg NH 753B
NH60-IN.svg NH 60
145
Choupale
Dhule 57
SH 7
Vaghli 282
137
Tisi
Kajgaon 292
128
Ranala
Kajgaon-Amalner Road
116
Dondaicha
Nagardevla 299
SH 1
SH 19
Bhogwati River
SH 6
Galan 307
107
Vikhran
Pachora (Change to NG) 317
102
Sonshelu
Hivra River
SH 11
SH 184
96
Sindkheda
Bahula River
Burai River
Varkhedi 12
SH 6
SH 19
88
Hol
Pimpalgaon 19
to Manmad–Indore line
SH 19
NH52-IN.svg NH 52
Shendurni 28
83
Nardana
SH 186
76
Betawad
Pahur 40
Panzan River
MH MSH 8
71
Padse
Bhagdara 48
63
Bhortek
55
Amalner
MH MSH 8
Bori River
Jamner 56
SH 1
Pardhade 325
SH 6
Hivra River
43
Takarkhede
Maheji 332
37
Bhone
SH 185
Dharangaon-Parola Road
Mahasvad 344
30
Dharangaon
Shirsoli 353
23
Chavalkhede
NH53-IN.svg NH 53
Anjani River
Girna River
11
Paldhi
Jalgaon 365/0
SH 186
Tarsod 373
Bhadli 377
Orient Cement Factory
NH53-IN.svg NH 53
Waghur River
NH53-IN.svg NH 53
Bhusawal 389
to Jabalpur–Bhusaval section
to Nagpur–Bhusawal section
Sources:Google Maps,
Mumbai CSMT Bhusaval Passenger,
Manmad Pune Passenger,
Jalna Sainagar Shirdi DEMU,
Chalisgaon Dhule Passenger,
Pachora Jamner NG Passenger,
Bhusawal Surat Passenger

Geography

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Part of some of the major trunk lines in the country, this line passes through a section of the Deccan Plateau, starting with Khandesh,[1] It crosses the Western Ghats across the Thul Ghat and enters the Western Coastal Plains.[2]

Thul Ghat

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Thul Ghat (incline) is a series of mountain slopes in the Western Ghats traversed by this line. From Kalyan to Kasara, the line covers a length of 42 mi (68 km) and rises to an altitude of 948 ft (289 m) above sea level at Kasara. The next section from Kasara to Igatpuri is 9.5 mi (15 km) across Thul Ghat and within that distance the line rises from 289 ft (88 m) to 1,918 ft (585 m) the gradient in the section being 1:37.[2] The line negotiates this steep incline with the help of curves. The Ehegaon viaduct along this line is 719 ft (219 m) long and 180 ft (55 m) high.[2] According to IRFCA, "The viaduct is situated in a steep valley nestling in the midst of hills that skirt around it in the tunnels and then is carried across the yawning chasm on a tall imposing structure… Some of the viaducts and tunnels on this line are considered outstanding achievements in Civil Engineering and are among the finest works in the world."[2]

Economy

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This line serves two coal-based thermal power stations: the 880 MW Nashik Thermal Power Station of Mahagenco and 850 MW Ukai Thermal Power Station of Gujarat State Electricity Corporation Limited. Nasik TPS consumed 4,626,000 tonnes of coal in 2006–07 and Ukai TPS consumed 3,200,000 tonnes the same year.[3] Coal transportation forms 42 per cent of the total freight earnings of Indian railways.[4]

History

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Main line

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The first train in India traveled from Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus railway station in Mumbai, then known as Boribunder, to Thane on 16 April 1853. Within about a year Great Indian Peninsula Railway connected the Mumbai–Thane line to Kalyan. Service up to Igatpuri (across the Thul Ghat) was started in 1865. Before that, Bhusawal station was set up in 1860 and most of the line between Bhusawal and Igatpuri was laid in 1861-62 but the line was activated in mid-1860s, after completion of the line across Thul Ghat.[2][5][6]

Branch lines

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The 1,676 mm (5 ft 6 in) Tapti Valley Railway linked Surat, on the Bombay, Baroda and Central India Railway, to the Great Indian Peninsula system at Amalner in the Khandesh region, in 1900.[7][8] It was one of the railways set up by Killick Nixon Limited.[9]

The 1,676 mm (5 ft 6 in) Manmad–Daund line was opened in 1878 and connects the two main sections (the south-east and north east) of GIPR. The line is being doubled.[10][11]

The Hyderabad–Godavari Valley Railways opened the 1,000 mm (3 ft 3+38 in) metre gauge Manmad–Secunderabad line (not shown in the route chart) in 1900.[7]

The 1,676 mm (5 ft 6 in) Chalisgaon–Dhule line was opened in 1900.[12]

The Pachora–Jamner 2 ft 6 in (762 mm) narrow-gauge line was opened by Central Province Railway in 1919.[7]

Shirdi

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The 17.5 km (11 mi)-long 1,676 mm (5 ft 6 in)-wide broad-gauge Puntamba-Shirdi link, connecting Shirdi to the Manmad–Daund branch line was completed in 2009.[13] The Manmad–Puntamba–Sainagar Shirdi line was electrified in 2011–12.[14]

New lines

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Indian Railways have cleared the construction of Manmad–Indore and Nashik–Pune new lines after sixteen years of active lobbying.[15][16]

Railway reorganisation

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The Great Indian Peninsula Railway was taken over by the state in 1925.[17] In 1951, the Great Indian Peninsula Railway, the Nizam's Guaranteed State Railway, the Scindia State Railways and the Dholpur Railways were merged to form Central Railway. In the same year, the Bombay, Baroda and Central India Railway, the Saurashtra Railway, the Rajasthan Railway, the Jaipur Railway and the Cutch State Railway were merged to form Western Railway.[18]

Electrification and electric loco sheds

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The Kalyan–Igatpuri section was electrified with 1.5 kV DC overhead system in 1929.[19] Subsequent electrification with 25 kV AC overhead system in the Igatpuri–Manmad sector, with AC/DC change over at Igatpuri, was carried out in 1967–69. The Manmad–Bhusawal sector was electrified in 1968–69.[20] The change over of mainlines in the Mumbai area from DC to AC traction was completed in June 2015.[21]

There are large loco sheds at Bhusawal and Kalyan, and the smaller trip sheds at Manmad and Igatpuri. The loco shed at Bhusawal was established by the Great Indian Peninsula Railway in 1919. At that time it was the largest in Asia and third-largest in the world. WAM-4, WAP- 4, WAG-5, WAG-7, WCM-6, WCG-2, WCAM-3 and WCAG-1 electric locomotives find a place in these sheds. Kalyan also houses some diesel locomotives.[22][23]

Speed limits

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The entire Howrah–Nagpur–Mumbai line is planned to be converted into a "Group A" line, which would enable it take speeds up to 160 km/h. The branch lines have speed limits within 100 km/h.[24]

Passenger movement

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Bhusawal and Manmad on this line, are amongst the top hundred booking stations of Indian Railway.[25]

The tourist train Deccan Odyssey passes through a part of the route.[26]

References

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  1. ^ "East Khandesh". Glued Ideas.com. Retrieved 24 March 2013.
  2. ^ a b c d e "Eminent Railwaymen of Yesteryears". James J. Berkley/ The Thal Ghat. IRFCA. Retrieved 29 March 2013.
  3. ^ "Coal supply to various power stations" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 31 May 2014. Retrieved 21 April 2013.
  4. ^ "Indian Railways, CIL to collaborate for additional coal transport capacity". Mining weekly.com, 14 February 2013. Retrieved 21 April 2013.
  5. ^ "IR History: Early Days – I : Chronology of railways in India, Part 2 (1832–1865)". IFCA. Retrieved 4 April 2013.
  6. ^ "Historical Milestones". Central Railway. Archived from the original on 3 December 2013. Retrieved 24 March 2013.
  7. ^ a b c "Chronology of Railways in India, Part 3 (1900-1947)". IRFCA. Retrieved 24 March 2013.
  8. ^ "The Imperial Gazetteer of Indi". Electronic Library. p. 20. Retrieved 24 March 2013.
  9. ^ "History". Killick Nixon Limited. Archived from the original on 23 July 2013. Retrieved 24 March 2013.
  10. ^ "Railways". Ahmadnagar District Gazetteer. Archived from the original on 20 August 2013. Retrieved 24 March 2013.
  11. ^ "Track doubling work on Pune–Daund, Manmad–Daund routes to begin soon". Samachar.com/ DNA. Archived from the original on 8 March 2014. Retrieved 24 March 2013.
  12. ^ "Bhusaval Division – Important Milestones". Central Railway. Archived from the original on 3 April 2013. Retrieved 24 March 2013.
  13. ^ "Finally, a rail link to Shirdi, from Manmad via Puntamba". The Indian Express. 9 February 2009. Retrieved 24 March 2013.
  14. ^ "Electrification" (PDF). Indian Railways. Retrieved 24 March 2013.
  15. ^ "Pune–Nashik's rail line project worth Rs 16,039 crore gets nod". monyecontrol. 5 June 2020. Retrieved 5 June 2020.
  16. ^ "Rs 16,039-crore Pune–Nashik rail line project gets nod". 5 June 2020. Retrieved 5 June 2020.
  17. ^ "IR History: Part III (1900–1947)". IRFCA. Retrieved 3 April 2013.
  18. ^ "Geography : Railway Zones". IRFCA. Retrieved 24 March 2013.
  19. ^ "Electric Traction I". History of Electrification. IRFCA. Retrieved 18 March 2013.
  20. ^ "History of Electrification". IRFCA. Retrieved 18 March 2013.
  21. ^ "Mumbai Area Electrification". IRFCA. Retrieved 24 March 2013.
  22. ^ "IR History: Part III (1900–1947)". IRFCA. Retrieved 13 March 2013.
  23. ^ "Sheds and Workshops". IRFCA. Retrieved 2 April 2013.
  24. ^ "Chapter II – The Maintenance of Permanent Way". Archived from the original on 3 December 2013. Retrieved 14 March 2013.
  25. ^ "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 14 March 2013.
  26. ^ "The Deccan odyssey". Maharashtra Tourism Development Corporation. Archived from the original on 18 December 2010. Retrieved 14 March 2013.
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External videos
  Manmad Godavari Express: Kasara to Igatpuri (Thul Ghat)
  Panchvatti Express: Igatpuri to Kasara (Thul Ghat)
  Train on bridge at Thul Ghat