Akola–Ratlam line

Akola–Ratlam line
A Passenger train between Mhow to Indore during Meter Gauge line on the Akola - Ratlam Line
Overview
StatusOperational
OwnerIndian Railways
LocaleMaharashtra & Madhya Pradesh
Termini
Service
Operator(s)Western Railway
Central Railway
South Central Railway
Depot(s)Mhow, Ratlam
Rolling stockYDM-4, WDM-2, WDM-3A, WDG-3A, WDG-3C
History
Opened1963
Technical
Track length473 km (294 mi)
Track gauge5 ft 6 in (1,676 mm) broad gauge
Electrification25 kV AC, 50 Hz, overhead catenary
Operating speed130 km/h
Route map

Legend
Ratlam Junction
Mathura–Vadodara section
 Nauganwan
Pritam Nagar
Runjia
Sunderabad
Barnagar
Pirjhalar
Gautampura Road
Osra
Fatehabad Chandwatiganj
Ajnod
Balauda Takun
Palia
Indore–Gwalior line
 Laxmibai Nagar
Indore Junction
Saifee Nagar
Lokmanya Nagar
Rajendra Nagar
Rau
Indore–Dahod line
 Haranya Kheri
Mhow
Dr. Ambedkar Nagar
Manmad–Indore line
 PatalPani
Kalakund
Choral
Mukhtiara Balwada
Barwaha
Omkareshwar Road
Sanawad
NTPC Khargone
 Nimar Kheri
Kotla Kheri
Attar
Ajanti
Jabalpur–Bhusaval section
 Khandwa Junction
Jabalpur–Bhusaval section
 Mordar
Jirwan
Takal
Gurhi
Amlakhurd
Ratnapur
Tukhaitad
Madhya Pradesh
Maharashtra
border
 Dabka
Dhulghat
Dhulghat Spiral
 Wan Road
Hiwarkhed
Adgaon Buzurg
Akot
Patsul
Gandhi Smarak Road
Ugwe
Nagpur–Bhusawal section
 Akola Junction
Nagpur–Bhusawal section
Kacheguda–Manmad section
5 ft 6 in (1,676 mm)
broad gauge
 metre gauge

The Akola–Ratlam rail line is a railway line in India linking Akola in Maharashtra with Ratlam in Madhya Pradesh. As of January 2023, Ratlam to Dr. Ambedkar Nagar, Sanawad to Khandwa and Akot to Akola Has been Completed.

History

The Akola–Ratlam metre-gauge line was opened in 1963. Dhulghat Spiral is a unique spiral located on this metre-gauge section at around 2 kilometres from Dhulghat station towards Akola. It is also called 'Char Cha Akda' in Marathi and 'Char Ka Aankda' in Hindi, which in English means 'the figure 4' – railway tracks are arranged like 4.[1]

In 2008, the Union Cabinet approved the gauge conversion for the Ratlam–Mhow–Khandwa–Akola railway line of 472.64 km. The gauge conversion is in process. [2][3][4]

The Mathela–Nimarkhedi–NTPC Khargone section was converted to broad gauge and started on 12 August 2019 and electrification was also done on 15 March 2020.[5][6]

Thereafter, the Akola Junction–Akot section line gauge conversion project of this mainline was completed on 28 July 2020.[7]

The Akot - Amlakhurd section of the line has to pass through Melghat Tiger Reserve and the works on this line is on hold due to pending clearance from Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change.[8]

Loco Shed

Mhow Diesel Loco Shed and Ratlam Diesel Loco Shed are loco sheds on this line. These were earlier metre-gauge sheds but are now converted to broad-gauge sheds.[9][10][11]

Trains

References

  1. ^ "A day at the Dhulghat Spiral".
  2. ^ "WR declare closure of Fatehabad–Indore & Fatehabad–Ujjain MG Section for GC works". RailNews. 24 February 2014.
  3. ^ "(untitled)". Free Press Journal. Archived from the original on 5 May 2014.
  4. ^ Jauhri, Rajesh (12 November 2012). "Mhow villagers may be deprived of rail services". The Times of India.
  5. ^ connect gujarat.com, Retrieved 23 August 2020
  6. ^ freepressjournal.in, Retrieved 23 August 2020
  7. ^ indiatimes.com, Retrieved 23 August 2020
  8. ^ "Wildlife nod must to upgrade railway line through Amravati's Melghat: Piyush Goyal". The Times of India. 22 July 2021. ISSN 0971-8257. Retrieved 8 August 2024.
  9. ^ Mhow Diesel Loco Shed
  10. ^ Sheds and Workshops
  11. ^ Steam Locomotive Sheds of the Past