As part of Hosapete – Tinaighat – Vasco-da-gama doubling, the railway track between twin cities – Hubballi and Dharwad is being doubled. Doubling of track in the stretch between Dharwad – Navalur – Unkal (17 Km) was completed last month and the remaining work between Unkal and Hubballi (4 Km) is in progress.
- Shri Ajay Kumar Singh, GM/SWR inspected the progress of doubling works by foot from Unkal to Hubballi.
- Work of new station building at Unkal was also inspected.
- Track work was progressing well and GM advised to expedite ballasting on priority. Road Under bridge being constructed near Sri Krishna Kalyan Mantapa was inspected.
- Progress of this work is as per the timeline and it is targeted to be completed by end of Dec 2020.
- Work on the progress of work in Hubballi Yard was also inspected. GM instructed that during linking of track in Hubballi Yard, care should be taken to relax speed restrictions from Gadag main line and if possible from Bengaluru main line.
- The work of doubling Hubballi West to Hubballi involves Hubballi yard remodeling in which the world’s longest platform is coming up at Hubballi and same is expected to be commissioned early next year.
- Shri Singh informed that work was progressing satisfactorily and instructed officials to complete all the works within the time frame. The work is being under taken by Rail Vikas Nigam Ltd..
- Shri Chandrashekar, GM/RVNL, Shri Viswas Kumar, ADRM/O Hubballi and branch officers of Hubballi Division accompanied GM/SWR for the inspection.
Recent Progress:
Hubballi Division of SWR is earnestly taking up works for removing speed restrictions that limit speed of trains. Track renewal works which enable faster movement of trains are being given tremendous thrust in last 6 months. At locations notified trains will slow down because of permanent speed Restrictions in force because of various reasons.
- Now under “Mission Mobility” several works to attend the root cause for Speed restriction are being done that facilitate removal of speed restrictions.
- The works done include increase in super-elevation at curves, correction of transition length, through tamping, attending points and crossings with track machine (named UNIMAT) are being carried out.
- Recouping of Ballast to maintain cushion and thereby riding quality, recouping missing permanent way fittings are also being done to facilitate faster trains.
- Because of the above special works done, speed restrictions have been removed at 4 locations covering 20.3 Km between Londa and Tinaighat.
- Section between Londa & Tinai ghat station Up line from Km 9/800 to 1/300 where speed has been raised from 45 Kmph to 65 Kmph, and in Dn line from Km 1/300 to 9/800 where speed has been raised from 45 Kmph to 65 Kmph.
- In Single Line section between Tinaghat and Castlerock speed has been raised from 45 Kmph to 65 Kmph at 2 locations at Km 14/200 to 16/500 and at Km 21/300 to 22/300.
- These speed restrictions were existing since last 25 years, from gauge conversion to Broad gauge in 1995-96.
To remove the speed restrictions on these 4 locations following track works were taken up:
- Slewing of 04 curves duly increasing the transitions length on UP line. Increasing the clean ballast cushion from 150-200 mm to 350-400 mm by lifting the track through BCM machine.
- Ballasting of track by Unloading 5000 cum of Ballast through Londa BT.
- Machine tamping and raising of super elevation in 03-04 stages for 15 curves.
- 10000-15000 cum of cess work on UP & DN line.
Removal of speed restrictions will contribute to higher goods train speeds, increases section capacity and reduces congestion
Source: South Western Railway-Press Release
