Southern Railway increases maximum permissible speed on around 2037 route kms in the Financial Year 2022-23

Southern Railway’s strategic planning and time bound execution of speed enhancement works have yielded results during the financial year 2022-2023 ending 31st March 2023.

More Details:

  • In the route spanning 2037 Kms, speed enhancement works have been successfully completed during the year. Further, speed has been enhanced in loop lines of various sections of Southern Railway for an aggregate length of 1445 Route kms across the zone.
  • As a result, 44 train services have been speeded up during the last fiscal in Southern Railway.

Speed raised over 2037 Kms of SR network in FY 2022-23:

  • As a result of speed enhancement works over 2037 Route Kms of Southern Railway network, many vital sections have been authorised to handle trains at higher speeds in FY 2022-2023. 

Sections in which Maximum permissible speed increased to 130 Kmph:

  • Over 413.62 Route Kms of Southern Railway network, the maximum permissible speed has been enhanced to 130 kmph from 110 kmph as given below:
    • Chennai – Renigunta section spanning 134.3 Route Kms has now been authorised for speed increase from the existing 110 kmph to 130 kmph since 29th March 2023.
    • Arakkonam – Jolarpettai section (144.54 Km) has been authorised for increasing maximum permissible speed to 130 kmph from 110 kmph from 31st March 2023.
    • Chennai – Gudur section became the first section in Southern Railway to be authorised for increasing maximum permissible speed to 130 Kmph from 110 kmph from October 2022

Sections with Maximum permissible speed of 110/100 Kmph:

  • In various important sections across the zone covering a network of 1218 Kms the maximum permissible speed has been enhanced to 110 Kmph and for a network spanning 406 kms the maximum permissible speed of various sections has been enhanced upto 100 Kmph during the financial year 2022-23. The details of the section are enclosed in Annexure –A.

Speed increase in loop lines:

  • Speed of loop lines in various stations across Southern Railway has been increased from the existing 15 kmph to 30 kmph for an aggregate length of 1445 Route Kms.This helps in improving operational efficiency and reducing overall transit time for passengers.

Speed enhancement works:

  • As part of systematic and planned efforts to strengthen track, traction and signaling systems which are crucial for enhancing the sectional speed, a comprehensive upgrade of all the infrastructure required for train operations was carried out by Southern Railway.
  • These works involved Complete Track Renewal, Strengthening of bridges, easing of curves wherever feasible, barricading for construction of walls at locations where there is heavy trespassing, improving signalling system by providing automatic signalling /double distancing signal and improving OHE infrastructure and thereby duly removing the infringement to enhance the speed.
  • Consequent to speed increase across various sections,  44 train services have been speeded up across Southern Railway during the year 2022-23 easing the travel time for passengers. This speed increase will also improve the overall efficiency of the zone besides giving a fillip to freight operations.
  • Southern Railway reaffirms its commitment to offer safe and punctual train operations and reduced transit time for passengers.

Source: Southern Railway- Press Release | Image Credit (representational): Southern Railway