Akola–Ratlam line explained

Box Width:28em
Akola–Ratlam line
Status:Operational
Locale:Maharashtra & Madhya Pradesh
Open:1963
Owner:Indian Railways
Operator:Western Railway
Central Railway
South Central Railway
Depot:Mhow, Ratlam
Stock:YDM-4, WDM-2, WDM-3A, WDG-3A, WDG-3C
Tracklength:4730NaN0
Gauge: broad gauge
Electrification:25 kV AC, 50 Hz, overhead catenary
Speed:130 km/h
Map State:show

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

Notes and References

  1. Web site: A day at the Dhulghat Spiral.
  2. Web site: WR declare closure of Fatehabad–Indore & Fatehabad–Ujjain MG Section for GC works. 24 February 2014. RailNews.
  3. Web site: (untitled) . Free Press Journal . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20140505142150/http://freepressjournal.in/indore-ujjain-gauge-conversion-work-beings-tomorrow/ . 5 May 2014 .
  4. News: Mhow villagers may be deprived of rail services. Rajesh. Jauhri. The Times of India. 12 November 2012.
  5. https://connectgujarat.com/w-rly-runs-first-freight-train-run-on-the-newly-converted-mathela-nimarkhedi-section-of-ratlam-division/ connect gujarat.com
  6. https://www.freepressjournal.in/indore/madhya-pradesh-electrification-of-sanawad-mathela-track-to-be-completed-by-mar-15 freepressjournal.in
  7. https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/aurangabad/akola-akot-rail-section-gets-broad-gauge-line/articleshow/77204888.cms indiatimes.com
  8. News: 2021-07-22 . Wildlife nod must to upgrade railway line through Amravati's Melghat: Piyush Goyal . 2024-08-08 . The Times of India . 0971-8257.
  9. http://railinindia.tripod.com/mhow.html Mhow Diesel Loco Shed
  10. http://www.irfca.org/faq/faq-shed.html Sheds and Workshops
  11. http://www.irfca.org/faq/faq-shed2.html Steam Locomotive Sheds of the Past