New Delhi–Chennai main line

Delhi–Chennai line
Overview
Status	Operational
Locale	Delhi, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh,; Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Telangana; Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu
Termini	New Delhi; Chennai Central
Operation
Opened	1929
Owner	Indian Railway
Operator(s)	Northern Railway, North Central Railway, Central Railway, South Central Railway, Southern Railway
Technical
Line length	2,182 km (1,356 mi)
No. of tracks	2
Track gauge	1,676 mm (5 ft 6 in) Broad gauge
Electrification	25kV 50Hz AC OHLE during 1980-1991
Operating speed	up to 160 km/hr
Route map

The Delhi–Chennai line is a railway line connecting Chennai and Delhi cutting across southern part of the Eastern Coastal Plains of India, the Eastern Ghats, the Deccan Plateau and the Yamuna valley. It covers a distance of 2,182 kilometres (1,356 mi) across Delhi, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu. The route is used by the Grand Trunk Express and as such is referred to by many as the Grand Trunk Route.

Sections

The 2,182 km (1,356 mi) long trunk line, amongst the long and busy trunk lines connecting the metros, has been treated in more detail in smaller sections:

History

The Agra-Delhi chord was opened in 1904.^[1] Some parts of it were relaid during the construction of New Delhi (inaugurated in 1927-28).^[2]

The Agra-Gwalior line was opened by the Maharaja of Gwalior in 1881 and it became the Scindia State Railway.

The Indian Midland Railway built the Gwalior-Jhansi line and the Jhansi-Bhopal line in 1889.^[3]

The Bhopal-Itarsi line was opened by the Begum of Bhopal in 1884.^[3] Itarsi was linked with Nagpur between 1923 and 1924.^[4]

The period of construction of the Nagpur-Balharshah line is uncertain.

The Vijayawada-Chennai line was constructed in 1899.^[3]

The Wadi-Secunderabad line was built in 1874 with financing by the Nizam of Hyderabad. It later became part of Nizam's Guaranteed State Railway. In 1889, the main line of the Nizam’s Guaranteed State Railway was extended to Vijayawada, then known as Bezwada.^[3]

With the completion of the Kazipet-Balharshah link in 1929, Chennai was directly linked to Delhi.^[1]

Electrification

The Vijayawada–Chennai section electrified by 1980.^[5]

The Vijayawada-Kazipet sector was electrified in 1985-88.^[6]

The Kazipet-Ramagundam-Balharshah-Nagpur sector was electrified in 1987-89. The Bhopal-Itarsi sector was electrified in 1988-89 and the Nagpur-Itarsi sector in 1990-91. The Agra-Bhopal sector was electrified in 1984-89. The Agra-Faridabad section was electrified in 1982-85.^[6]

Speed limits

The Delhi–Chennai line (Grand Trunk route) is classified as a "Group A" line which can take speeds up to 160 km/h.^[7]

Passenger movement

New Delhi, Mathura Junction, Agra Cantt., Gwalior, Jhansi, Bhopal, Bhopal Habibganj, Nagpur, Vijayawada, Nellore and Chennai Central, on this line, are amongst the top hundred booking stations of Indian Railway.^[8]

Golden quadrilateral

The Delhi–Chennai line is a part of the golden quadrilateral. The routes connecting the four major metropolises (New Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai and Kolkata), along with their diagonals, known as the golden quadrilateral, carry about half the freight and nearly half the passenger traffic, although they form only 16 per cent of the length.^[9]

References

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External links

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v t e Railways in Northern India
National network/ trunk lines	Howrah–Delhi main line New Delhi–Chennai main line Howrah–Gaya–Delhi line Delhi–Jaipur line Jaipur–Ahmedabad line Mathura–Vadodara Section
Branch lines/ sections	Agra–Bhopal section Ambala–Attari line Amritsar–Pathankot line Bathinda–Rewari line Bilaspur–Mandi–Leh railway Chandigarh–Sahnewal line Delhi–Fazilka line Delhi–Kalka line Delhi–Meerut–Saharanpur line Delhi–Moradabad line Delhi–Shamli–Saharanpur line Jalandhar–Firozpur line Jalandhar–Jammu line Jammu–Poonch railway line Jodhpur–Bathinda line Kanpur–Delhi section Kashmir Railway Lucknow–Moradabad line Ludhiana–Fazilka line Ludhiana–Jakhal line Marwar Junction–Munabao line Moradabad–Ambala line Mughalsarai–Kanpur section Rewari–Rohtak line Srinagar-Kargil-Leh railway Varanasi–Lucknow main line Varanasi–Rae Bareli–Lucknow line
Urban and suburban rail transport	Delhi Suburban Railway Blue Line (Delhi Metro) Green Line (Delhi Metro) Red Line (Delhi Metro) Violet Line (Delhi Metro) Yellow Line (Delhi Metro) Rapid MetroRail Gurgaon Lucknow–Kanpur Suburban Railway Barabanki–Lucknow Suburban Railway Delhi Panipat RRTS Delhi Meerut RRTS Delhi Alwar RRTS
Narrow-gauge railways	Kalka–Shimla Railway Kangra Valley Railway
Abandoned lines	Jammu–Sialkot Line
Monorails	Patiala State Monorail Trainways (abandoned)
Named trains	Ajmer–Hyderabad Meenakshi Express Ajmer Jammu Express Dayodaya Ajmer–Jabalpur Superfast Express Akal Takht Express Amritsar Mail Ananya Express Andaman Express Andhra Pradesh Express Anand Vihar Muzaffarpur Garib Rath Express Assam Mail Bagh Express Lucknow Bhopal Garibrath Express Bhopal–Jaipur Express Bhopal–Jodhpur Passenger Bhopal–Lucknow Express Bhopal–Lucknow–Pratapgarh Express Brahmaputra Mail Chambal Express Chennai Hazrat Nizamuddin Duronto Express Chhattisgarh Express Chitrakoot Express Damoh–Kota Passenger Dayodaya Express Doon Express Durgavati Express Faizabad Delhi Express Faizabad Superfast Express Ganga Kaveri Express Goa Express Godaan Express Golden Temple Mail Gondwana Express Grand Trunk Express Pune–Manduadih Gyan Ganga Express Himalayan Queen Himsa Express Himsagar Express Hirakud Express Howrah – New Delhi Duronto Express Howrah New Delhi Yuva Express Indore Express Indore–Chandigarh Express Indore–Dehradun Express Indore–Hazrat Nizamuddin Express Indore–Patna Express Indore – Rajendra Nagar Via. Faizabad Express Indore–Ajmer Express Indore–Ajmer Link Express Indore–Amritsar Express Indore–Jaipur Express Indore–Jaipur Express via Ajmer Indore–Kota Intercity Express Indore–Udaipur City Express Jabalpur–Jammu Tawi Express Jabalpur–New Delhi Express Jaipur Superfast Express Jammu Tawi – Indore Express Jhelum Express Kaifiyat Express Kalinga Utkal Express Kalka Mail Kanpur Allahabad Intercity Kanpur Varanasi InterCity Kashi Vishwanath Express Kerala Express Kongu Express Kushinagar Express Lashkar Express Lucknow Mail Magadh Express Mahabodhi express Mahakoshal Express Mahanagari Express Mahananda Express Malwa Express Mandore Express Mangala Lakshadweep Express Secunderabad Express Marusagar Express Matsyaganda Express Mewar Express Mithila Express Muzaffarpur Anand Vihar Garib Rath Express Navyug Express Neelachal Express Kalka New Delhi Shatabdi Express New Jalpaiguri - New Delhi SF Express North East Express Patalkot Express Patna–Kota Express Poorva Express Pratham Swatrantata Sangrm Express Prayagraj Express Punjab Mail Purushottam Express Pushpak Express Rajendra Nagar Patna – Indore Express Rajendranagar Express Ranthambore Express Raptisagar Express Sabarmati Express Sachkhand Express Saket Express Samata Express Samjhauta Express Sampoorna Kranti Express Sanghamithra Express Sapt Kranti Express Sealdah Rajdhani Express Sealdah – New Delhi Duronto Express Shaan-e-Bhopal Express Shalimar Express Shipra Express Shiv Ganga Express Shram Shakti Express Shramjeevi Express Taj Express Tamil Nadu Express Thar Express Thirukural Express Tirhut Express Udhna Varanasi Express Ujjaini Express Utsarg Express Uttar Sampark Kranti Express Vaishali Express Vikramshila Express West Bengal Sampark Kranti Express
Manufacturing units and workshops	Diesel Locomotive Works Rail Coach Factory, Kapurthala Rail Coach Factory, Raebareli
Railway companies	Northern Railway North Eastern Railway North Central Railway North Western Railway East Indian Railway Company Rajputana–Malwa Railway Tirhut Railway Oudh and Tirhut Railway Indian Branch Railway Company Oudh and Rohilkhand Railway Cawnpore–Burhwal Railway Cawnpore–Barabanki Railway Lucknow–Bareilly Railway Bengal and North Western Railway Rohilkund and Kumaon Railway Mashrak-Thawe Extension Railway Lucknow–Sitapur–Seramow Provincial State Railway Bareilly–Pilibheet Provincial State Railway Segowlie-Raxaul Railway Delhi Metro Rail Corporation National Capital Region Transport Corporation
See also	Indian Railways Bholu (mascot) 1974 railway strike in India
Railways in India portal

v t e Railways in Central India
National network / trunk lines	Howrah–Allahabad–Mumbai line Howrah–Nagpur–Mumbai line New Delhi–Chennai main line
Branch lines /sections	Bina–Katni rail route Katni–Bilaspur line Satpura narrow gauge lines Tatanagar–Bilaspur section Bilaspur–Nagpur section Nagpur–Bhusawal section Allahabad–Jabalpur section Jabalpur–Bhusaval section Agra–Bhopal section Bhopal–Nagpur section Nagpur–Hyderabad line Narkhed–Amravati Railway
Monorail	Indore Monorail
Defunct lines revived/under revival	Nagpur Chhattisgarh Railway
Defunct lines	Rajputana–Malwa Railway
Named trains	Ahilya Nagari Express Ajmer–Hyderabad Meenakshi Express Amarkantak Express Avantika Express Azad Hind Express Bhopal Bharat Teerth Express Bhopal Jan Shatabdi Express Bhopal Janata Express Bhopal Rajya Rani Express Bhopal–Indore Intercity Express Bhopal–Indore Passenger Bhopal–Jabalpur Intercity Express Bhopal–Mumbai Express Bhopal–Ujjain Passenger Bhopal–Bilaspur Express Bhopal–Bina Passenger Bhopal–Gwalior Intercity Express Bhopal–Howrah Express Bhopal–Indore AC Double Decker Intercity Express Bhopal–Indore AC Double Decker Non-Stop Express Bhopal–Indore Passenger Bhopal–Jaipur Express Bhopal–Jodhpur Passenger Bhopal–Lucknow Express Bhopal–Lucknow–Pratapgarh Express Bhopal–Pratapgarh Express Bina – Katni 505 Passenger Coimbatore Express Chambal Express Chhattisgarh Express Chhindwara - Amritsar Chhattisgarh Express Chitrakoot Express Damoh–Kota Passenger Dayodaya Express Durgavati Express Gondwana Express Grand Trunk Express Gwalior–Chhindwara Express Hazrat Nizamuddin – Indore Express Hazrat Nizamuddin – Jabalpur Express Hazrat Nizamuddin–Bhopal Express Hazrat Nizamuddin–Gwalior Express Himsagar Express Indore–Jaipur Express via Ajmer Indore Express Indore–Bandra Express Indore–Rewa Express Indore Express Indore Tri Shatabdi Indore–Dehradun Express Indore–Hazrat Nizamuddin Express Indore–Maksi Passenger Indore – Nagda Passenger Indore–Nagpur Express Indore–Patna Express Indore – Rajendra Nagar Via. Faizabad Express Indore–Ujjain Passenger Indore–Ajmer Express Indore–Ajmer Link Express Indore–Amritsar Express Indore–Bandra Express Indore–Bhind Express Indore–Bhopal Non-Stop Express Indore Duronto Express Indore–Gwalior Intercity Express Indore–Jabalpur Express Indore–Jabalpur Intercity Express Indore–Jaipur Express Indore–Kota Intercity Express Indore–Pune Express Indore–Rewa Express Indore–Surat Express Indore–Udaipur City Express Indore–Yesvantpur Express Intercity Express – Agra Jabalpur–Indore Intercity Express Jabalpur–Ambikapur Express Jabalpur – Mumbai Central Garib Rath Special Express Jabalpur–Mumbai Garibrath Express Jabalpur–Amravati Express Jabalpur–Bhopal Express Via. Bina Jabalpur–Bhopal Intercity Express Jabalpur Habibganj Jan Shatabdi Express Jabalpur–Indore Express Jabalpur–Jammu Tawi Express Jabalpur–Nagpur Express Jabalpur–New Delhi Express Jabalpur–Rewa Intercity Express Jabalpur Somnath Express Jaipur Superfast Express Lashkar Express Lucknow Bhopal Garibrath Express Madhya Pradesh Sampark Kranti Mahakoshal Express Mahanadi Express Malwa Express Nagpur – Indore Tri Shatabdi Express Narmada Express New Delhi Habibganj Shatabdi Express Panchvalley Express Patalkot Express Rajendra Nagar Patna – Indore Express Ranthambore Express Rewa – Delhi Anand Vihar Express Rewanchal Express Sarguja Express Satpura Express Shaan-e-Bhopal Express Shaktipunj Express Shanti Express Shipra Express Shramik express Surat Bhagalpur Express Surat–Muzaffarpur Express Taj Express Tapti Ganga Express Thiruvananthapuram–Indore Express Udhna Varanasi Express Ujjaini Express Vindhyachal Express
Railway companies	Bengal Nagpur Railway Great Indian Peninsula Railway South East Central Railway Central Railway Western Railway West Central Railway
See also	Indian Railways Bholu (mascot) Datia rail accident Akola–Ratlam (metre gauge trains) Indore–Ajmer metre-gauge trains Rail transport in Madhya Pradesh Dalli-Rajhara–Jagdalpur rail line
Railways in India portal

New Delhi–Chennai main line

Contents

Sections

History

Electrification

Speed limits

Passenger movement

Golden quadrilateral

References

External links

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