[strawhat]

Originally Posted by unk9ja

A shot from Yedakumeri railway station.Pic credit to my friend, Arun.

Beautiful picture. This station is part of Sakleshpur-Subramanya Road section of Hassan-Mangalore railway line. The terrain is similar to Castle Rock-Kulem (Braganza) but for a slightly longer distance.

I had an opportunity to be part of a trekking group few years back. It was in my bucket list back then and I was very eager. As fate would have it, I had to pass on. And then the authorities banned the route. Although putting it off-limits did not deter folks.

It is indeed dangerous from what I could make out from the umpteen YouTube videos. The viaducts are narrow, tunnels are pitch dark, long and the threat from elements (both objective and animals/insects). In a way the ban has helped keep the region unspoiled.

Now the best and only way to enjoy this route is train, especially towards the end of monsoons, say October-November. Also the banking operations at Sakleshpur and Subramanya Road will interest the railfans.

[unk9ja]

The inaugural Yeshwanthpur to Vasco da Gama train was flagged off this morning.
The route is Yeshwanthpur, Chikkabanawara, CR Patna, Hassan Sakleshpur, Subramanya road, Padil, Udupi, Kundapura, Byndoor, Murudeshwara, Kumta, Gokarna, Karwar, Madgaon, Vasco. The 691 kms has 19 halts with travel time of around 16 hours. It will depart YPR daily at 1845 and arrive in Vasco at 1030 the following day.

[tharian]

Originally Posted by unk9ja

The inaugural Yeshwanthpur to Vasco da Gama train was flagged off this morning.
The route is Yeshwanthpur, Chikkabanawara, CR Patna, Hassan Sakleshpur, Subramanya road, Padil, Udupi, Kundapura, Byndoor, Murudeshwara, Kumta, Gokarna, Karwar, Madgaon, Vasco. The 691 kms has 19 halts with travel time of around 16 hours. It will depart YPR daily at 1845 and arrive in Vasco at 1030 the following day.Attachment 1977484

It was operated by an all women crew for the inaugural run.

https://youtu.be/LdIr5FSYC1s

https://youtu.be/OYga2uczwLo

[unk9ja]

The Sakleshpur line never gets boring. Picture credits to respective photographers.

[Fillmore]

Got it as a foward.

Anaconda trains
It is a combination of 3 goods trains, linked one after another, 2 km long, with 177 wagons and 3 engines and 3 brake vans.

The lead engine in the front controls the other two engines using a technology involving radio waves, no cables are involved. Avg speed 80kmph.

Coupled Goods trains

[hareshjethwani]

A pic from my recent trip to Nanded (Maharashtra).

[ranjithrnath]

This post is to throw some light on the near-abandoned Sabari rail project.

The Angamali-Sabarimala railway project was aimed at putting the hill shrine into the Indian railway network. The 116-km line, sanctioned in 1997-’98, is one of the 10 stalled rail infrastructure projects of the Southern Railway. The Railway Board desires the Government of Kerala to share 50% of the project cost. But the State government is not willing to share the cost.



The first phase is from Angamali to Azhutha near Sabarimala, the second phase from Erumeli to Punalur with a branch line connecting Pala to Kottayam and the third phase from Punalur to the proposed Nemom Terminus outside of Thiruvananthapuram city thus making it a parallel line passing through the eastern side of Kerala.



The only completed stretch of 7 km is from Angamaly till the Periyar River in Aluva Taluk. No work has been done since 2017. The Kaladi station is occupied by antisocials and people use the new rail bridge across the Periyar at Kalady for walks and cycling. There is no land acquisition in the adjacent Kunnathunad taluk. Indian Railways has shut down the Special Tahsildar office at Muvattupuzha taluk. The remaining areas through which the line passes in Kothamangalam, Thodupuzha, Meenachil and Kanjirapally taluks have not started any land acquisition work.

Apart from the Sabarimala devotees, this new line would have been a boon for the people from the East hilly part of Kerala to reach the Kochi Airport and Ernakulam city. Does anyone know the current status of this project?

Here are some pictures taken by me from the Kalady station at Mattoor and the Periyar Bridge at Chengal, Kalady.

1. Kalady Railway Station









2. Railway Tracks at Mattoor





3. Periyar Rail Bridge at Chengal

[speedmiester]

20 years of the WAP7.

Nice article on the Indian Railways' Flagship Locomotive.


20 Years Of The WAP7: How This Star Locomotive Of Indian Railways Was Brought Back From Certain Death

[Rajeevraj]

Originally Posted by ranjithrnath

This post is to throw some light on the near-abandoned Sabari rail project.

The first phase is from Angamali to Azhutha near Sabarimala, the second phase from Erumeli to Punalur with a branch line connecting Pala to Kottayam and the third phase from Punalur to the proposed Nemom Terminus outside of Thiruvananthapuram city thus making it a parallel line passing through the eastern side of Kerala.

The only completed stretch of 7 km is from Angamaly till the Periyar River in Aluva Taluk. No work has been done since 2017. The Kaladi station is occupied by antisocials and people use the new rail bridge across the Periyar at Kalady for walks and cycling.

Wow, never new that work had actually been done in this project. Normally for these railway projects the main delays it to get the approvals and things moving and once work starts it normally reaches some logical conclusion.

Sad to see this neglected infrastructure. Not sure of the reasons for the same, but even if the line had been completed till Kothamangalam, I think it would have been well used and make that last leg from the hills to the airport or to the City much quicker.

[vharihar]

Originally Posted by ranjithrnath

This post is to throw some light on the near-abandoned Sabari rail project.

The Angamali-Sabarimala railway project was aimed at putting the hill shrine into the Indian railway network. The 116-km line, sanctioned in 1997-’98, is one of the 10 stalled rail infrastructure projects of the Southern Railway. The Railway Board desires the Government of Kerala to share 50% of the project cost. But the State government is not willing to share the cost.

Sad to see the pics of the works lying incomplete. You say the Rly Board wants KL state to share half the cost, but the state govt is unwilling?

Is there any precedent for a state govt sharing cost in a Rly project?

[ranjithrnath]

Originally Posted by vharihar

Sad to see the pics of the works lying incomplete. You say the Rly Board wants KL state to share half the cost, but the state govt is unwilling?

Is there any precedent for a state govt sharing cost in a Rly project?

The Kerala State Govt is after the fancy K-Rail [also called Silverline] Semi High-Speed Rail project which is a new double line connecting Thiruvananthapuram with Kasaragod.

The 532 kilometers, 200 kph capable Semi High-Speed Railway line has been in the works for more than a decade.

The Silver Line aims to reduce travel time between Thiruvananthapuram and Kasargod to less than four hours. The fastest train today covers the same route in a little over nine hours. The cost of the project was estimated to be Rs. 66,000 crores. The project completion date has been moved to 2025. The aerial survey has been completed and the tentative alignment has been prepared based on the aerial/LiDAR survey data.

Here is the link to their official Facebook page.

[ranjithrnath]

Originally Posted by Rajeevraj

Wow, never new that work had actually been done in this project. Normally for these railway projects the main delays it to get the approvals and things moving and once work starts it normally reaches some logical conclusion.

Sad to see this neglected infrastructure. Not sure of the reasons for the same, but even if the line had been completed till Kothamangalam, I think it would have been well used and make that last leg from the hills to the airport or to the City much quicker.

Railway Minister seeks State’s help for Sabari Rail

Goyal says not feasible for Railways to take the project forward
Union Railway Minister Piyush Goyal has asked the State to share the cost of the Angamaly-Sabarimala railway project, aimed at putting the hill shrine into the railway network, as it is “not feasible for the railways to take the project forward solely with the railway funds”.

“The Railways cannot pay for the huge escalation in the project cost due to the inaction of the State government,” Mr. Goyal said in a letter on January 11 to Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan.

As taking forward this project showing 512% increase in project cost solely with railway funds was not possible, the Minister said.

Sharing the cost will help the Railways the much required rail link for the travelling needs of the local people and the Sabarimala pilgrims.


Since September 2019, the Railways have kept the ambitious project in abeyance and decided not to infuse fresh funds due to the State’s non-cooperation. The 116-km line, sanctioned in 1997-’98, is one of the 10 ‘stalled’ rail infrastructure projects of the Southern Railway.

Protests
In the two-page letter, Mr. Goyal has pointed out the lack of cooperation on the part of the State government and local protests against fixing the alignment and land acquisition.

Till now, the Minister said work on the seven km-Angamaly-Kalady and the long lead works on the 10 km Kalady-Perumbavoor corridor had been taken up.

The estimate of the rail line had gone up from ₹550 crore in 1997 to ₹1,234 crore in 2005, to ₹1,566 crore in 2011 and now stands at ₹2,815.62 crore.

Though the Railways provided ₹225 crore in the 2017-18 budget, not much headway could be made. In the 2019-2020 Union budget, only ₹one core was given for the line.

Mr. Goyal has said the government of India requested the State to share at least 50% of the cost. The State agreed to it and the project was identified for execution on cost-sharing basis by the joint venture Kerala Rail Development Corporation Ltd. with the Railways.

Within one year, the Transport Department cancelled the government order issued for cost-sharing of the railway line citing it as a sanctioned project.

“It is surprising and against the interests of developing railways in Kerala and brought into question the State government’s commitment to this important project,” the Minister said.

The proposed line would have helped over 300 lakh Ayyappa devotees visiting the Sabarimala temple during the pilgrim season. As much as 470.77 hectares is needed for the line which passes through Ernakulam, Idukki, Kottayam and Pathanamthitta districts.

[saisree]

Originally Posted by speedmiester

20 years of the WAP7.

Nice article on the Indian Railways' Flagship Locomotive.


20 Years Of The WAP7: How This Star Locomotive Of Indian Railways Was Brought Back From Certain Death

Oh wow what a history this engine has. Would recommend every member to read this piece of article. From the clutches of death to be a Hero today WAP7 .

[vikasshu]

It seems after a long long delay and hiccups, WAG 12 is finally ready and rolling. What a great news.

https://www.instagram.com/p/CAW1wSfH...d=bj1doxyozrmr

[DrPriyankT]

A very well written article on the WAG-12B for anyone who is interested.

https://www.railpost.in/wag-12-alsto...d-more-inside/