Scripting a major milestone in the annals of the over-a-century-old rail line between the 307-km-long Mangalore and Shoranur junction, the Southern Railway has virtually given the green signal to run electric locomotives on the remaining 84-km-long stretch between Charvathur and Mangalore Central stations.
The Railways in all probability would operate the electric locomotive by March-end, up to Mangaluru. A team of senior Railway officials led by Bengaluru-based Commissioner of Railway Safety (CRS), Southern Circle, K.A. Manoharan carried out a detailed inspection of the newly electrified railway section on Saturday.
The team left Mangaluru...
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Central station at 10 a.m in the special inspection car and inspected the level-crossing gates, curves, tunnel and bridges located within the section. The team reached Charvattur at 3.30 p.m. The team members also examined Kasaragod railway station, Bekal Fort sectioning post and commissioned the new electric feeder sub-station at Charvattur.
In the return direction, the team conducted a speed trial run at the stipulated 110 kmph leaving Charvattur at 5.48 p.m. to arrive at Mangaluru Central at 6.52 p.m., Railway sources told The Hindu here on Sunday.
The CRS, in all probability, would give the certification to run the electric locos in a couple of days, sources said.
Having commissioned the electric feeder sub-stations at Elathur, near Kozhikode, and the latest at the Charvathur station, the Railways would be in a position to haul up to 75 per cent of the passenger and freight traffic, a senior Railway official said.
The CRS was accompanied by S. Ramasubbu, Chief Electrical Distribution Engineer, Southern Railway; G.P. Garg, Deputy Commissioner of Railway Safety (Electrical); and Srinivasan, Deputy Commissioner of Railway Safety (Signal).
K. Nagendra Prasad, Chief Project Director, and V. K. Manoharan, Deputy Chief Engineer-Rail Electrification-Kannur of the Railway Electrification wing, were present.