>MPGuy2824 at 04:00, 4 July 2021

2021-07-04T04:00:29Z

New page

{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2018}}
{{Use Indian English|date=May 2018}}
{{Infobox rail line
| box_width =
| name = Guntakal–Vasco da Gama section
| color =
| logo =
| logo_width =
| image = Howrah bound Amaravati Express at Vizianagaram.jpg
| image_width = 260px
| caption = [[Amaravati Express]] is a prestigious train running on Guntakal–Vasco da Gama section
| type =
| system =
| status = Operational
| locale = [[Andhra Pradesh]], [[Karnataka]], [[Goa]]
| start = {{stnlnk|Guntakal Junction}} (GTL)
| end = {{stnlnk|Marmagao}} (MRH)
| stations = 73
| routes = 1
| daily_ridership =
| open =
| close =
| owner = [[Indian Railways]]
| operator = [[South Central Railway zone]]<br>[[South Western Railway zone]]<br>[[Konkan Railway Corporation]]
| character =
| depot =
| stock =
| linelength = {{convert|457|km|mi|0|abbr=on}}
| tracklength =
| tracks = 2
| gauge = {{track gauge|1676mm}}
| old_gauge = {{track gauge|1000mm}}
| minradius =
| racksystem =
| routenumber = 7/7A/49/49A<ref>{{cite web|title=Passenger Train Time Table|url=http://www.indianrailways.gov.in/railwayboard/view_section.jsp?id=0,1,304,366,537|work=[[Indian Railways]]|publisher=[[Railway Board]]|access-date=1 July 2016}}</ref>
| electrification = Guntakal–Hulkoti (electrified)
Hulkoti-Hubballi (under electrification)
Hubballi-Alnavar(electrified)
Alnavar-Vasco-Da-Gamma(Under electrification)
| speed = {{convert|100|km/h}}
| elevation =
| website =
| map = {{Guntakal–Vasco da Gama section|inline=1}}
| map_state = hide
}}

The '''Guntakal–Vasco da Gama section''', or '''Mormugao Railway''' (formerly known as '''West of India Portuguese Railway'''),<ref>{{cite web|url=http://hemerotecadigital.cm-lisboa.pt/OBRAS/GazetaCF/1961/N1760/N1760_master/GazetaCFN1760.pdf |title=O Porto e o Caminho de Ferro do Mormugão foram reintegrados na administração directa do Estado |publisher=Gazeta dos Caminhos de Ferro|number=1760|page=51-52|date=1961}}</ref> is a railway line connecting the town of [[Guntakal]] in [[Andhra Pradesh]] and [[Vasco da Gama, Goa|Vasco da Gama]] in [[Goa]], India. It traverses the [[Western Ghats]] and covers a distance of {{convert|457|km|mi}} across Goa, [[Karnataka]] and Andhra Pradesh.

It is operated by the public companies [[Indian Railways]] — through its operating subsidiaries [[South Central Railway zone]] and [[South Western Railway zone]] — and [[Konkan Railway Corporation]].

== History ==
[[File:സുന്ദരമായ കൊങ്കൺ പ്രദേശം.jpg|thumb|left|The Railway Line passes along [[Dudhsagar Falls]]]]
In the year 1878, [[Anglo-Portuguese Treaty of 1878|an agreement]] was signed between the West of India Portuguese Guaranteed Railway Company (WIPR) and Portuguese Government of [[Portuguese India]] for construction of Harbour and connected Railway but the railway work started only in 1882.<ref name=mpt/>

In December 1887, The total length of existing meter gauge railway track in the Goan Territory of 43 km between [[Mormugao]]-[[Sanvordem]] via [[Vasco da Gama, Goa|Vasco da Gama]] was inaugurated. In 1888, Mormugao was connected with Southern Maharatta Railway at Caranzol-Castle Rock junction<ref name=mpt>{{cite web|title=LANDMARK EVENTS OF THE PAST SEVENTY YEARS|url=http://www.mptgoa.com/history3.htm|publisher=Mormugao Port Trust|access-date=27 February 2015}}</ref>

In 1902, with the [[metre gauge]] line on the verge of bankruptcy, the company leased the railway to the [[Southern Mahratta Railway]], which continued to manage railway till 1955.<ref>"A Portuguese-British deal," ''New York Times'', 16 October 1902, p1</ref><ref name=mpt/> With [[Independence of India|independence]], the WIPR's operation passed to [[Indian Railways]] and, in 1951, to the [[Southern Railway Zone (India)|Southern Railway]].{{fact|date=June 2021}}

From 1955 to 1961, the lines within the Portuguese enclave of Goa reverted to Portuguese control. An autonomous body named ''Junta Autónoma dos Portos e Caminhos de Ferro do Estado da Índia'' ("Autonomous Board of the Ports and Railways of the State of India") constituted by the Portuguese Government took over the administration of the Port and Railway on 1 April 1961 from Western India Portuguese Railway on the termination of the contract.{{fact|date=June 2021}}

However, in 1962 upon the liberation of Goa on 19 December 1961, administration of the Port and its connected railway was taken over by the Government of India on 8 January 1962.<ref name=mpt/> In 1963, the line was again taken over by [[Indian Railways]] and came under [[Southern Railway zone|Southern Railway]]. The main Railway section from Vasco da Gama to the border of Goa was transferred to Southern Railway on 1 May 1963, thus delinking the port from the Railway management.<ref name=mpt/>

On 19 July 1990, all railways in the [[Konkan|Konkan Region]] (including all sections of the state of Goa), which were managed by the [[Indian Railways]], came under the operational control of the [[Konkan Railway Corporation]]. Meanwhile, the inland sections of the states of [[Karnataka]] and [[Andra Pradesh]] remained under the management of the [[Indian Railways]] company — through its operating subsidiaries South Central Railway zone and South Western Railway zone.{{fact|date=June 2021}}

In 1996-1997 the [[Konkan Railway]] was connected with the Mormugao Railway, in a contiguous stretch of approximately 15 km between [[Margao]] and Vasco da Gama.<ref name="24Coaches">{{cite web| url=https://24coaches.com/konkan-railway/|url-status=live| title=The Incredible Konkan Railway Story |author=theevandi |publisher=24Coaches |date=10 August 2013|access-date=4 July 2021 | language=en}}</ref>

In 1998, the complete overhaul of the railway was completed, replacing the [[Metre-gauge railway|metric gauge]] (1.000 mm) with the [[5 ft 6 in gauge railway|indian gauge]] (1.676 mm).{{fact|date=June 2021}}

==Main stations==
The main railway stations of the Mormugao Railway are:

*[[Marmagao railway station|Port of Mormugao]] (MRH)
*[[Vasco da Gama railway station|Vasco da Gama]] (VSG)
*[[Madgaon Junction railway station|Margao]] (MAO)
*[[Kulem railway station|Kulem]] (QLM)
*[[Castle Rock railway station, Karnataka|Castle Rock]] (CLR)
*[[Londa Junction railway station|Londa]] (LD)
*[[Alnavar]]
*[[Dharwad railway station|Dharwad]] (DWL)
*[[Hubli Junction railway station|Hubli]] (UBL)
*[[Gadag Junction railway station|Gadag-Betigeri]] (GDG)
*[[Hosapete Junction railway station|Hosapete]] (HPT)
*[[Ballari Junction railway station|Bellary]] (BAY)
*[[Guntakal Junction railway station|Guntakal]] (GTL)

==References==
{{reflist}}

{{Railways in Southern India}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Guntakal - Vasco da Gama section}}
[[Category:5 ft 6 in gauge railways in India]]
[[Category:Rail transport in Karnataka]]
[[Category:Rail transport in Goa]]
[[Category:Rail transport in Andhra Pradesh]]
[[Category:Transport in Guntakal]]
[[Category:Transport in Vasco da Gama, Goa]]

{{India-rail-transport-stub}}

Guntakal Vasco da Gama section - Revision history

>MPGuy2824 at 04:00, 4 July 2021