Agra–Bhopal section | |
---|---|
Overview | |
Status | Operational |
Termini |
Agra Bhopal |
Operation | |
Opened | 1889 |
Owner | Indian Railway |
Operator(s) |
North Central Railway West Central Railway |
Depot(s) | Jhansi, Gwalior, Dhaulpur |
Rolling stock | WDM-2, WDM-3A, WDM-3D, WDG-3A, WDS-6, WDG-4, WAG-5HA / WAG5HB, WAG-7, NDM-5, ZDM-3, WDS-4, WDM-2S,WAP-4,WAP-5,WAP-7,WAG-9 |
Technical | |
Track length | Mainline: 508 km (316 mi) Branch lines: Gwalior-Bhind 82 km (51 mi) Gwalior-Sheopur Kalan NG 199 km (124 mi) Jhansi-Kanpur 220 km (137 mi) |
Number of tracks | 2 |
Track gauge | 1,676 mm (5 ft 6 in) broad gauge |
Electrification | 1984-89 |
Operating speed | up to 160 km/h |
The Agra–Bhopal section is a railway line connecting the 16-17th century capital of the Mughals, Agra and Bhopal, capital of the Indian state of Madhya Pradesh. This 508 km (316 mi) track is part of the Delhi-Chennai line. The line is under the jurisdiction of North Central Railway and West Central Railway.
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. The Agra-Gwalior-Jhansi-Bhopal line became part of the Delhi-Chennai line in 1929.
The Jhansi-Kanpur line was constructed by the Indian Midland Railway in 1889.
The Gwalior-Bhind line was opened as a 610 mm (2 ft) wide narrow gauge line in 1899. It was converted to broad gauge in 2001.
The Gwalior-Sheopur Kalan 610 mm (2 ft) wide narrow gauge line was constructed between 1904 and 1909.
The Agra-Gwalior sector was electrified in 1984-85, the Gwalior-Babina sector in 1986-87, Babina-Bareth sector in 1987-88, and Bareth-Bhopal sector in 1988-89. The Jhansi-Kanpur branch line was recently electrified in 2013 and has become operational with electric locomotives.
T}he Delhi-Chennai Central line (Grand Trunk route) is classified as a "Group A" line which can take speeds up to 160 km/h. For the BG branch lines speed limit is generally 100 km/h.
Bhopal Shatabdi Express, the fastest train in India, powered by a WAP-5 loco, travels along this line. The Chennai Rajdhani Express, which runs at an average speed (including halts) of 77.23 km/h. uses this line.
Agra Cantt., Gwalior, Jhansi and Bhopal are amongst the top hundred booking stations of Indian Railway.