The electrification of the double track between Mysuru and Bengaluru has been completed. The Commissioner of Railway Safety (Southern Circle) will inspect the work on Tuesday before according his clearance which will pave the way for the introduction of electric train services between the two cities.

A historic development from the point of view of transport infrastructure linking the two cities, the electrification of tracks between Mysuru and Bengaluru was part of the recently completed track doubling work and was taken up concurrently. Once the electric services between the two cities are introduced, the entire journey on the Mysuru-Chennai section will be by electric locomotive hauled trains.

The electrification project was taken up by the Central Organisation for Railway Electrification (CORE), Allahabad, which completed the installation of poles in the first phase and drew overhead cables along the different stretches. The sub-stations at Bidadi and Yeliyur will feed power to the locomotive through the overhead catenary or cables.

K.A. Manohar, CRS, will conduct the statutory inspection of electrification besides the speed trial of AC electric loco hauled service on the broad gauge double line section between Yeliyur and Mysuru on Tuesday. Vijaya, Chief Public Relations Officer, South Western Railway, said the inspection will start from Yeliyur and continue till Mysuru.

“During the inspection, the traction sub-station at Yeliyur will also be inspected. After the inspection at enroute stations and yards including Level Crossings Gates, return speed trial between Mysuru-Yeliyur will also be conducted. Works related to the electrification of the double line between Yeliyur and Mysuru have been completed recently and once the Commissioner of Railway Safety accords authorisation, electric trains between Mysuru Bengaluru will become a reality,” she added.

Bidadi substation

It was only in March that the Karnataka Power Transmission Corporation (KPTCL) powered the Bidadi railway substation which facilitated the railways to operate electric locomotives till Mandya.

Until recently, the Electric Multiple Units (EMU) services operated on the Bengaluru-Ramanagaram section which was powered by the electric substation at Whitefield. The completion of the Bidadi and Yeliyuru substations were major turning points that paved the way for operationalising electric locomotive hauled trains on the Bengaluru-Mysuru section.

Reduced time

With improved traction, the running time of some of the express services are expected to be reduced. Further, it will obviate the need of a few trains like Chennai-Mysuru-Chennai Shatabdi Express to change to diesel engine for its journey on the Bengaluru-Mysuru leg and from diesel to electric on the return journey.

In all, 24 pairs of trains (including the non-daily services) operate on the highly-saturated Mysuru and Bengaluru lines. With the completion of track electrification, regular suburban services between the two cities will be introduced, reducing commuting time and enhancing connectivity.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> States> Karnataka / by Special Correspondent / Mysuru – December 05th, 2017