Project Unigauge

Comparison of different gauges common in India with standard gauge, which is not common in India

Project Unigauge is an ongoing exercise by Indian Railways to standardise most of the rail gauge in India at 1676 mm (5 ft 6 in) broad gauge.

India currently has significant lengths of four different gauges: around 42,000 km of broad gauge (BG), 17,000 km of metre gauge (MG) and an assortment of narrow gauge lines.^[1] By 2008, out of the 63,326.69 km of railway, 10,621.38 km were metre gauge, 2885.87 km narrow gauge, and the remaining 49,819.44 km broad gauge, which the Railways aims to make the mainstay.^[2]

Early History

The project started around 1980. It was concluded that towns and cities on the metre (MG) and narrow gauge (NG) lines had a poorer service than equivalent towns on the broad gauge system. Conversion of lines to broad gauge would make the broad gauge more efficient, avoiding the current break of gauges, and with more capacity, with many regauged links providing shortcuts for broad gauge traffic.

Weight of rail

An alternative way to reduce construction costs during conversion is to use lighter track and lighter rails. Railway rails are expensive and lighter rails achieve significant cost savings.

Lighter rails can only carry lighter engines and rolling stock, but since traffic is generally less, this is not a problem. Light engines can travel on heavy main lines, but not vice versa. If needs be light track can be gradually upgraded to heavy duty track. An intermediate stage is to allow heavier engines to operate on lighter track at reduced speed.

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Project Unigauge

Maps

• Railway Gazette International Supplement December 2007 p7.
• IN Network Map

Routes remaining

2008

Remaining

North

• Alipurduar (93 m)
• Dhubri (23 m)

• Alipurduar (93 m)
• Bamanhat, Bangladesh

• New Mal
• Chagrabandha, Bangladesh

Eastern

• Sainthia (52 m) - terminus; break-of-gauge
• Katwa (21m) - break-of-gauge
• Barddhaman (30 m) - terminus; break-of-gauge

East Central Railway

• Raipur (283 m) - break-of-gauge
• (junction)
• Rajim (281) - terminus
• (junction)
• Dhamtari (316 m) - terminus

• Naupada - junction
• Gunupur - branch terminus

North Central

• Pulgaon (284 m) - break-of-gauge
• Arvi, Wardha (827 m) - terminus

Southern Railway

• Bodinavakkanur
• Madurai
• Dindigul
• Palani
• Pollachi - junction
• Palghat
• Podanur (359 m)

• Cuddalore (1 m) - terminus ; break-of-gauge
• Mayiladutharai
• Thiruthuraipondi - junction
  • Agasthiampalli - terminus
• Karaikudi (81 m) - break-of-gauge
• Manamadurai (69 m) - break-of-gauge
• Virudunagar - terminus - BOG

• Quilon - terminus - BOG
• Tenkasi - BOG
• Tirunelveli - BOG
• Tiruchendur - terminus

Western

• Surat (12 m) - large town
• Bilimora (3 m) break-of-gauge
• Waghai (110 m) - terminus

• Gandhidam - junction
• New Bhuj (109 m) break-of-gauge
• Naliya (20m ) - branch terminus (may be closed)

• Mahesana - (80 m) - break-of-gauge
• Taranga Hill - branch terminus

West Central

• Gwalior (196 m) - break-of-gauge
• (610 mm (2 ft) )
• Sheopur (228 m) - terminus

Completed

2009

• Guntakal-Kalluru MG has been converted and shortened from 80 km to 60 km.^[3]

• Mathura-Kasganj MG has been converted into BG. Services started on 1 May 2009.

See also

References

External links

• Unigauge sorely needed in Southern Railway
• http://www.thehindu.com/2006/12/25/stories/2006122521080100.htm
• - Does privatisation provide the answer?