Akola–Ratlam line

The Akola–Ratlam rail line is a railway line in India linking Akola in Maharashtra with Ratlam in Madhya Pradesh. As of January 2023, Ratlam to Dr. Ambedkar Nagar, Sanawad to Khandwa and Akot to Akola Has been Completed.

Akola–Ratlam line
A Passenger train between Mhow to Indore during Meter Gauge line on the Akola - Ratlam Line
Overview
Status	Operational
Owner	Indian Railways
Locale	Maharashtra & Madhya Pradesh
Termini	Akola Junction Ratlam Junction
Service
Operator(s)	Western Railway Central Railway South Central Railway
Depot(s)	Mhow, Ratlam
Rolling stock	YDM-4, WDM-2, WDM-3A, WDG-3A, WDG-3C
History
Opened	1963
Technical
Track length	473 km (294 mi)
Track gauge	5 ft 6 in (1,676 mm) broad gauge
Electrification	25 kV AC, 50 Hz, overhead catenary
Operating speed	130 km/h
Route map Legend Mathura–Vadodara section Ratlam Junction Mathura–Vadodara section Nauganwan Pritam Nagar Runjia Sunderabad Barnagar Pirjhalar Gautampura Road Osra Fatehabad Chandwatiganj Ajnod Balauda Takun Palia Indore–Gwalior line Laxmibai Nagar Indore Junction Saifee Nagar Lokmanya Nagar Rajendra Nagar Rau Indore–Dahod line Haranya Kheri Mhow Dr. Ambedkar Nagar Manmad–Indore line PatalPani Kalakund Choral Mukhtiara Balwada Barwaha Omkareshwar Road Sanawad NTPC Khargone Nimar Kheri Kotla Kheri Attar Ajanti Jabalpur–Bhusaval section Khandwa Junction Jabalpur–Bhusaval section Mordar Jirwan Takal Gurhi Amlakhurd Ratnapur Tukhaitad Madhya Pradesh Maharashtra border Dabka Dhulghat Dhulghat Spiral Wan Road Hiwarkhed Adgaon Buzurg Akot Patsul Gandhi Smarak Road Ugwe Nagpur–Bhusawal section Akola Junction Nagpur–Bhusawal section Kacheguda–Manmad section 5 ft 6 in (1,676 mm) broad gauge metre gauge

History

The Akola–Ratlam metre-gauge line was opened in 1963. Dhulghat Spiral is a unique spiral located on this metre-gauge section at around 2 kilometres from Dhulghat station towards Akola. It is also called 'Char Cha Akda' in Marathi and 'Char Ka Aankda' in Hindi, which in English means 'the figure 4' – railway tracks are arranged like 4.^[1]

In 2008, the Union Cabinet approved the gauge conversion for the Ratlam–Mhow–Khandwa–Akola railway line of 472.64 km. The gauge conversion is in process. ^[2][3][4]

The Mathela–Nimarkhedi–NTPC Khargone section was converted to broad gauge and started on 12 August 2019 and electrification was also done on 15 March 2020.^[5][6]

Thereafter, the Akola Junction–Akot section line gauge conversion project of this mainline was completed on 28 July 2020.^[7]

The Akot - Amlakhurd section of the line has to pass through Melghat Tiger Reserve and the works on this line is on hold due to pending clearance from Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change.^[8]

Loco Shed

Mhow Diesel Loco Shed and Ratlam Diesel Loco Shed are loco sheds on this line. These were earlier metre-gauge sheds but are now converted to broad-gauge sheds.^[9][10][11]

Trains

• Ajmer–Hyderabad Meenakshi Express
• Mhow–Indore Passenger
• Indore–Dr. Ambedkar Nagar DEMU
• Ratlam–Laxmibai Nagar DEMU
• Indore–Ratlam DEMU
• Jodhpur–Indore Express
• Dr. Ambedkar Nagar–Sanawad Passenger
• Rewa–Dr. Ambedkar Nagar Express

References

1. "A day at the Dhulghat Spiral".
2. "WR declare closure of Fatehabad–Indore & Fatehabad–Ujjain MG Section for GC works". RailNews. 24 February 2014.
3. "(untitled)". Free Press Journal. Archived from the original on 5 May 2014.
4. Jauhri, Rajesh (12 November 2012). "Mhow villagers may be deprived of rail services". The Times of India.
5. connect gujarat.com, Retrieved 23 August 2020
6. freepressjournal.in, Retrieved 23 August 2020
7. indiatimes.com, Retrieved 23 August 2020
8. "Wildlife nod must to upgrade railway line through Amravati's Melghat: Piyush Goyal". The Times of India. 22 July 2021. ISSN 0971-8257. Retrieved 8 August 2024.
9. Mhow Diesel Loco Shed
10. Sheds and Workshops
11. Steam Locomotive Sheds of the Past