Madurai–Tirunelveli line

The Madurai–Virudhunagar–Tirunelveli Line is a railway line connecting the cities of Madurai, Virudhunagar and Tirunelveli in the state of Tamil Nadu in India. The line was inaugurated on 1 January 1876.^[1] This railway is under control of Southern Railways. It covers 157.1 km. The line covers the districts of Tirunelveli, Thoothukudi, Viruthunagar and Madurai. The speed limit for most of this rail is 100 km/h.

Madurai–Virudhunagar–Tirunelveli Line
Madurai Railway Station
Overview
Native name	மதுரை – விருதுநகர் – திருநெல்வேலி ரயில் பாதை
Status	Operational
Owner	Southern Railways
Locale	Tamil Nadu
Termini	Tirunelveli Madurai
Connecting lines	Madurai Jn – Virudhunagar Jn Madurai Jn – Manamadurai Jn Bodinayakkanur – Madurai Jn Dindigul Jn – Madurai Jn
Stations	18
Website	Southern Railway
Service
Type	Regional Line
Operator(s)	Madurai Division
Rolling stock	WAP1, WAP4, WAP7, WDP-3, WDP4D, WDG4, WDG3, WAG9
History
Opened	1 January 1876
Technical
Track length	157.1 km (97.6 mi)
Number of tracks	1
Track gauge	1,676 mm (5 ft 6 in)
Electrification	Overhead catenary
Operating speed	100 km/h (62 mph)
Signalling	Three-aspect Colour-Light signalling (3CL)
Route map Legend km to Dindigul Junction 0 Madurai Junction to Bodinayakkanur to Manamadurai Junction 7 Tirupparankundram 18 Tirumangalam 32 Kalligudi to Manamadurai Junction 43 Virudhunagar Junction to Tenkasi Junction 56 Tulukapati 71 Satur 92 Kovilpatti 114 Kadambur 128 Vanchi Maniyachchi Junction to Tuticorin 135 Naraikkinar 143 Gangaikondan 150 Talaiyuthu 157 Tirunelveli Junction to Tenkasi Junction to Tiruchendur to Nagercoil Junction

History

Initially, this line was inaugurated on 1 January 1876 as Maniyachchi Junction - Tirunelveli in metre-gauge.^[2] The conversion from meter gauge to broad gauge completed on 4 August 1981. The gauge conversion process was performed by retaining the old meter-gauge line and constructing the new line on the other side to avoid extended cancellation of service.

The electrification process for the line started in January 2010 and it has been fully electrified since January 3, 2015.

The doubling process of the Madurai to Tirunelveli line was started in January 2018 and was completed in March 2023.

Stations

Tirunelveli Railway Station

There are a total of 18 stations in the route, some of the most important being Madurai Junction,Virudhunagar Junction, Sattur, Kovilpatti, and Tirunelveli Junction.^[3]

S.No	Station	Station Code	Old Category	New Category
1	Madurai Jn	MDU	A1	NSG2
2	Tirupparankundram	TDN	D	NSG5
3	Tirumangalam	TMQ	D	NSG5
4	Kalligudi	KGD	E	NSG6
5	Virudunagar Jn	VPT	A	NSG4
6	Tulukapati	TY	E	NSG6
7	Satur	SRT	B	NSG5
8	Kovilpatti	CVP	A	NSG4
9	Kadambur	KDU	E	NSG6
10	Vanchi Maniyachchi Jn	MEJ	D	NSG5
11	Naraikkinar	NRK	E	NSG6
12	Gangaikondan	GDN	E	NSG6
13	Talaiyuthu	TAY	E	NSG6
14	Tirunelveli Jn	TEN	A	NSG3