Summary
Coimbatore Junction Railway Station (also known as Kovai Junction Railway Station)(station code: CBE[4]) is an NSG–2 category Indian railway station in Salem railway division of Southern Railway zone.[5] It is a major railway station located in the city of Coimbatore in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. It is one of the busiest railway stations in South India and serves as a gateway to the Nilgiri hills, a popular tourist destination. The station has six platforms and is the third highest revenue generating station in the zone after Chennai Central and Egmore and also generates about 45 percent of the revenue of the Salem railway division. Coimbatore Junction is an important junction connecting major cities such as Chennai, Bangalore, Mumbai, Delhi, and Kolkata. It also serves as a gateway to several popular tourist destinations such as Ooty and Kodaikanal.[6] Although Coimbatore railway station has the suffix Junction in its name, it's not a true junction. No new line starts from or ends at Coimbatore. It's just a passing railway station lies between Podanur Junction and Coimbatore North Junction.[7]
Coimbatore Junction Kovai Junction | |
|---|---|
 Indian Railways station | |
 Main entrance of the station | |
| General information | |
| Other names | Covai Junction |
| Location | State Bank Road, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu - 641018 |
| Coordinates | 10°59′47″N 76°58′02″E / 10.996365°N 76.967222°E |
| Elevation | 411.4 metres (1,350 ft) |
| Owned by | Indian Railways |
| Operated by | Southern Railway zone |
| Line(s) | Chennai–Coimbatore line Coimbatore–Shoranur line Coimbatore–Mettupalayam branch line Coimbatore–Pollachi line Coimbatore–Chamrajnagar line(Proposed) Coimbatore–Nanjundapuram Vellalore Old Mainline(For Restoration)[1][2] |
| Platforms | 6 side platforms |
| Tracks | 15 |
| Connections | Bus, Taxi stand, Auto |
| Construction | |
| Parking | Available |
| Bicycle facilities | No |
| Accessible | Yes |
| Other information | |
| Status | Functional |
| Station code | CBE |
| Zone(s) | Southern Railway zone |
| Division(s) | Salem |
| History | |
| Opened | 1873 [3] |
| Electrified | Yes |
| Location | |
  Coimbatore Junction Location within Tamil Nadu | |
 | |
| Interactive map | |
History edit
Train service in Coimbatore with construction of the Old_Coimbatore Railway Station at Podanur started on 18 July 1861, upon the construction of the Podanur–Madras line connecting Kerala and the west coast with the rest of India.[8] Coimbatore lies on the Coimbatore–Shoranur 5 ft 6 in (1,676 mm) broad gauge. Current Coimbatore Railway Junction was started as a halt station #Old_Coimbatore (Podanur) to Mettupalayam Branch line. It was built then opened on 1 February 1873, two months before MGR Chennai Central was opened as Madras Central. Until 1956, the Coimbatore Railway Division was functioning with Podanur as the headquarters. In 1956, the headquarters was shifted to Olavakkode, of Kerala state and was named Olavakkode railway division. In 1980, Olavakkode division was renamed Palakkad railway division. It comprised Kerala and western districts of Tamil Nadu. A new Salem railway division was carved out of the Palakkad railway division in 2006 with Salem as its headquarters. The city falls under the Salem Division of the Southern Railway zone of Indian Railways. Coimbatore is one among the top hundred booking stations of Indian Railways.[9][10][11] Other major railway stations catering to the city include Coimbatore North Junction, Podanur Junction and minor stations at Pilamedu, Singanallur, Irugur Junction, Periyanaickenpalayam, Thudiyalur, Madukkarai, Somanur and Sulur.[12][13][14]
Background edit
The Junction has six platforms and handles 165 trains.[15] It contributes to 50% of the revenues of the zone.[10][11] It is one of the top booking stations in India according to Indian Railways.[16] Chennai Main, Egmore, Madurai Junction, Coimbatore Junction and Chennai Central are the most profitable stations of Southern Railways.
Lines edit
The station is connected with following railway lines:[17][18]
- Jolarpettai–Shoranur line double line, 1891
- Coimbatore–Pollachi line single line 1891 (Then as Meter Gauge Single Line)
- Coimbatore–Mettupalayam branch line single line 1873 * * Coimbatore–Nanjundapuram-Vellalore-Irugur Old Mainline single line 1930 * [1][2]
Projects and development edit
It is one of the 73 stations in Tamil Nadu to be named for upgradation under Amrit Bharat Station Scheme of Indian Railways.[19]
See also edit
References edit
- ^ a b "Coimbatore Suburban Railway and Mammalapuram Tram". 6 November 2023.
- ^ a b https://irfca.org/chainage/table-2.html [bare URL]
- ^ "Nilgiri Mountain Railway" (PDF). Southern Railway zone.
- ^ "Station Code Index" (PDF). Portal of Indian Railways. Centre For Railway Information Systems. 2023–24. p. 5. Archived from the original (PDF) on 16 February 2024. Retrieved 23 March 2024.
- ^ "SOUTHERN RAILWAY LIST OF STATIONS AS ON 01.04.2023 (CATEGORY- WISE)" (PDF). Portal of Indian Railways. Centre For Railway Information Systems. 1 April 2023. p. 1. Archived from the original (PDF) on 23 March 2024. Retrieved 23 March 2024.
- ^ "Coimbatore station not utilised fully: Rail users associations". The New Indian Express. Retrieved 4 September 2023.
- ^ Kumar, S. Senthil (23 October 2023). "Podanur to be renamed as Coimbatore South station". The New Indian Express. Coimbatore. Retrieved 29 March 2024.
- ^ "IR History – Early days". IRFCA. Retrieved 23 December 2013.
- ^ "Indian Railways Passenger Reservation Enquiry". Availability in trains for Top 100 Booking Stations of Indian Railways. Indian Railways. Archived from the original on 10 May 2014. Retrieved 23 December 2013.
- ^ a b "Railways in Coimbatore". Residents Awareness Association of Coimbatore (RAAC). Retrieved 6 January 2016.
- ^ a b Palaniappan, V. S. (31 August 2011). "Coimbatore Junction neglected". The Hindu. Retrieved 4 March 2016.
- ^ "Trains to be diverted near Coimbatore". The Hindu. Chennai, India. 26 January 2004. Archived from the original on 22 April 2004. Retrieved 27 June 2013.
- ^ "Podanur Junction". Indian Rail Info. Retrieved 9 September 2013.
- ^ Palaniappan, V.S. (11 June 2012). "Will Coimbatore's gain be Podanur's loss?". The Hindu. Chennai. Retrieved 4 March 2016.
- ^ Kumar, S. Senthil (23 February 2024). "'No decision on train diversion via Podanur'". The New Indian Express. Coimbatore. Retrieved 29 March 2024.
- ^ "Indian Railways Passenger Reservation Enquiry". Availability in trains for Top 100 Booking Stations of Indian Railways. IRFCA. Archived from the original on 10 May 2014. Retrieved 23 December 2013.
- ^ "[IRFCA] Indian Railways FAQ: IR History: Early Days - 1".
- ^ Kumar, Sampath (16 October 2021). "Call for circular rail service connecting suburbs gets louder". The Times of India. Retrieved 26 August 2021.
- ^ "AMRIT BHARAT STATIONS". Press Information Bureau. New Delhi. 10 February 2023. Retrieved 8 April 2024.
External links edit
- Coimbatore Junction railway station at the India Rail Info