Guntakal–Vasco da Gama section
Amaravati Express is a prestigious train running on Guntakal–Vasco da Gama section
Overview
Status	Operational
Owner	Indian Railways
Locale	Andhra Pradesh Karnataka Goa
Termini	Guntakal Junction (GTL) Vasco da Gama (VSG)
Stations	73
Service
Services	Mahabubnagar-Munirabad line
Route number	7/7A/49/49A[1]
Operator(s)	South Central Railway zone South Western Railway zone Konkan Railway Corporation
Technical
Line length	457 km (284 mi)
Number of tracks	2
Track gauge	1,676 mm (5 ft 6 in)
Old gauge	1,000 mm (3 ft 3+3⁄8 in)
Electrification	Yes
Operating speed	100 kilometres per hour (62 mph)
Route map km Mumbai–Chennai line 0 Guntakal Junction Mumbai–Chennai line 5 Guntakal West 12 Bantanahal 16 Sankara-Gummanur 19 Bevinahalu 23 T Sakibanda Andhra Pradesh Karnataka border 27 Virapur 36 Hagari 44 Haddinagundu 50 Bellary Junction Bangalore–Arsikere –Hubli line 54 Bellary Cantt (Halt) 55 Bellary Cantt 70 Kudatini 77 Daroji 83 Toranagallu Junction Bannihatti Ranajitpura 90 Gadiganru 97 Bayaluvaddigeri 102 Papinayakanahalli 109 Kariganuru 115 Hosapete Junction Bangalore–Arsikere –Hubli line 121 Munirabad Mahabubnagar-Munirabad section 127 Hitnal Solapur–Guntakal section 132 Ginigera Junction 143 Koppal 155 Bhanapur Solapur–Guntakal section 159 Talakal 166 Bannikoppa 173 Sompur Road 182 Harlapur 191 Kanginhal 200 Gadag Junction Solapur–Guntakal section 205 Binkadakati 213 Hulkoti 219 Kondikoppa 223 Annigeri 231 Navalgund Road 235 Sisvinhalli 239 Hebsur 248 Kusugal Hubli–Bangalore line 258 Hubli Junction 262 Unkal 267 Amargol 272 Navalur 278 Dharwad 284 Kyarkop 292 Mugad 298 Kambarganvi 304 Kashanatti 315 Alnavar Junction Shingatgeri Ambewadi 321 Bhistenhatti 324 Tavargatti 329 Nagargali 336 Devarayi 344 Shivathan 349 Londa Junction Pune–Miraj–Londa line 361 Tinai ghat 373 Castle Rock Karnataka Goa border 381 Caranzol 387 Dudhsagar 388 Dudhsagar Falls 392 Sonalium 400 Kulem 408 Kalem Zuari River 417 Kudchade 423 Chandar 427 Sanjuje Da Arey Konkan Railway to Mangalore Junction 432 Madgaon Junction 439 Suravali 440 Majorda Junction Konkan Railway to Panvel & Mumbai CST 445 Cansaulim 449 Sankval 452 Dabolim 457 Vasco da Gama km Sources: Google Maps India Rail Info[2]

The Guntakal–Vasco da Gama section, or Mormugao Railway (formerly known as West of India Portuguese Railway),^[3] is a railway line connecting the town of Guntakal in Andhra Pradesh and Vasco da Gama in Goa, India. It traverses the Western Ghats and covers a distance of 457 kilometres (284 mi) across Goa, Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh.

It is operated by the public companies Indian Railways — through its operating subsidiaries South Central Railway zone and South Western Railway zone — and Konkan Railway Corporation.

History

The Railway Line passes along Dudhsagar Falls

In the year 1878, an agreement was signed between the West of India Portuguese Guaranteed Railway Company (WIPR) and Portuguese Government of Portuguese India for construction of Harbour and connected Railway but the railway work started only in 1882.^[4]

In December 1887, The total length of existing meter gauge railway track in the Goan Territory of 43 km between Mormugao-Sanvordem via Vasco da Gama was inaugurated. In 1888, Mormugao was connected with Southern Maharatta Railway at Caranzol-Castle Rock junction^[4]

In 1902, with the metre gauge line on the verge of bankruptcy, the company leased the railway to the Southern Mahratta Railway, which continued to manage railway until 1955.^[5][4] With independence, the WIPR's operation passed to Indian Railways and, in 1951, to the Southern Railway.

From 1955 to 1961, the lines within the Portuguese enclave of Goa reverted to Portuguese control. An autonomous body named Junta Autónoma dos Portos e Caminhos de Ferro do Estado da Índia ("Autonomous Board of the Ports and Railways of the State of India") constituted by the Portuguese Government took over the administration of the Port and Railway on 1 April 1961 from Western India Portuguese Railway on the termination of the contract.

However, in 1962 upon the annexation of Goa on 19 December 1961, administration of the Port and its connected railway was taken over by the Government of India on 8 January 1962.^[4] In 1963, the line was again taken over by Indian Railways and came under Southern Railway. The main Railway section from Vasco da Gama to the border of Goa was transferred to Southern Railway on 1 May 1963, thus delinking the port from the Railway management.^[4]

On 19 July 1990, all railways in the Konkan Region (including all sections of the state of Goa), which were managed by the Indian Railways, came under the operational control of the Konkan Railway Corporation. Meanwhile, the inland sections of the states of Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh remained under the management of the Indian Railways company — through its operating subsidiaries South Central Railway zone and South Western Railway zone.

In 1996-1997 the Konkan Railway was connected with the Mormugao Railway, in a contiguous stretch of approximately 15 km between Margao and Vasco da Gama.^[6]

In 1998, the complete overhaul of the railway was completed, replacing the metric gauge (1.000 mm) with the Indian gauge (1.676 mm).

Main stations

The main railway stations of the Mormugao Railway are:

• Port of Mormugao (MRH)
• Vasco da Gama (VSG)
• Margao (MAO)
• Kulem (QLM)
• Castle Rock (CLR)
• Londa (LD)
• Alnavar
• Dharwad (DWL)
• Hubli (UBL)
• Gadag-Betigeri (GDG)
• Hosapete (HPT)
• Bellary (BAY)
• Guntakal (GTL)

References