Vijayawada: Longer loop line of South Central Railway commissioned

Vijayawada: The first longer loop line of South Central Railway commissioned on Friday at Bikkavolu Railway Station near Waltair on the busy Vijayawada-Visakhapatnam (Waltair) section. Bikkavolu railway station falls under the limits of Vijayawada Railway Division.

In Railways, loop lines are constructed in station area to accommodate more number of trains and to ease out the train operations. Normally, these loop lines are constructed with a length of 750 meters which can accommodate a full-length goods train with multiple engines. With the increasing need to handle more number of trains with higher average speeds, Indian Railways has been encouraging the construction of longer loop lines of around 1500 meters (which is double than the existing loop line lengths).

The execution of works for construction of longer loop at Bikkavolu has been taken up with meticulous planning without any disruption to regular train services. The total cost of this project is around Rs 85 crore. The loop line is having two isolations to strengthen the safety and also facilitates stabling two trains at a time.

The new loop line has multiple benefits to the Railways. It will accommodate long haul trains like Jai Kisan specials where two freight trains are combined and run for quick mobility. Provision for crossing of trains will enable faster movement of trains without too much detention of freight trains.

It improves punctuality of passenger trains by avoiding main line regulation of goods trains and will improve overall train operations. The new loop line will enable in handling more number of trains. Gajanan Mallya, General Manger, SCR complimented the officials of Vijayawada Division on completion of first longer loop line in the zone.

He instructed the officials to complete the remaining five loop lines in South Central Railway at fast pace for overall improvement in operation of freight trains in busy trunk route section.