Complete Track Renewal After Five Decades at Kulashekar Old Tunnel: Train Services in Mangalore to Improve

The complete track renewal (CTR) work being undertaken in the Kulashekara old tunnel on the Mangalore-Mumbai Railway Line will considerably improve operation of trains — coaching (passenger) as well as freight — in and around Mangalore Railway Region upon its completion in March first week.

CTR in the old tunnel was being undertaken after the commissioning of the second tunnel in March last year. After March 2022, the additional tunnel was being used for up-trains (towards Mumbai) and the old one for down-trains (towards Mangalore Junction/Padil).

Trains could run up to 80 kmph speed once the CTR gets completed by March first week thus saving five to eight minutes of running time, Mr. Sundar said. The Southern Railway was undertaking such a massive exercise perhaps for the first time. Testing of the tunnel’s surface was being undertaken to check its strength since it was an ‘in-lined’ tunnel with concrete protection on the upper portion. While modern tunnels are constructed providing space for track renewal/ laying machinery, work should be undertaken manually in the old tunnel which has a width of 5.1 to 5.2 metre.