Miraj Junction railway station
Miraj Junction railway station is a major junction railway station in the city of Miraj, Maharashtra, India in Sangli district. The Pune – Yeshwantpur railway line passes through Miraj where it meets the Miraj – Kolhapur Branch line. The Miraj - Nagpur section starts at Miraj and passes through towns such as Pandharpur, Kurduvadi, Barshi, Latur, Parli Vaijnath and Osmanabad. Also it is major Junction on Mumbai - Miraj - Bangalore line and Miraj- Nagpur line (via Kurduvadi, Osmanabad, Purnananded.
Miraj Junction | |
|---|---|
| Indian Railways | |
| General information | |
| Location | Miraj, Maharashtra India |
| Coordinates | 16°49′11″N 74°38′20″E |
| Elevation | 554 metres (1,818 ft) |
| Owned by | Indian Railways |
| Operated by | Central Railway |
| Line(s) | Pune–Miraj–Londa line Miraj – Kolhapur Latur–Miraj section |
| Platforms | 6 |
| Construction | |
| Structure type | At ground |
| Disabled access |  |
| Other information | |
| Station code | MRJ |
| Division(s) | Pune |
| History | |
| Opened | 1886 |
| Electrified | Yes |
| Location | |
  Miraj Junction Location within India  Miraj Junction Miraj Junction (Maharashtra) | |
Rani Chennamma express
[1]Rani Chennamma express from Miraj junction railway station to Bangalore City railway station is one of the most prestigious trains of the South Western Railway. The train covers an average distance of 749 km operating on a daily basis. This train also ran from Bengaluru to Miraj Junction as Kittur Express during Meter gauge Era.
Rani Chennamma express is commonly referred to as the 'Queen of South Western Railways' with train number 16589/90.
Background
Before 1994, Miraj had a unique combination of three different gauges:
- Miraj-Pune and Miraj-Kolhapur, both with broad gauge lines,
- Miraj-Bangalore meter gauge line,
- Miraj-Pandharpur-Latur narrow gauge line.
By 2008, the entire Latur–Miraj section was converted from narrow gauge to broad gauge linking Miraj with Solapur and beyond. After gauge conversion completed, Miraj have only broad gauge lines.
Miraj had Steam loco shed in past near current Miraj- Bangalore line . Locomotives of Miraj loco shed was played up to Dharmawaram.After steam Locomotives was discontinued from service in 90's decade, Miraj loco shed was permanently closed. Trains like Bangalore Mail, Poona Mail, Kittur Express, Mandovi MG Express, Gomantak MG Express, Goa Express and Koyna Express once originated From Miraj Junction.
Even today, the legendary train Rani Chennamma express originates from Miraj Junction railway station. Miraj junction have facility of coach maintenance and locomotive maintenance.All DEMU trains of Miraj-Kolhapur,Miraj-Pune and Miraj-Kurduwadi routs are maintained here.
Jaldoot water train
Due to the drought the Latur city faced since three consecutive years, the summer of 2016 presented itself with extreme scarcity of water. To overcome this issue, a joint project was then requested by Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu and Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis. After further research, and many changes in plan, Miraj was chosen to transport water to Latur from 342 km.[2] The "Jaldoot" train made its first experimental run on 11 April 2016, carrying 10 tanker wagons, each filled with 50,000 litres of water.[3]
Originating Trains of Miraj Jn.
- Banglore - Miraj Rani Chennamma express
- Solapur - Miraj Superfast Express
- Miraj Jn - Hubballi Express
- Miraj Jn - Castlerock Express
- Miraj Jn - Parli Express.
- Miraj Jn - Belagavi Passenger
- Miraj Jn - Londa Passenger
- Miraj Jn - Kolhapur passenger
- Miraj Jn - Kurduwadi Passenger
After completing doubling and electrification of the entire Pune-Miraj-Bangaluru line, many new trains will start from Miraj towards Chennai, Nanded, Howrah, Mangalore etc.
References
- RANI CHENNAMMA EXPRESS
- "How India's longest water train is coming to Latur". 17 April 2016.
- "Latur 'water train' completes 100 trips - Times of India". timesofindia.indiatimes.com. Archived from the original on 3 August 2016.