Salem Railway Section Gets Major Power Upgrade for Higher Freight Capacity
Rail Vikas Nigam Limited (RVNL) has secured a vital infrastructure contract from Southern Railway to upgrade the electric traction system on key freight corridors in Tamil Nadu. The project, aimed at boosting load capacity and energy efficiency, will modernise the Salem–Coimbatore–Podanur sections with a new 2×25 kV traction system. This upgrade is part of Indian Railways’ broader strategy to enhance performance on busy freight routes across the country’s electrified rail network.
The awarded contract involves transitioning the current 1×25 kV system to a 2×25 kV configuration, a shift that promises to significantly boost capacity and operational reliability in the Salem Junction (SA) – Podanur Junction (PTJ) – Coimbatore Junction (CBE) corridors. These sections, falling under the Salem Division of Southern Railway, are critical freight arteries in Tamil Nadu. According to senior officials, the enhancement will support a target freight load of 3,000 metric tonnes, enabling the network to handle heavier trains and improve turnaround times. This technical advancement also aligns with Indian Railways’ mission to increase throughput without expanding land usage, making the electrification strategy not only more efficient but also eco-friendly. RVNL’s involvement in this project highlights its increasing role in driving modernisation in India’s rail infrastructure. The traction upgrade is expected to be executed without disrupting regular services, with work phased to maintain safety and operational continuity across the corridor.
With this contract, RVNL further solidifies its position as a leading player in India’s rail electrification and infrastructure landscape. The shift to a 2×25 kV traction system is a significant technical improvement, allowing better voltage regulation, higher haulage capacity, and reduced transmission losses over long distances—critical for freight-dense corridors like those in Tamil Nadu. Experts note that such upgrades can also reduce dependency on multiple locomotives for long-haul trains, bringing cost and energy savings over time. As the Indian Railways continues its push towards 100% electrification, this project is part of a wider pattern of retrofitting existing routes to meet future freight demands. The move is expected to enhance operational sustainability while ensuring rail corridors remain capable of handling increased traffic loads as economic activities grow. RVNL stated that the project fits within its ongoing business development strategy, which includes electrification, signalling, and infrastructure modernisation nationwide.
The electrification upgradation along the Salem–Coimbatore–Podanur rail stretch marks a strategic step forward in enhancing Southern Railway’s freight handling capacity and energy performance. As Indian Railways accelerates its shift toward high-efficiency infrastructure, projects like this reinforce the role of modern technology in sustainable growth. With RVNL executing this traction enhancement, the corridor is poised for improved load management, reduced energy loss, and smoother freight logistics. The successful implementation of such projects could become a blueprint for similar upgrades across the country’s electrified railway network, supporting both economic efficiency and climate-conscious infrastructure goals.
