Villupuram–Pondicherry branch line
The Villupuram Junction–Puducherry (Pondy) branch line is a single electrified railway line run from Viluppuram Junction, where it split off the Chennai Egmore–Thanjavur main line, and Puducherry. History The line was originally built in the late ninteeth century and crossed between British and French territory at the Sankaraparani River. It opened on 16 December 1879. The line once had spur to major textile mill in Pondicherry as well as to its port. Before broad gauge conversion, trains between Puducherry and Villupuram halted at Palliyaneliyanur. As of 2019, there are plans to develop the intermediate station infrastructure to increase capacity on the line. Services The branch line serves superfast express trains bound for Howrah, Bhubaneswar, and New Delhi. There are also standard express trains serving several destinations, and local trains that run among the whole branch line. Stations Viluppuram Junction Located in Villupuram, Tamil Nadu, Viluppuram Junction railway station is where the branch line connects with the main line and several other branch lines that originate there. Valavanur Valavanur station is located in the Viluppuram district of the Indian state of Tamil Nadu, India. It was once an import depot for the shipment of peanut oil. The station consists of 1