Exact algorithm for edge coloring Wikipedia lists several exact algorithms for graph vertex coloring.

Are there any exact algorithms that are designed specifically for graph edge coloring?

edit:

Just came across my mind, i think it should be ok (pure bruteforce). I didnt try to implement this yet. Please comment if you see something wrong. Just to say again - algorithm should check whether graph is edge colorable with d or d+1 colors where d is max degree of all vertices in given simple graph, and to find one coloring...

colorEdge(edge, color, extra) {
    if (edge colored) return;  //if already colored, return
    if (can be colored in color) color it; //if color can be applied, apply it
    else {
        //else, 'd+1'-st color neded, so color it with that color, continue finding 
        //coloring with d+1 colors
        extra = !extra; 
        color it in color extra;
    }

    //recursivly try to color adjacent edges with available colors
    for each color c' from set of d colors {
        for each edge k adjacent to current {
            colorE(k, c', extra)
        }
    }
}

//main
bool extra = false;
for each color b from set of d colors {
    colorEdge(some starting edge, b, extra)
    if (!extra) break;
}
You can edge color faster than applying the fastest vertex coloring algorithm to the line graph: see http://arxiv.org/abs/1007.1161 for one such algorithm. What interests me is why can't we find something that is much faster...