Vaigai_Express
The Vaigai Superfast Express is an Intercity Express high-speed express train which runs daily between Madurai and Chennai, via Tiruchirappalli. It is operated by the Southern Railway zone of the Indian Railways and was introduced due to increasing demand for a day train between the cities during the 1970s. It was the first instance in which a high-speed train was introduced on a metre-gauge railway within the Southern Railway zone. Vaigai SuperFast is fondly referred to as the "King of Southern Railway"; and its rake sharer Pallavan Express "Prince of Southern Railway" running between Chennai Egmore and Karaikudi Junction are collectively known as the "Chord Line brothers".[1]
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| Vaigai Superfast Express | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Vaigai Superfast Express at Chennai Egmore | |||||
| Overview | |||||
| Service type | Superfast | ||||
| Status | Active | ||||
| Locale | Tamil Nadu | ||||
| First service | 15 August 1977; 46 years ago (1977-08-15) | ||||
| Current operator(s) | Southern Railway zone | ||||
| Ridership | Superfast | ||||
| Annual ridership | Superfast | ||||
| Route | |||||
| Termini | Chennai Egmore (MS) Madurai Junction (MDU) | ||||
| Stops | 10 | ||||
| Distance travelled | 493 km (306 mi) | ||||
| Average journey time | 7 hours 30minutes | ||||
| Service frequency | Daily | ||||
| Train number(s) | 12635 / 12636 | ||||
| Line(s) used | MS-TPJ Chord Line, TPJ-MDU Main Line | ||||
| On-board services | |||||
| Class(es) |
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| Disabled access |  | ||||
| Seating arrangements | Yes | ||||
| Sleeping arrangements | No | ||||
| Catering facilities | On-board | ||||
| Observation facilities | Windows in all carriages | ||||
| Entertainment facilities | No | ||||
| Baggage facilities | Overhead racks Baggage carriage | ||||
| Technical | |||||
| Rolling stock | WAP-7 Loco from Electric Loco Shed, Royapuram | ||||
| Track gauge | 1,676 mm (5 ft 6 in) | ||||
| Electrification | 25kV AC, 50 Hz (Overhead Electric Traction) | ||||
| Operating speed | 71.5 km/h (44.4 mph) (Maximum permissible Speed: 110 Kmph) | ||||
| Average length | 22 Coaches | ||||
| Track owner(s) | Southern Railway zone | ||||
| Timetable number(s) | 7/7A | ||||
| Rake maintenance | Madurai | ||||
| Rake sharing | Pallavan Superfast Express | ||||
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The train, which was first started from Madurai, is named after the Vaigai River, which flows from the city.[2]
On 15 August 1977 at 6:00 a.m., Down Train No. 135 Vaigai Express began its inaugural journey from Madurai Junction to Madras Egmore, with 16 yellow and green livery coaches and a matching YDM4 diesel loco. When introduced, the train had 16 coaches, hauled by twin-YDM4 diesel locos. On that day, the train clocked the fastest run between the two locations, in 7 hours and 15 minutes, entering Madras Egmore at 1:05 p.m. that afternoon. In doing so, it had matched the speed of many broad-gauge high-speed trains on the Southern Railway. The train was later slowed to a time of 7 hours and 40 minutes for safety purposes.
By 1984 it was bifurcated, forming the Pallavan Superfast Express which comprised eight coaches.
Both Vaigai and Pallavan were the only SuperFast trains of Chennai - Tiruchchirappalli - Madurai section till 2001.
At that time the train had only three stops: Villupuram Junction, Tiruchchirappalli Junction and Dindigul Junction. Later, due to demands, the number of stops was increased.
From 1999 onwards, Vaigai Express was converted from the metre gauge to the broad gauge, to be hauled by diesel locomotives manufactured by Golden Rock. From 12 February 2014 to 9 July 2015, the Vaigai Express was hauled by an electric locomotive, in the WAP-4 class.[3] Since 9 July 2015, it has been regularly hauled by electric locomotives in the WAP-7 class, maintained by the Electric Loco Shed, Royapuram.[4] The train has also been updated with a modern LHB coach, from 30 June 2019.[5]
Record-breaking runs
On the 3 March 2022, the Vaigai Express train made a historic record by covering a distance of 495 kilometres from Madurai to Chennai in 6 hours and 40 minutes.[6] Despite departing at 7:26 a.m. with a delay of 21 minutes, the 12636 MDU-MS line reached its destination at 2:07 p.m., 23 minutes prior to its scheduled time. In doing so, it broke its own inaugural record of 7 hours 5 minutes established on 15 August 1977.
This record was broken once more on 15 October 2022, when the train covered the distance from Madurai to Chennai in 6 hours and 34 minutes.[7]
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It was the only train at that time in SR which had completely tube-lighted interiors and sun-control sliding glass shutters installed for the first time in all its eight-second class coaches.
This is the only MG train on the SR to be fitted with specially enhanced buffers and certified to run at 110 km/h.
For the first time on the MG, the ICF manufactured two 40-seat AC chair car coaches exclusively for the Vaigai and Pallavan express and used in those trains.
It was the first train in Madurai railway division that ran on electric traction after the completion of 92 km long 25-KV overhead railway electrification of Dindigul - Trichy Section on 6 September 2011.[8]
| 12635 - Chennai Egmore → Madurai ~ Vaigai Superfast Express | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Station/Junction Name | Station Code | Arrival | Departure | Day |
| Chennai Egmore | MS | SOURCE | 13:50 | 1 |
| Tambaram | TBM | 14:18 | 14:20 | 1 |
| Chengalpattu Junction | CGL | 14:48 | 14:50 | 1 |
| Villupuram Junction | VM | 16:00 | 16:05 | 1 |
| Vriddhachalam Junction | VRI | 16:45 | 16:47 | 1 |
| Ariyalur | ALU | 17:23 | 17:24 | 1 |
| Srirangam | SRGM | 18:04 | 18:06 | 1 |
| Tiruchchirappalli Junction | TPJ | 18:50 | 18:55 | 1 |
| Manapparai | MPA | 19:24 | 19:25 | 1 |
| Dindigul Junction | DG | 20:05 | 20:07 | 1 |
| Sholavandan | SDN | 20:36 | 20:37 | 1 |
| Madurai Junction | MDU | 21:30 | DEST | 1 |
| 12636 - Madurai → Chennai Egmore ~ Vaigai Superfast Express | ||||
| Madurai Junction | MDU | SOURCE | 06:40 | 1 |
| Sholavandan | SDN | 06:59 | 07:00 | 1 |
| Dindigul Junction | DG | 07:33 | 07:35 | 1 |
| Manapparai | MPA | 08:14 | 08:15 | 1 |
| Tiruchchirappalli Junction | TPJ | 08:45 | 08:50 | 1 |
| Srirangam | SRGM | 09:06 | 09:08 | 1 |
| Ariyalur | ALU | 09:50 | 09:51 | 1 |
| Vriddhachalam Junction | VRI | 10:26 | 10:28 | 1 |
| Villupuram Junction | VM | 11:20 | 11:25 | 1 |
| Chengalpattu Junction | CGL | 12:38 | 12:40 | 1 |
| Tambaram | TBM | 13:08 | 13:10 | 1 |
| Mambalam | MBM | 13:28 | 13:30 | 1 |
| Chennai Egmore | MS | 14:10 | DEST | 1 |
Between August 1978 to January 1979 Vaigai Express was involved in accidents twice. On 21 December 1978 it dashed against two boulders between Talanallur and Vriddhachalam Town stations and on 22 December 1978, it derailed at Tiruchirappalli station.[9]
| Loco | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | EOG | UR | C1 | C2 | C3 | D1 | D2 | D3 | D4 | D5 | D6 | D7 | PC | D8 | D9 | D10 | D11 | D12 | D13 | UR | UR | SLR |
- Pandian Superfast Express
- Pallavan Superfast Express
- Rockfort (Malaikottai) Superfast Express
- Pearl City (Muthunagar) Superfast Express
- Nellai Superfast Express
- Kanniyakumari Superfast Express
- Chendur Superfast Express
- Pothigai Superfast Express
- Ananthapuri Express
- Boat Mail Express
- Chemmozhi Express
- "Kovai Express Most Popular Among Tamil Nadu Passengers, Next Comes Vaigai Express, Shows RTI Reply". News18. 4 July 2023. Retrieved 4 November 2023.
- "Names of trains" (PDF). indianrailways.gov.in. p. 77. Archived from the original (PDF) on 6 May 2021. Retrieved 27 November 2022.
Contents & Interpretation of the author only, not official
- "First electric engine pulls out of Madurai". The Hindu. 12 February 2014. Retrieved 25 November 2022.
- "More WAP-7 locos for Madurai division". The Hindu. 11 July 2015. Retrieved 25 November 2022.
- "Vaigai and Pallavan express trains to get LHB coach". The Times of India. 29 June 2019. Archived from the original on 22 March 2020. Retrieved 25 November 2022.
- Sundar, S. (5 March 2022). "Vaigai Express breaks its own speed record". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 28 September 2022.
- "Vaigai Express reaches Chennai in record time". The Hindu. 16 October 2022. Archived from the original on 22 November 2022. Retrieved 25 November 2022.
- "Vaigai Express runs on electric traction". The Hindu. 7 September 2011. Archived from the original on 25 November 2022. Retrieved 25 November 2022.
- Lok Sabha Debates Page no. 98
