Vaigai Superfast Express

The Vaigai Superfast Express is a Intercity express typed super fast express train running daily between Madurai and Chennai via Tiruchirappalli operated by Southern Railway zone of the Indian Railways. Due to the demand for a day train between Madurai and Madras, which gradually began to increase from the 1970s, the Southern Railway decided to introduce a super fast train for the first time on the MG in Southern railway. Vaigai Express is fondly called the "KING OF CHORD LINE" and both Vaigai Express and Pallavan Express are fondly known as 'CHORD LINE BROTHERS".

Vaigai Superfast Express
Vaigai Superfast Express at Chennai Egmore
Overview
Service typeSuperfast
StatusActive
LocaleTamil Nadu
First service15 August 1977 (1977-08-15)
Current operator(s)Southern Railway zone
RidershipSuperfast
Annual ridershipSuperfast
Route
TerminiChennai Egmore (MS)
Madurai Junction (MDU)
Stops10
Distance travelled493 km (306 mi)
Average journey time7 hours 30minutes
Service frequencyDaily
Train number(s)12635 / 12636
Line(s) usedMS-TPJ Chord Line,
TPJ-MDU Main Line
On-board services
Class(es)
  • 3 A/C Chaircar Seater
  • 13 Non A/C Chair Car Seater
  • 3 Unreserved
  • 2 EOG
  • 1 Pantry (A/C Hot Buffet)
Disabled accessDisabled access
Seating arrangementsYes
Sleeping arrangementsNo
Catering facilitiesOn-board
Observation facilitiesWindows in all carriages
Entertainment facilitiesNo
Baggage facilitiesOverhead racks
Baggage carriage
Technical
Rolling stockWAP-7 Loco from Electric Loco Shed, Royapuram
Track gauge1,676 mm (5 ft 6 in)
Electrification25kV AC, 50 Hz (Overhead Electric Traction)
Operating speed71.5 km/h (44.4 mph) (Maximum permissible Speed: 110 Kmph)
Average length22 Coaches
Track owner(s)Southern Railway zone
Timetable number(s)7/7A
Rake maintenanceMadurai
Rake sharingPallavan Superfast Express
Route map

History and background

The train is named after the Vaigai River which flows from the city of Madurai and the train was first started from there.[1]

On 15 August 1977 at 6 am, 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 it was introduced in 1977, this train had 16 coaches, hauled by twin-YDM4 diesel locos, and by 1984 it was bifurcated as the Pallavan Superfast Express, comprising eight coaches.

The Vaigai express clocked the fastest run between Madurai and Madras Egmore over a distance of 497 kilometres (309 mi) on the first day in 7 hours and 5 minutes when it entered Madras Egmore at 1.05 p.m. that afternoon, matching the speed of many Broad Gauge super fast trains on the SR. For safety purposes, the train was slowed down to a journey time of 7 hours and 40 minutes later on. At that time the train had only three stops they are Villupuram Junction, Viruthachlam Junction, and Dindigul Junction. Later on, the stops were increased due to the demands of people.

From 1999 onwards, Vaigai Express has been converted from Meter Gauge to Broad Gauge and hauled by Broad gauge Diesel Locomotives of Golden Rock. From 12 February 2014, the Vaigai Express is being hauled by an electric locomotive WAP-4.[2]

9 July 2015 onwards this train is regularly hauled by WAP-7 class electric locomotives maintained by Electric Loco Shed, Royapuram.[3] This train got updated with modern LHB coach from 30 June 2019.[4]

Record-breaking run

Vaigai Express made a historic record by covering the distance of 495  km from Madurai to Chennai in 6 hours 40 minutes, on 3 March 2022 12636 MDU-MS Vaigai express departed Madurai with a delay of 21 minutes at 7.26 AM but the train reached its destination 23 minutes before its scheduled time by 2:07 pm, breaking its own best record on the inaugural of 7 hours 5 minutes on 15 August 1977 on metre-gauge section. The Hindu Madurai edition published this news about the record-breaking run by the Vaigai Express on 5 March 2022.[5]

On 15 October 2022, Vaigai Express set a new record for covering the distance of 495 km from Madurai to Chennai in 6 hours and 34 minutes.[6]

Vaigai Superfast Express at Chennai Egmore

History of Uniqueness

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.[7]

Schedule
12635 - Chennai Egmore → Madurai ~ Vaigai Superfast Express
Station/Junction Name Station Code Arrival Departure Day
Chennai Egmore SOURCE MS 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 PDKT 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

Accident

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.[8]

Rakes
Loco 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22
EOGURC1C2C3D1D2D3D4D5D6D7PCD8D9D10D11D12D13URURSLR

See also

References
  1. "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
  2. "First electric engine pulls out of Madurai". The Hindu. 12 February 2014. Retrieved 25 November 2022.
  3. "More WAP-7 locos for Madurai division". The Hindu. 11 July 2015. Retrieved 25 November 2022.
  4. "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.
  5. Sundar, S. (5 March 2022). "Vaigai Express breaks its own speed record". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 28 September 2022.
  6. "Vaigai Express reaches Chennai in record time". The Hindu. 16 October 2022. Archived from the original on 22 November 2022. Retrieved 25 November 2022.
  7. "Vaigai Express runs on electric traction". The Hindu. 7 September 2011. Archived from the original on 25 November 2022. Retrieved 25 November 2022.
  8. Lok Sabha Debates Page no. 98
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