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Madurai-Chandigarh Superfast Express
Overview
Service type	Superfast express
First service	30 October 2003; 21 years ago
Current operator(s)	Southern Railway
Route
Termini	Madurai Junction (MDU); Chandigarh Junction (CDG)
Stops	29
Distance travelled	3,075 km (1,911 mi)
Average journey time	51 hrs 55 mins
Service frequency	5 days a week.
Train number(s)	20493 / 20494
On-board services
Class(es)	AC 2 Tier, AC 3 Tier, AC 3 Economy, Sleeper class, General Unreserved
Seating arrangements	Yes
Sleeping arrangements	Yes
Catering facilities	Available
Observation facilities	Large windows
Baggage facilities	Available
Other facilities	Below the seats
Technical
Rolling stock	LHB coach
Track gauge	1,676 mm (5 ft 6 in)
Operating speed	130 km/h (81 mph) maximum, ; 60 km/h (37 mph) average including halts.
Route map
Route map

The 20493 / 20494 Madurai–Chandigarh Superfast Express is a Superfast Express train of Indian Railways – Southern Railway zone that runs between Madurai Junction in Tamil Nadu and Chandigarh Junction in Punjab and Haryana, India. The slip coaches to Dehradun was permanently discontinued with effect from July 11, 2021.

It operates as train number 20493 from Madurai Junction to Chandigarh Junction and as train number 20494 in the reverse direction, serving the states of Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Haryana and Punjab.

It previously ran only up to Chennai Central being recently extended to Madurai Junction. It carried slip coaches to Dehradun. But after July 11 2021, the slip coaches to Dehradun was permanently discontinued and it runs as a single train to Chandigarh from Madurai Junction, with revised coach position.

History

It was first introduced as a Bi-Weekly Superfast Express between Chennai Central to Chandigarh and slip coaches to Dehradun as Chennai–Dehradun Link Express.

Later in 2014, it was extended up to Madurai Junction and ran as Madurai Junction–Chandigarh / Dehradun Link Superfast Express. After July 11, 2021, the slip coaches to Dehradun were discontinued and it runs as a single train to Chandigarh without Dehradun Link Express coaches. Therefore, at present it runs as Madurai Junction–Chandigarh Bi-Weekly Superfast Express. Also it was diverted to run via, Perambur (Chennai), without touching Chennai Central since it has to take reversal done at Chennai Central. At present it takes reversal done only at Erode Junction, it bypasses Chennai Central by without taking reversal. The coach position was also changed. After July 21, 2021, it will not carry AC First Class. It runs with AC Two Tier, AC Three, AC Three Economy, Pantry car,Sleeper class and General Unreserved.

Coaches

The 20493 / 94 Madurai–Chandigarh Superfast Express presently has,

1 AC Two Tier,
3 AC Three Tier,
3 AC Three Tier Economy,
9 Sleeper class,
1 Pantry car,
2 General Unreserved,
1 SLR (Seating cum Luggage Rake).

Service

The 20493 Madurai–Chandigarh Superfast Express covers the distance of 3074 kilometres in 51 hours 55 mins (60.34 km/h). It takes 53 hours 45 mins as 20494 Chandigarh–Madurai Express (58 km/h).

As the average speed of the train is above 55 km/h (34 mph), as per Indian Railways rules, its fare includes a Superfast surcharge.

Route & halts

The 20493 / 94 Madurai–Chandigarh Superfast Express runs from Madurai Junction via Dindigul Junction, Karur Junction,Erode Junction, Salem Junction, Jolarpettai Junction, Katpadi Junction, Arakkonam Junction, Perambur, Nayudupeta, Vijayawada Junction, Warangal, Balharshah, Sewagram, Nagpur Junction, Itarsi Junction, Bhopal Junction, Gwalior Junction, Agra Cantonment, Faridabad, Hazrat Nizamuddin, Ghaziabad, Meerut City Junction, Saharanpur Junction, Ambala Cantonment to Chandigarh.

Direction reversal

The train reverses its direction once at;

Erode Junction.

Traction

Two locomotives are assigned to haul this train during its journey. As the route is fully electrified, it is hauled by an Erode-based WAP-4 between Madurai Junction and Erode Junction, handing over to a Erode-based WAP-4 from Erode Junction to its destination Chandigarh, and vice versa.