Chennai Egmore–Tirunelveli Vande Bharat Express

Chennai Egmore - Tirunelveli Junction
Vande Bharat Express
Nellai Vande Bharat Express arriving at Dindigul Jn
Overview
Service typeVande Bharat Express
LocaleTamil Nadu
First service24 September 2023 (24 September 2023) (Inaugural run)
25 September 2023; 14 months ago (25 September 2023) (Commercial run)
Current operator(s)Southern Railways (SR)
Route
TerminiChennai Egmore (MS)
Tirunelveli Junction (TEN)
Stops6
Distance travelled650 km (404 mi)
Average journey time07 hrs 50 mins
Service frequencySix days a week [a]
Train number(s)20665 / 20666
Line(s) usedChennai - Villupuram line
Chord Line
Madurai–Tirunelveli line
On-board services
Class(es)AC Chair Car, AC Executive Chair Car
Seating arrangements
  • Airline style
  • Rotatable seats
Sleeping arrangementsNo
Catering facilitiesE Catering services, On board Catering
Observation facilitiesLarge windows in all coaches
Entertainment facilities
Baggage facilitiesOverhead racks
Other facilitiesKavach
Technical
Rolling stockMini Vande Bharat 2.0
Track gaugeIndian gauge
1,676 mm (5 ft 6 in) broad gauge
Electrification25 kV 50 Hz AC Overhead line
Operating speed83 km/h (52 mph) (Avg.)
Average length192 metres (630 ft) (08 coaches)
Track owner(s)Indian Railways
Rake maintenanceTirunelveli Jn (TEN)

The 20665/20666 Chennai Egmore - Tirunelveli Vande Bharat Express (also known as Nellai Vande Bharat Express) is India's 28th Vande Bharat Express train, which is running across the state of Tamil Nadu by connecting the cities of Chennai, Villupuram, Tiruchirappalli, Dindigul, Madurai, Virudhunagar and terminating at Tirunelveli.[1] This train was inaugurated on 24 September 2023, by Prime Minister Narendra Modi via video conference from New Delhi.[2][3][4][5]

Overview

This train is operated by Indian Railways, which connects Chennai Egmore, Tambaram, Villuppuram Jn, Tiruchchirappalli Jn, Dindigul Jn, Madurai Jn, Virudhunagar Jn and Tirunelveli Jn. It is currently operated with train numbers 20665/20666 on 6 days a week basis.[6][7][8][9]

Rakes

TEN_Vande_Bharat_(20665)_passing_Chetpet_Station

It is the twenty-sixth 2nd Generation and fourteenth Mini Vande Bharat 2.0 Express train[broken anchor] which was designed and manufactured by the Integral Coach Factory at Perambur, Chennai under the Make in India Initiative.[10][11]

As per latest reports, Prabhakar Gunaseelapandian, Deputy Chief Operating Manager (COM), Southern Railways issued a statement that the current running rake would be converted to 16-car rake as this would benefit the passengers heading towards the Nellaiappan city of Tirunelveli and other key stations like Trichy and Madurai. [12]

Service

The 20665/20666 Chennai Egmore - Tirunelveli Vande Bharat Express operates 6 days a week, covering a distance of 650 km (400 mi) in a travel time of 7 hrs 50 mins with an average speed of 83 km/h (52 mph). The Maximum Permissible Speed is 110 km/h (68 mph).

Incidents

On 4 February 2024, glass windows in six coaches suffered damage when it almost reached Naraikinaru railway station around 10:08 PM, as unidentified culprits pelted stones at the speeding train at night. No casualties were reported during this incident. [13][14][15][16]

See also

Notes

  1. ^ Except Tuesdays

References

  1. ^ Sundar, S. (23 September 2023). "Passengers from southern districts to get a new travel experience on Vande Bharat Express". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 23 September 2023.
  2. ^ "Vande Bharat Express from Chennai to Tirunelveli set to be launched in first week of August". The New Indian Express. Retrieved 1 August 2023.
  3. ^ "Chennai-Nellai Vande Bharat Express set to launch in August – Know speed, distance, route and more". Financialexpress. 3 August 2023. Retrieved 3 August 2023.
  4. ^ Bureau, The Hindu (20 September 2023). "Tirunelveli – Chennai Vande Bharat train service to commence on September 24". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 20 September 2023. {{cite news}}: |last= has generic name (help)
  5. ^ Rai, Madhulika (21 September 2023). "Vande Bharat Express PM Modi to Flag Off Tirunelveli Chennai Vande Bharat Express on 24th September". DNP INDIA. Retrieved 21 September 2023.
  6. ^ Roushan, Anurag (31 July 2023). "PM Modi likely to flag off Chennai-Tirunelveli Vande Bharat Express in Tamil Nadu on August 6". www.indiatvnews.com. Retrieved 1 August 2023.
  7. ^ "சென்னை - நெல்லை வந்தே பாரத் ரயில் எப்போது?". Dinamani (in Tamil). Retrieved 1 August 2023.
  8. ^ "Chennai-Tirunelveli Vande Bharat Express likely to be inaugurated by PM Modi on August 6". News9live. 31 July 2023. Retrieved 1 August 2023.
  9. ^ Bureau, DTNEXT (20 September 2023). "Chennai – Nellai Vande Bharat likely to be flagged off on Sept 24". www.dtnext.in. Retrieved 21 September 2023. {{cite web}}: |last= has generic name (help)
  10. ^ Bureau, The Hindu (21 September 2023). "Vande Bharat Express rake arrives from Chennai". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 22 September 2023. {{cite news}}: |last= has generic name (help)
  11. ^ Leader, The Weekend. "Third Vande Bharat Express in Tamil Nadu: Chennai-Tirunelveli in Just 8 Hours". www.theweekendleader.com. Retrieved 22 September 2023.
  12. ^ Karthikeyan, K. (13 November 2024). "Chennai-Tirunelveli Vande Bharat Express trains capacity to be doubled to 16 coaches soon". www.dtnext.in. Retrieved 13 November 2024.
  13. ^ "BREAKING NEWS: Stone-Pelting On Chennai-Tirunelveli Vande Bharat Train, Coaches Damaged". www.india.com. Retrieved 2 May 2024.
  14. ^ Bureau, The Hindu (5 February 2024). "Stones pelted at Chennai-Tirunelveli Vande Bharat Express damage glass windows in six coaches". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 2 May 2024. {{cite news}}: |last= has generic name (help)
  15. ^ "Windows of Chennai – Tirunelveli Vande Bharat Express Train Damaged in Stone Pelting Incident". Times Now. 6 February 2024. Retrieved 2 May 2024.
  16. ^ Bureau, DTNEXT (5 February 2024). "Vande Bharat suffers damage due to stone pelting near Naraikinaru station". www.dtnext.in. Retrieved 2 May 2024. {{cite web}}: |last= has generic name (help)