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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. The name Vaigai Express has been always popular among not only rail users but also among rail fans of two different generations as the train has won the hearts of thousands of people who have known and experienced it from the early days. This train is fondly called as the KING OF CHORD LINE.[3] 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. The YDM engine numbers most of the time pulls Vaigai express in meter gauge were 6286,6287,6177,6179. This train got updated with modern LHB coaches from 30 June 2019.

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Vaigai Superfast Express

Vaigai Superfast Express at Chennai Egmore
Overview
Service type	Superfast Express
Locale	Tamilnadu
First service	15 August 1977; 45 years ago (1977-08-15)[1]
Current operator(s)	Southern Railway Zone
Route
Termini	Chennai Egmore (MS) Madurai Junction (MDU)
Stops	10
Distance travelled	493 km (306 mi)
Average journey time	7 Hours 25 minutes
Service frequency	Daily
Train number(s)	12635/12636 [02635/02636(Covid-19 Special)]
On-board services
Class(es)	CC, 2S, EOG & UR
Seating arrangements	LHB (Reserved) Corridor coach (Unreserved)
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	Locomotive: WAP 7 (RPM) Bogie: Three AC Chair Car (CC) Fourteen Second Seating (2S) Two SLR Four UR/GS One Pantry car Two (EOG)
Track gauge	1,676 mm (5 ft 6 in)
Operating speed	67 km/h (42 mph) Avg. (including halts) Max Speed: 110 kmph
Track owner(s)	Southern Railway zone
Timetable number(s)	7/7A[2]
Rake maintenance	Madurai
Rake sharing	Pallavan Superfast Express
Route map

Vaigai Superfast Express and Pallavan Superfast Express are the popular trains of their section also fondly called as CHORD LINE BROTHERS.[4]

History and Background

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, Tiruchirappalli Junction and Dindigul Junction. Later on the stops were increased due to 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 electric locomotive WAP-4 from Arakkonam & Erode Loco Shed & WAP-7 from Royapuram Loco Shed from Madurai to Chennai Egmore.

THE RECORD BREAKING RUN

Vaigai Express made a historic record by covering the distance of 495 km from Madurai to Chennai in 6 hour 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 hour 5 minutes on 15/8/1977. The Hindu Madurai edition has published this news about the record breaking run by Vaigai Express on 3/3/2022 [5]

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.

The driver and the guard also had a corded telephone system to communicate.

With the turntable facility available at Trichy, Chennai and Madurai, the operations staff always ensured that the YDM4 hauling the Vaigai Express always had the short hood facing the front every time its started it journey.

This train also was one of its kind in SR which had its livery changed a number of times from its original yellow-green combination to white-gray-red livery and then again to vermillon red - cream livery and again to cream-brown livery on the MG.

The YDM4 for the Vaigai Express had been fitted with a double-tone horn which made it easy for rail users and railway staff alike to identify the loco as well as the train, which was never on use on the other YDM4s which operated on the same route for other trains.

This 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.

This is the only train in Indian Railways which had a unique coach PS1, PANTRY CAR CUM CHAIR CAR coach where half of the coach is Pantry car and another half is normal Chair Car. But it was replaced with AC hot buffet car after LHB upgradation.

Accident of Vaigai Superfast Express

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.[6]

Rakes

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	EOG

Enroute

Train number 12636 leaves Madurai Junction at 7:05 am and arrives at Trichy Junction at 9:15 am before reaching Chennai Egmore at 2:30 pm. Since the rakes of these service are utilised for the Pallavan Express, the rakes of the Chennai-bound Pallavan Express leave Chennai Egmore as the Vaigai Express at 1:40 pm and arrive at Trichy Junction at 6:30 pm before reaching Madurai Junction at 9:15 pm at an average speed of 65 kilometres per hour (40 mph)[7]

Station stops

Chennai to Madurai (12635/02635)

List of stops on the Vaigai Express from Chennai to Madurai(Train No(s) : 12635/02635).[8]

Stop No	Station Code	Station	Arrival/Departure	Distance (km)
1	MS	Chennai Egmore	Starts 13:50	0
2	TBM	Tambaram	14:18/14:20	25
3	CGL	Chengalpattu Junction	14.48/14:50	56
4	VM	Villupuram Junction	16:00/16:05	158
5	VRI	Vridachalam Junction	16:45/16:47	213
6	ALU	Ariyalur	17:24/17:25	260
7	TPJ	Tiruchirappalli Junction	18:40/18:45	336
8	MPA	Manaparai	19:09/19:10	366
9	DG	Dindigul Junction	19:52/19:55	424
10	SDN	Sholavandan	20:29/20:30	469
11	MDU	Madurai Junction	21:15 Ends	490

Madurai to Chennai(12636/02636)

List of stops on the Vaigai Express from Madurai to Chennai(Train No(s) : 12636/02636).[9]

Stop No	Station Code	Station	Arrival/Departure	Distance (km)
1	MDU	Madurai Junction	Starts 07:05	0
2	SDN	Sholavandan	07:24/07:25	21
3	DG	Dindigul Junction	08:03/08:05	66
4	MPA	Manaparai	08:44/08:45	124
5	TPJ	Tiruchirappalli Junction	09:15/09:20	160
6	ALU	Ariyalur	10:14/10:15	230
7	VRI	Vridachalam Junction	10:48/10:50	277
8	VM	Villupuram Junction	11:40/11:45	332
9	CGL	Chengalpattu Junction	13:03/13:05	435
10	TBM	Tambaram	13:33/13:35	466
11	MBM	Mambalam	14:53/14:55	483
12	MS	Chennai Egmore	14:30 Ends	490

In popular culture

As it is the fastest train on the Chord line between Chennai-Trichy after Tejas Express, it is nicknamed Horse of Chord line and King. And it is having a good reputation for punctuality. Its popularity amongst fans is high in the area served by Southern Railways. It was the first train in Madurai Division hauled by the most prestigious loco of Indian Railways, the WAP-7 (RPM).

A film is also released in the name of this train.

See also

• Pandian Express
• Pallavan Express
• Rockfort Express
• Vascodagama Express

References

39th Birthday Celebration for Vaigai Exrpress http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/chennai/Rail-fans-celebrate-39th-anniversary-of-Vaigai-Express-launch/articleshow/53709203.cms

External links

• Vaigai Express
• http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/chennai/Rail-fans-celebrate-39th-anniversary-of-Vaigai-Express-launch/articleshow/53709203.cms

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