Chennai Egmore–Tirunelveli Vande Bharat Express

Chennai Egmore - Tirunelveli Junction Vande Bharat Express
Nellai Vande Bharat Express arriving at Dindigul Jn
Overview
Service type	Vande Bharat Express
Locale	Tamil Nadu
First service	24 September 2023 (24 September 2023) (Inaugural run) 25 September 2023; 16 months ago (25 September 2023) (Commercial run)
Current operator(s)	Southern Railways (SR)
Route
Termini	Chennai Egmore (MS) Tirunelveli Junction (TEN)
Stops	6
Distance travelled	650 km (404 mi)
Average journey time	07 hrs 50 mins
Service frequency	Six days a week [a]
Train number(s)	20665 / 20666
Line(s) used	Chennai - 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 arrangements	No
Catering facilities	E Catering services, On board Catering
Observation facilities	Large windows in all coaches
Entertainment facilities	On-board WiFi Infotainment System Electric outlets Reading light Seat Pockets Bottle Holder Tray Table
Baggage facilities	Overhead racks
Other facilities	Kavach
Technical
Rolling stock	Vande Bharat 2.0 (First service: Jan 15 2024) Mini Vande Bharat 2.0 (Last service: Jan 13 2024)
Track gauge	Indian gauge 1,676 mm (5 ft 6 in) broad gauge
Electrification	25 kV 50 Hz AC Overhead line
Operating speed	83 km/h (52 mph) (Avg.)
Average length	384 metres (1,260 ft) (16 coaches)
Track owner(s)	Indian Railways
Rake maintenance	Tirunelveli Jn (TEN)
Route map 20666 ↓ Tirunelveli Junction Virudhunagar Junction Madurai Junction Dindigul Junction Tiruchchirappalli Junction Villupuram Junction Tambaram 20665 ↑ Chennai Egmore

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 and 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 was the twenty-sixth 2nd Generation and fourteenth Mini Vande Bharat 2.0 Express train 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 city of Tirunelveli and other key stations like Tiruchirappalli, Dindigul and Madurai. [12][13] This conversion of 8 coaches to 16 coaches commenced on January 15 2025, right after the Tamil Nadu's harvest festival, Pongal. [14]

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).The train does not operate on Tuesdays in both directions. This train has recorded 125% patronage rate, which is one among the highest of Vande Bharat Express in India. [13]

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. [15][16][17]

On 7 December 2024, the 4 coaches from C4 to C7 of Tirunelveli Vande Bharat Express did not open the closed automated doors at Dindigul Junction railway station and the train departed. After some time, the train was made to stop at Kodaikanal Road railway station for an unscheduled halt and passengers to Dindigul were sent there by Mysuru–Tuticorin Express. The railways said it is the mistake of the guard who forgot to open doors of all coaches, as that was the first time he was having duty in Vande Bharat Express and he boarded after crew change at Tiruchirapalli Junction.

See also

• Vande Bharat Express
• Tejas Express
• Gatimaan Express
• Chennai Egmore railway station
• Tirunelveli Junction railway station

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. "Tirunelveli-Chennai Vande Bharat Express now running with 16 coaches – Check schedule, timings, route, stoppages and more". Financialexpress. 19 January 2025. Retrieved 19 January 2025.
14. "நெல்லை வந்தே பாரத் எக்ஸ்பிரஸ் ஜனவரி 15ம் தேதி முதல் 16 பெட்டிகள் கொண்டு இயங்கும்". www.dinakaran.com. Retrieved 10 January 2025.
15. "BREAKING NEWS: Stone-Pelting On Chennai-Tirunelveli Vande Bharat Train, Coaches Damaged". www.india.com. Retrieved 2 May 2024.
16. 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)
17. "Windows of Chennai – Tirunelveli Vande Bharat Express Train Damaged in Stone Pelting Incident". Times Now. 6 February 2024. Retrieved 2 May 2024.