Mannai Express

Mannai Express
Overview
Service typeMail/Express
StatusActive
LocaleTamil Nadu
First service27 September 2011 (2011-09-27)
Current operator(s)Southern Railway zone
RidershipExpress
Route
TerminiChennai Egmore (MS)
Mannargudi (MQ)
Stops07
Distance travelled357 km (222 mi)
Average journey time07 hours 05 minutes
Service frequencyDaily
Train number(s)16179 / 16180
Line(s) usedMS ↔ MV Main Line / MV ↔ NMJ Main Line / NMJ ↔ MQ Line (Two Rake Reversal)
On-board services
Class(es)1A, 2A, 3A, SL, GS & SLRD
Disabled accessDisabled access
Seating arrangementsYes
Sleeping arrangementsYes
Catering facilitiesNo
Observation facilitiesLarge windows in all carriages
Entertainment facilitiesNo
Technical
Rolling stockWAP-4 from Arakkonam, Erode Electric Loco Shed
Track gauge1,676 mm (5 ft 6 in)
Electrification25kV AC, 50 Hz (Overhead line)
Operating speed
  • 55 km/h (34 mph) (Present service speed)
  • 110 km/h (68 mph) (Maximum Permissible speed)
Rake maintenanceTirunelveli Yard
Rake sharing
  • Tiruchendur (Chendur) Express (16105 / 16106)
  • Mannargudi – Mayiladuthurai – Mannargudi Express Special (06403 / 06404)
  • Tiruchendur – Tirunelveli – Tiruchendur Express Special (06405 / 06406)
Route map
Mannai Express halting at Chennai Egmore

The Mannai Express is an express train operated by the Southern Railway zone of the Indian Railways. This train connects Chennai Egmore and Mannargudi via Villupuram, Mayiladuthurai and Thiruvarur in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. The traffic was opened in 2011.[1]

History

This train initially ran through Nidamangalam Junction, Thanjavur Junction, Kumbakonam, Mayiladuthurai Junction, Chidambaram, Villupuram Junction, Tambaram and reaches Chennai Egmore. But this train is rerouted via Nidamangalam Junction, Thiruvarur Junction, Mayiladuthurai Junction and continues till Chennai Egmore via the old existing route. Indian Railways had taken this decision due to some technical reasons caused by this train. But people from Kumbakonam, Thanjavur, started opposing railways decision. But this train is diverted via Thiruvarur Junction during mid of 2017 in the month of March after a long demand from the Thiruvarur and Cauvery Delta district peoples.[2] After Sept 16 2023, There is an additional stoppage given by Indian Railways at Koradacheri on both directions. The technical reasons railways quoted are:

  1. This train causes 2 loco reversals (one at Nidamangalam Junction and another at Thanjavur Junction) which causes more technical difficulties and loss of time and fuel.
  2. while operating this train in the newly diverted route, it can over come those loco reversal problems and it is a shorter distance for Mannargudi when compared with the old route.

Route and halts

This train is being operated via the main line and hauled by an electric locomotive from Chennai Egmore to Mannargudi.

Schedule

16179 ~ Chennai Egmore → Mannargudi
Station Name Station Code Arrival Departure Day
Chennai Egmore MS - 22:55 1
Tambaram TBM 23:23 23:25
Chengalpattu Junction CGL 23:53 23:55
Villupuram Junction VM 01:25 01:30 2
Chidambaram CDM 03:33 03:35
Mayiladuthurai Junction MV 04:13 04:15
Thiruvarur Junction TVR 04:50 04:55
Koradacheri KDE 05:11 05:12
Needamangalam Junction NMJ 05:22 05:24
Mannargudi MQ 06:20 -
16180 ~ Mannargudi → Chennai Egmore
Mannargudi MQ - 22:35 1
Needamangalam Junction NMJ 22:50 22:52
Koradacheri KDE 23:01 23:02
Thiruvarur Junction TVR 23:20 23:25
Mayiladuthurai Junction MV 00:01 00:03 2
Chidambaram CDM 00:38 00:40
Villupuram Junction VM 02:35 02:40
Chengalpattu Junction CGL 04:08 04:10
Tambaram TBM 04:38 04:40
Mambalam MBM 04:58 05:00
Chennai Egmore MS 05:35 -

Coach composition

The Mannai Express runs between Chennai Egmore and Mannargudi has a rake sharing agreement (RSA) with Chendur Express between Chennai and Tiruchendur. These two rakes are used for operating Mannargudi – Mayiladuthurai – Mannargudi (06403 / 06404) and Tiruchendur – Tirunelveli – Tiruchendur (06405/ 06406) passenger trains.[3]

It has one AC First Class, one Ac Two Tier, one AC Three Tier, nine Sleeper class, four Unreserved general sitting coach.

Loco 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18
SLR UR UR H1 A1 B1 S1 S2 S3 S4 S5 S6 S7 S8 S9 UR UR SLR

References

  1. ^ "Introduction of Mannai, daily operation of Chendur, shot in the arm for delta districts". The Hindu. 28 September 2011. Retrieved 3 March 2012.
  2. ^ Renganathan, L. (28 October 2017). "Move to divert Mannai Express deplored". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 9 May 2021.
  3. ^ "Confusion written over train name boards". The Hindu. 20 June 2019. Retrieved 20 November 2022.