Chennai Egmore–Nagercoil Junction Vande Bharat Express

Chennai Egmore - Nagercoil Junction Vande Bharat Express
Overview
Service type	Vande Bharat Express
Locale	Tamil Nadu
First service	August 31, 2024 (2024-08-31) (Inaugural) 02 September 2024;13 months ago (02 September 2024) (Commercial)
Current operator	Southern Railways (SR)
Route
Termini	Chennai Egmore (MS) Nagercoil Junction (NCJ)
Stops	7
Distance travelled	724 km (450 mi)
Average journey time	08 hrs 40 mins
Service frequency	Six days a week [a]
Train number	20627 / 20628
Lines used	Chennai - Villupuram line Chord Line Madurai–Tirunelveli line
On-board services
Classes	AC Chair Car, AC Executive Chair Car
Seating arrangements	Airline style Rotatable seats
Sleeping arrangements	No
Catering facilities	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 (Last service: May 06 2025) Vande Bharat 3.0 (First service: May 08 2025)
Track gauge	Indian gauge 1,676 mm (5 ft 6 in) broad gauge
Electrification	25 kV 50 Hz AC Overhead line
Operating speed	84 km/h (52 mph) (Avg.)
Average length	480 metres (1,570 ft) (20 coaches)
Track owner	Indian Railways
Rake maintenance	Basin Bridge Junction (BBQ)
Route map Legend 20627 ↓ Chennai Egmore Tambaram Villupuram Junction Tiruchchirappalli Junction Dindigul Junction Madurai Junction Kovilpatti Tirunelveli Junction 20628 ↑ Nagercoil Junction

The 20627/20628 Chennai Egmore – Nagercoil Junction Vande Bharat Express is India's 52nd Vande Bharat Express train, which runs across the state of Tamil Nadu, by connecting the metropolitan city of Chennai and terminating at the Temple of Nagas town, Nagercoil. ^{[1] [2]} This express train was slated to be inaugurated on June 20, 2024, but was postponed due to administrative reasons.

This express train was inaugurated on 31 August 2024 by Prime Minister Narendra Modi via video conferencing from New Delhi. ^{[3] [4] [5] [6] [7] [8] [9]}

Overview

This express train is operated by Indian Railways, connecting Chennai Egmore, Tambaram, Villupuram Jn, Trichy Jn, Dindigul Jn, Madurai Jn, Kovilpatti, Tirunelveli Jn and Nagercoil Junction. ^[10] It is currently operated on a 6 days a week basis with train numbers 20627/20628. ^{[11] [12] [13]}

Rakes

It was the fiftieth 2nd Generation Vande Bharat Express train which was designed and manufactured by the Integral Coach Factory at Perambur, Chennai under the Make in India Initiative. ^[14] It was the first Vande Bharat running within Tamil Nadu to run with 16 coaches.

Due to its ultimate demand, it was converted to run the services from 16 coaches to 20 coaches from 8 May 2025. Thus this express train becomes the first 20 coach train, the longest Vande Bharat Express train to run within Tamil Nadu ^{[15] [16]} and the third longest express train across all 66 train services after New Delhi–Varanasi and Varanasi–New Delhi Vande Bharat Express trains.

Service

The 20627/20628 Chennai Egmore - Nagercoil Jn Vande Bharat Express operates six days a week except Wednesdays, covering a distance of 724 km (450 mi) in a travel time of 8 hours with an average speed of 82 km/h (51 mph). The service has 7 intermediate stops. The Maximum Permissible Speed is 130 km/h (81 mph).

See also

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

Notes

1. Except Wednesdays

References

1. "PM Modi to visit Chennai on June 20; to flag off Egmore-Nagercoil Vande Bharat Express". www.dtnext.in. 14 June 2024. Retrieved 16 June 2024.
2. "Prime Minister Modi to visit Chennai on June 20, will flag off Chennai- Nagercoil Vande Bharat Express". The Hindu. 15 June 2024. ISSN   0971-751X . Retrieved 16 June 2024.
3. "PM Modi flags off three new Vande Bharat Express trains: Check route timing and stops". The Times of India. 31 August 2024. ISSN   0971-8257 . Retrieved 31 August 2024.
4. "PM Modi flags off 3 Vande Bharat trains, check routes". English.Mathrubhumi. 31 August 2024. Retrieved 31 August 2024.
5. "மதுரை - பெங்களூரு, சென்னை எழும்பூர் - நாகர்கோவில் வந்தே பாரத் எக்ஸ்பிரஸ் ரயில் நேர அட்டவணை, டிக்கெட் கட்டணம் - முழு விவரம்". TimesNowTamil (in Tamil). 31 August 2024. Retrieved 31 August 2024.
6. salah, Jibrael. "6170415-0: 1.Meerut to lucknow 2.Chennai to nagerc 20671/Madurai - Bengaluru Cantt. Vande Bharat Express - Railway Enquiry". indiarailinfo.com. Retrieved 27 August 2024.
7. "Southern India to get two new Vande Bharat Express trains; Check details here". News9live. 27 August 2024. Retrieved 27 August 2024.
8. Anbuselvan, B. (30 August 2024). "PM Modi to flag off Chennai to Nagercoil Vande Bharat on August 31". The New Indian Express. Retrieved 30 August 2024.
9. DTNEXT (30 August 2024). "PM Modi to flag off Chennai-Nagercoil, Madurai-Bengaluru Vande Bharat trains". www.dtnext.in. Retrieved 30 August 2024.
10. SIVAPRAKASH. "6170240-0: 20627/20628 MS NCJ VB 20627/Chennai Egmore - Nagercoil Vande Bharat Express - Railway Enquiry". indiarailinfo.com. Retrieved 27 August 2024.
11. "PM Modi to visit Chennai to flag off Vande Bharat train service from Egmore to Nagercoil". News9live. 14 June 2024. Retrieved 16 June 2024.
12. "PM Modi to flag off 2 new Vande Bharat trains on this date, check route, timetable, and other details". DNA India. Retrieved 16 June 2024.
13. "Chennai Egmore-Nagercoil New Vande Bharat Express: Check Date, Ticket Price, Timings, Schedule & More". oneindia . 18 June 2024. Retrieved 18 June 2024.
14. "Train 18, India's Fastest, Named "Vande Bharat Express": Piyush Goyal". NDTV.com. Retrieved 19 April 2023.
15. "Chennai–Nagercoil Vande Bharat Express to get additional coaches". The Times of India. 2 May 2025. ISSN   0971-8257 . Retrieved 6 May 2025.
16. "Vande Bharat Express: Railways to roll out fifth 20-coach train; know details". News9live. 3 May 2025. Retrieved 6 May 2025.