Chennai Egmore - Tirunelveli Junction Vande Bharat Express | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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![]() The Nellai Vande Bharat Express skipping at Kodambakkam railway station and heading towards Tirunelveli Junction | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Overview | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Service type | Vande Bharat Express | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Locale | Tamil Nadu | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
First service | September 24, 2023 (Inaugural run) 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 |
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Sleeping arrangements | No | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Catering facilities | E Catering services, On board Catering | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Observation facilities | Large windows in all coaches | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Entertainment facilities |
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Baggage facilities | Overhead racks | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Other facilities | Kavach | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Technical | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Rolling stock | Mini Vande Bharat 2.0 (Last service: Jan 13 2024) Vande Bharat 2.0 (First service: Jan 15 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) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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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]
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]
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]
The 20665/20666 Chennai Egmore - Tirunelveli Jn Vande Bharat Express operates six days a week except Tuesdays, covering a distance of 650 km (400 mi) in a travel time of 7 hours with an average speed of 84 km/h (52 mph). The service has 6 intermediate stops. The Maximum Permissible Speed is 130 km/h (81 mph).
Station | Station Code | Arrival | Departure | Halt (min) | Distance (km) | Day |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Chennai Egmore | MS | — | 14:45 | — | — | 1 |
Tambaram | TBM | 15:05 | 15:07 | 2 | 24.5 | 1 |
Villupuram Jn | VM | 16:33 | 16:35 | 2 | 158.5 | 1 |
Tiruchchirappalli Jn | TPJ | 18:35 | 18:40 | 5 | 336.5 | 1 |
Dindigul Jn | DG | 19:38 | 19:40 | 2 | 430.9 | 1 |
Madurai Jn | MDU | 20:20 | 20:25 | 5 | 493.2 | 1 |
Virudunagar Jn | VPT | 20:53 | 20:55 | 2 | 536.6 | 1 |
Tirunelveli Jn | TEN | 22:30 | — | — | 650.2 | 1 |
Station | Station Code | Arrival | Departure | Halt (min) | Distance (km) | Day |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Tirunelveli Jn | TEN | — | 06:05 | — | — | 1 |
Virudunagar Jn | VPT | 07:18 | 07:20 | 2 | 113.6 | 1 |
Madurai Jn | MDU | 07:50 | 07:55 | 5 | 157.1 | 1 |
Dindigul Jn | DG | 08:38 | 08:40 | 2 | 219.4 | 1 |
Tiruchchirappalli Jn | TPJ | 09:45 | 09:50 | 5 | 313.7 | 1 |
Villupuram Jn | VM | 11:46 | 11:48 | 2 | 491.8 | 1 |
Tambaram | TBM | 13:13 | 13:15 | 2 | 625.7 | 1 |
Chennai Egmore | MS | 13:55 | — | — | 650.2 | 1 |
Some of the pictures of this express train shown below:-
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. [17] [18] [19]
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.
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