Southern Tamil Nadu welcomed two new Vande Bharat Express trains on Saturday as Prime Minister Narendra Modi flagged off the Chennai Egmore – Nagercoil and Madurai – Bengaluru Cantt Vande Bharat Express trains via video conferencing. Union Minister of State for Railways V Somanna inaugurated the Madurai – Bengaluru Vande Bharat Express at Madurai.
Speaking at the event, Madurai Divisional Railway Manager Sharad Srivastava highlighted that the Madurai – Bengaluru route, covering 586 km in eight hours, is one of the fastest train connections for the division. He expressed optimism about its popularity among travelers. Madurai MP Su Venkatesan remarked that this addition brings the total number of Vande Bharat trains serving Madurai to three out of eight. He expressed gratitude to MoS Somanna for fulfilling a long-standing demand of Madurai residents for a daytime train to Bengaluru. Venkatesan emphasized the need for an additional terminal at Kudal Nagar and a bypass railway line for freight trains to alleviate congestion at Madurai junction.
During the inauguration ceremony, MoS Somanna acknowledged Tamil Nadu’s significant industrial growth and extensive railway network. He highlighted the substantial transformation of Indian Railways over the past ten years, with Tamil Nadu playing a key role in this growth story. The BJP-led government has allocated 6332 crore rupees for railway projects in the state. Somanna further elaborated on the electrification of railway lines, increasing from 500 km in 2014 to 2150 km in 2024. With the introduction of these two Vande Bharat trains, Tamil Nadu now boasts a total of eight such trains, with two of the three flagged off by the Prime Minister on Saturday being allocated to the state. Somanna emphasized the significant benefits these trains will bring to regular travelers and IT professionals commuting between Madurai and Bengaluru.
The first Vande Bharat Express train between Chennai Egmore and Tirunelveli began operations on September 24, 2023. The regular services of these new Vande Bharat Express trains will commence on September 2.
Chennai Egmore – Nagercoil Vande Bharat Express:
* Train No. 20627 Chennai Egmore – Nagercoil Vande Bharat Express will depart Chennai Egmore at 5 am and arrive in Nagercoil at 1.50 pm on the same day.
* In the return direction, Train No. 20628 Nagercoil – Chennai Egmore Vande Bharat Express will leave Nagercoil at 2.20 pm and reach Chennai Egmore at 11 pm on the same day.
* The chair car fare from Chennai Egmore to Nagercoil is Rs 1760 and the executive chair car fare is Rs 3240, including catering charges.
* The train will not operate on Wednesdays.
* This train will have 16 coaches.
Madurai – Bengaluru Cantt Vande Bharat Express:
* Train No. 20671 Madurai – Bengaluru Cantonment will depart Madurai at 5.15 am and reach Bengaluru Cantonment at 1 pm on the same day.
* In the return direction, Train No. 20672 Bengaluru Cantonment – Madurai will leave Bengaluru at 1.30 pm and arrive in Madurai at 9.45 pm on the same day.
* The chair car fare from Madurai to Bengaluru Cantonment is Rs 1575 and the executive chair car fare is Rs 2865.
* The train will not operate on Tuesdays.
* This train will have eight coaches.
While the introduction of these trains is welcomed, rail users and trade bodies have requested Indian Railways to consider adding a stop at Virudhunagar, a significant trade center in the region, for the Chennai Egmore – Nagercoil – Chennai Egmore Vande Bharat. The Kanyakumari District Rail Users Association has appealed to the Thiruvananthapuram Railway Division to make adjustments to train schedules from and to Thiruvananthapuram from Nagercoil Junction, ensuring better connectivity for passengers traveling on this premium train.
Detailed Timings:
Chennai Egmore – Nagercoil Vande Bharat Express:
* Train No. 20627 Chennai Egmore – Nagercoil: Chennai Egmore – 5 am, Tambaram – 5.23 – 5.25 am, Villupuram – 6.52 – 6.55 am, Trichy – 8.55 – 9 am, Dindigul – 9.53 – 9.55 am, Madurai – 10.38 – 10.40 am, Kovilpatti – 11.35 – 11.37 am, Tirunelveli – 12.30 – 12.32 pm, Nagercoil junction – 1.50 p.m
* Train No. 20628 Nagercoil – Chennai Egmore: Nagercoil Junction – 2.20 p.m, Tirunelveli – 3.18 – 3.20 pm, Kovilpatti – 3.58 – 4 pm, Madurai – 5.03 – 5.05 p.m, Dindigul – 5.48 – 5.50 pm, Trichy – 6.45 – 6.50 pm, Villupuram – 8.53 – 8.55 pm, Tambaram – 10.28 – 10.30 pm, Chennai Egmore 11 pm
Madurai – Bengaluru Cantonment Vande Bharat Express:
* Train No. 20671 Madurai – Bengaluru Cantonment: Madurai – 5.15 am, Dindigul – 5.59 – 6.01 am, Trichy – 6.50 – 6.55 am, Karur – 8.08 – 8.10 am, Namakkal – 8.32 – 8.34 am, Salem – 9.15 – 9.20 am, Krishnarajapuram – 12.50 – 12.52 pm, Bengaluru Cantonment – 1 pm
* Train No. 20672 Bengaluru Cantonment – Madurai: Bengaluru Cantonment – 1.30 pm, Krishnarajapuram – 1.55 – 1.57 pm, Salem – 4.50 – 4.55 pm, Namakkal – 5.38 – 5.40 pm, Karur – 5.58 – 6 pm, Trichy – 7.20 – 7.25 pm, Dindigul – 8.28 – 8.30 pm, Madurai – 9.45 pm
Vande Bharat Fare (Chennai Egmore – Nagercoil Vande Bharat Express):
* Chair Car: Chennai Egmore – Tambaram: Rs 380, Chennai Egmore – Villupuram: Rs 545, Chennai Egmore – Trichy: Rs 955, Chennai Egmore – Dindigul: Rs 1105, Chennai Egmore – Madurai: Rs 1200, Chennai Egmore – Kovilpatti: Rs 1350, Chennai Egmore – Tirunelveli: Rs 1665, Chennai Egmore – Nagercoil: Rs 1760.
* Executive Chair Car: Chennai Egmore – Tambaram: Rs 705, Chennai Egmore – Villupuram: Rs 1055, Chennai Egmore – Trichy: Rs 1790, Chennai Egmore – Dindigul: Rs 2110, Chennai Egmore – Madurai: Rs 2295, Chennai Egmore – Kovilpatti: Rs 2620, Chennai Egmore – Tirunelveli: Rs 3055, Chennai Egmore – Nagercoil: Rs 3240.
