Vaigai Express

{{Short description|Highspeed train service in Tamil Nadu}} {{for|the 2017 Tamil-language film|Vaigai Express (film)}} {{Use dmy dates|date=January 2016}} {{Use Indian English|date=January 2016}} {{Infobox rail service | color = 00ced1 | name = Vaigai Superfast Express | image = Vaigai SF Express with WAP7.jpg | image_width = 300px | caption = Vaigai Superfast Express at Chennai Egmore | type = High Speed Intercity Superfast Express | status = Active | locale = Tamil Nadu | first = {{start date and age|df=yes|1977|08|15}} | last = | operator = Southern Railway zone | start = {{rws|Chennai Egmore}} '''(MS)''' | stops = 12 | end = {{rws|Madurai Junction}} '''(MDU)''' | distance = {{convert|493|km|abbr=on}} | journeytime = 7 hours 30minutes | frequency = Daily | class = * 3 A/C Chaircar Seater * 13 Non A/C Chair Car Seater * 3 Unreserved * 1 EOG * 1 Second Class Luggage Rake with Divyangjan compartment * 1 Pantry | access = {{Access icon|20px}} | seating = Yes | sleeping = No | catering = On-board | observation = Windows in all carriages | entertainment = No | baggage = Overhead racks Baggage carriage | autorack = | otherfacilities = | stock = WAP-7 Loco from Electric Loco Shed, Royapuram earlier was WDP-3A | gauge = {{RailGauge|1676mm}} | el = 25kV AC, 50 Hz (Overhead Electric Traction) | trainnumber = 12635 / 12636 | line_used = MS-TPJ Chord Line, TPJ-MDU Main Line | speed = {{convert|72|km/h|abbr=on}} (Maximum permissible Speed: 130 Kmph) | trainlength = 22 Coaches (LHB coach) | owners = Southern Railway zone | routenumber = 7/7A | maintenance = {{stnlnk|Madurai}} | sharing = Pallavan Express | map = 250px | map_state = }}

'''The 12635 / 12636 Vaigai Superfast Express''' is an Daily High Speed Intercity Superfast Express train which runs daily between Madurai and Chennai Egmore, via Tiruchirappalli. It is operated by the Southern Railway zone of the Indian Railways and was introduced due to increasing demand for a day train between the cities during the 1970s. It was the first instance in which a high-speed train was introduced on a metre-gauge railway within the Southern Railway zone. This train is fondly called as '''King of Southern Railways.''' Vaigai Express shares rake with Pallavan Express running between Chennai Egmore and Karaikudi Junction.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-07-04 |title=Kovai Express Most Popular Among Tamil Nadu Passengers, Next Comes Vaigai Express, Shows RTI Reply |url=https://www.news18.com/india/kovai-express-most-popular-among-tamil-nadu-passengers-next-comes-vaigai-express-shows-rti-reply-8244157.html |access-date=2023-11-04 |website=News18 |language=en}}</ref>

== History and background == {{unreferenced section|date=November 2022}} The train, which was first started from Madurai, is named after the Vaigai River, which flows through the city.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Names of trains |url=https://indianrailways.gov.in/railwayboard/uploads/directorate/Heritage/Etymology%20of%20Train%20Names%20of%20Indian%20Railways.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210506170749/https://indianrailways.gov.in/railwayboard/uploads/directorate/Heritage/Etymology%20of%20Train%20Names%20of%20Indian%20Railways.pdf |page=77 |archive-date=6 May 2021 |website=indianrailways.gov.in |access-date=27 November 2022 |quote=Contents & Interpretation of the author only, not official}}</ref>

On 15{{nbsp}}August 1977 at 6:00{{nbsp}}a.m.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2025-08-15 |title=Vaigai, the Express which saw many firsts, turns 48 |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/madurai/vaigai-the-express-which-saw-many-firsts-turns-48/articleshow/123324094.cms#:~:text=Introduced%20on%20Aug%2015,%201977,to%20run%20at%20100%20kmph. |access-date=2025-11-22 |work=The Times of India |issn=0971-8257}}</ref>, Down Train No. 135 Vaigai Express began its inaugural journey from Madurai Junction to Madras Egmore, with 16 yellow and green livery coaches and a matching YDM4 diesel loco. When introduced, the train had 16 coaches, hauled by twin-YDM4 diesel locos. On that day, the train clocked the fastest run between the two locations, in 7 hours and 15 minutes, entering Madras Egmore at 1:05 p.m. that afternoon. In doing so, it had matched the speed of many broad-gauge high-speed trains on the Southern Railway. The train was later slowed to a time of 7 hours and 40 minutes for safety purposes.

By 1984 the coach positions and rakes were changed to 8 cars after the changes in operation pattern of Pallavan Superfast Express to Tiruchchirappalli instead of operating from Madurai owing to which the new rake sharing pattern is the present operating pattern.

Both Vaigai and Pallavan were the only SuperFast trains of Chennai - Tiruchchirappalli - Madurai section till 2001.

At that time the train had only three stops: Villupuram Junction, Tiruchchirappalli Junction and Dindigul Junction. Later, due to demands, the number of stops was increased.

From 1999 onwards, Vaigai Superfast Express was converted from the metre gauge to the broad gauge, to be hauled by diesel locomotives manufactured by Golden Rock. From 12{{nbsp}}February 2014 to 9 July 2015, the Vaigai Express was hauled by an electric locomotive, in the WAP-4 class.<ref>{{Cite news |date=12 February 2014 |title=First electric engine pulls out of Madurai |work=The Hindu |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Madurai/first-electric-engine-pulls-out-of-madurai/article5680167.ece |access-date=25 November 2022}}</ref> Since 9 July 2015, it has been regularly hauled by electric locomotives in the WAP-7 class, maintained by the Electric Loco Shed, Royapuram.<ref>{{Cite news |date=11 July 2015 |title=More WAP-7 locos for Madurai division |work=The Hindu |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Madurai/more-wap7-locos-for-madurai-division/article7409701.ece |access-date=25 November 2022 }}</ref> The train has also been updated with a modern LHB coach, from 30 June 2019.<ref>{{Cite news |date=29 June 2019 |title=Vaigai and Pallavan express trains to get LHB coach |work=The Times of India |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/chennai/vaigai-and-pallavan-express-trains-to-get-lhb-coaches/articleshow/70003115.cms |access-date=25 November 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200322174115/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/chennai/vaigai-and-pallavan-express-trains-to-get-lhb-coaches/articleshow/70003115.cms |archive-date=22 March 2020}}</ref>

=== Record-breaking runs === On 3 March 2022, the Vaigai Express train made a historic record by covering a distance of 495 kilometres from Madurai to Chennai in '''6 hours and''' '''40 minutes'''.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Sundar |first1=S. |date=5 March 2022 |title=Vaigai Express breaks its own speed record |newspaper=The Hindu |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Madurai/vaigai-express-breaks-its-own-speed-record/article65193731.ece |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220928060426/https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Madurai/vaigai-express-breaks-its-own-speed-record/article65193731.ece |archive-date=28 September 2022}}</ref> Despite departing at 7:26 a.m. with a delay of 21 minutes, the 12636 MDU-MS line reached its destination at 2:07 p.m., 23 minutes prior to its scheduled time. In doing so, it broke its own inaugural record of 7 hours 5 minutes established on 15 August 1977.

This record was broken once more on 15 October 2022, when the train covered the distance from Madurai to Chennai in '''6 hours and 34 minutes'''.<ref>{{Cite news |date=16 October 2022 |title=Vaigai Express reaches Chennai in record time |work=The Hindu |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Madurai/vaigai-express-reaches-chennai-in-record-time/article66018539.ece |access-date=25 November 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221122130928/https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Madurai/vaigai-express-reaches-chennai-in-record-time/article66018539.ece |archive-date=22 November 2022}}</ref>thumb|300px|right|Vaigai Superfast Express at Chennai Egmore

== History of uniqueness == {{unreferenced section|date=November 2022}} It was the only train at that time in SR which had completely tube-lighted interiors and sun-control sliding glass shutters installed for the first time in all its eight-second class coaches.

This is the only MG train on the SR to be fitted with specially enhanced buffers and certified to run at 110 km/h.

For the first time on the MG, the ICF manufactured two 40-seat AC chair car coaches exclusively for the Vaigai and Pallavan express and used in those trains.

It was the first train in Madurai railway division that ran on electric traction after the completion of 92 km long 25-KV overhead railway electrification of Dindigul - Trichy Section on 6 September 2011.<ref>{{Cite news |date=7 September 2011 |title=Vaigai Express runs on electric traction |work=The Hindu |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Madurai/vaigai-express-runs-on-electric-traction/article2430264.ece |access-date=25 November 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221125140417/https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Madurai/vaigai-express-runs-on-electric-traction/article2430264.ece |archive-date=25 November 2022}}</ref>

== Accident == Between August 1978 to January 1979 Vaigai Express was involved in accidents twice. On 21 December 1978 it dashed against two boulders between Talanallur and Vriddhachalam Town stations and on 22 December 1978, it derailed at Tiruchirappalli station.<ref>[https://eparlib.nic.in/bitstream/123456789/2057/1/lsd_06_07_01-03-1979.pdf Lok Sabha Debates] Page no. 98</ref>

== Rakes == {| class="wikitable" |- !scope="col" rowspan="1" style="background:#12ad2b;"| Loco !scope="col" rowspan="1" style="background:#804a00;"| 1 !scope="col" rowspan="1" style="background:#ffd700;"| 2 !scope="col" rowspan="1" style="background:#ffd700;"| 3 ! rowspan="1" scope="col" style="background:#0000ff;" | 4 ! rowspan="1" scope="col" style="background:#0000ff;" | 5 ! rowspan="1" scope="col" style="background:#0000ff;" | 6 ! rowspan="1" scope="col" style="background:#00bfff;" | 7 ! rowspan="1" scope="col" style="background:#00bfff;" | 8 ! rowspan="1" scope="col" style="background:#00bfff;" | 9 ! rowspan="1" scope="col" style="background:#00bfff;" | 10 ! rowspan="1" scope="col" style="background:#00bfff;" | 11 ! rowspan="1" scope="col" style="background:#00bfff;" | 12 ! rowspan="1" scope="col" style="background:#00bfff;" | 13 ! rowspan="1" scope="col" style="background:#ffa500;" | 14 ! rowspan="1" scope="col" style="background:#00bfff;" | 15 ! rowspan="1" scope="col" style="background:#00bfff;" | 16 ! rowspan="1" scope="col" style="background:#00bfff;" | 17 ! rowspan="1" scope="col" style="background:#00bfff;" | 18 ! rowspan="1" scope="col" style="background:#00bfff;" | 19 ! rowspan="1" scope="col" style="background:#ffd700;" | 20 ! rowspan="1" scope="col" style="background:#ffd700;" | 21 ! rowspan="1" scope="col" style="background:#804a00;" | 22 |- |25px|| EOG || UR || UR || C1 || C2 || C3 || D1 || D2 || D3 || D4 || D5 || D6 ||D7||PC|| D8|| D9 || D10 || D11 || D12 || UR || UR || SLR |}

==References== {{Reflist}}

==External links== *[http://indiarailinfo.com/train/map/1708/779/790 Vaigai Express] *[http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/chennai/Rail-fans-celebrate-39th-anniversary-of-Vaigai-Express-launch/articleshow/53709203.cms 39th Birthday Celebration for Vaigai Exrpress]

{{DEFAULTSORT:Vaigai Express}} Category:Transport in Chennai Category:Transport in Madurai Category:Named passenger trains of India Category:Express trains in India Category:Rail transport in Tamil Nadu Category:Railway services introduced in 1977