Every day, the Vaigai Superfast Express, a high-speed Intercity Express train, travels from Madurai to Chennai via Tiruchirappalli. The Southern Railway zone of Indian Railways operates it, and in the 1970s, demand for a day train connecting the cities grew, prompting its introduction. On a metre-gauge railway within the Southern Railway zone, it was the first time a high-speed train was launched. Vaigai SuperFast is affectionately called the "King of Southern Railway"; the Pallavan Express, which operates as the "Prince of Southern Railway" between Chennai Egmore and Karaikudi Junction, is referred to as the "Chord Line brothers" by its fellow rake sharers.
History and background
The Vaigai River, which originates in Madurai, is the inspiration for the name of the train.
With sixteen coaches painted in yellow and green livery and a YDM4 diesel locomotive in tow, Down Train No. 135 Vaigai Express set out on its maiden trip from Madurai Junction to Madras Egmore on August 15, 1977, at six in the morning. The train, pulled by dual YDM4 diesel locos, had sixteen carriages when it was first launched. The train arrived in Madras Egmore at 1:05 p.m. on that day, having completed the fastest voyage between the two locations in 7 hours and 15 minutes. It had done it at a pace that was comparable to several Southern Railway broad-gauge high-speed trains. Later, for safety reasons, the train was reduced to a duration of seven hours and forty minutes.
It split in 1984 to become the Pallavan Superfast Express, which had eight coaches.
Up till 2001, the only SuperFast trains operating in the Chennai - Tiruchchirappalli - Madurai segment were Vaigai and Pallavan.
Dindigul Junction, Tiruchchirappalli Junction, and Villupuram Junction were the only three stops on the train at that time. Later, the number of stops was increased in response to demand.
Vaigai Express was converted from the metre gauge to the wide gauge starting in 1999, and Golden Rock diesel locomotives were used to run it. The WAP-4 class electric locomotive carried the Vaigai Express from February 12, 2014, to July 9, 2015. It has been routinely hauled by WAP-7 class electric locomotives, which are maintained by the Electric Loco Shed, Royapuram, since July 9, 2015. As of June 30, 2019, the train has also been renovated with a contemporary LHB carriage.
Record-breaking runs
The Vaigai Express train set a record on March 3, 2022, when it traveled 495 kilometers in 6 hours and 40 minutes from Madurai to Chennai. The 12636 MDU-MS line arrived at its destination at 2:07 p.m., 23 minutes ahead of schedule, despite leaving at 7:26 a.m. with a delay of 21 minutes. By doing so, it surpassed its own first record, set on August 15, 1977, which stood for seven hours and five minutes.
On October 15, 2022, the train beat this record once more, traveling 6 hours and 34 minutes from Madurai to Chennai.
History of uniqueness
At the time, it was the only train in SR with all eight of its second class coaches equipped with sun-control sliding glass shutters and fully tube-lighted interiors.
Only this MG train on the SR has been approved to operate at 110 km/h and is equipped with specially designed strengthened buffers.
The ICF produced two 40-seat AC chair car coaches specifically for the Vaigai and Pallavan express trains, which used them for the first time on the MG.
After the 92 km long, 25-KV overhead railway electrification of the Dindigul - Trichy Section was completed on September 6, 2011, it was the first train in the Madurai Railway Division to operate on electric traction.
Accident
There were two accidents involving the Vaigai Express between August 1978 and January 1979. Between Talanallur and Vriddhachalam Town stations, on December 21, 1978, it crashed into two boulders, and at Tiruchirappalli station, on December 22, 1978, it derailed.
