Nellai Express

The Nellai Express is a super fast train on the Indian Railways, connecting Tirunelveli Junction with Chennai Egmore.

Numbers and route

• 119/120
• 6119/6120
• 2631/2632
• 12631/12632

As per the numbering system of the Indian Railways, the train has been assigned the number 12631 for the down direction (Chennai Egmore - Tirunelveli) and 12632 for the up direction (Tirunelveli - Chennai Egmore). In the downward direction, the train departs at 20.50 hours and reaches Tirunelveli at 08.30 hours next day. In the upward direction, the train departs at 18.50 hours and reaches Chennai at 06.40 hours.

It covers the distance of 653 km in less than 12 hours with major stoppings at Madurai, Tiruchirappalli and Viluppuram and terminus at Chennai Egmore/Tirunelveli Junction. It is one of the trains in India, keeping the speed and time to perfection like the Vaigai Express. It is also one of the oldest commuter trains in India. It is the second most important train in the Madurai Railway division, next to the Pandian Express and consists of 24 coaches.

Loco

The commonly-used engines for hauling this train are the WDP 4 loco of Krishnarajapuram, which can haul 24 coaches. Recently, both before and after completion of electrification between Viluppuram and Tiruchirappalli Junction, the loco-haulage pattern of the Nellai Express has experienced some changes and trial-basis experiments. On occasions, the Nellai express was hauled on AC locos, the WAP-4 and the WAP-1 locos, mainly between Chennai Egmore and Viluppuram, while between Tirunelveli Jn. and Chennai Egmore, it continued to be operated by the WDP-4 or the WDM3D type diesel locos. After completion and inauguration of the newly electrified section between Viluppuram and Tiruchirappalli junctions which paved the way for end-to-end haulage of trains on electric traction between Chennai Egmore and Tiruchirappalli stations in the Southern Railway, there have been some occasions when the Nellai Express has been hauled entirely on the Tiruchirappalli-Chennai Egmore-Tiruchirappalli sector. But due to its arrival at Tiruchirappalli junction late at night in both directions, coupled with the fact that Tiruchirappalli junction has fewer platforms and the consequent time taken in change of traction for incoming trains from electric to diesel or from diesel to electric causing potential delays in running, Nellai Express has been among the trains which are running on diesel traction (called DUW or diesel under wires) in the electrified Chennai Egmore-Tiruchirappalli Junction sectors. However, with electrification work between Tiruchirappalli Junction and Madurai junction sectors likely to be completed by early 2011, it is expected that most trains originating from Chennai Egmore or long-distance trains bound for Madurai and beyond via Chennai are likely to be hauled by electric locomotives up to Madurai from 2011.

Time schedule

Relevance

The Town of Tirunelveli is commonly referred to as "Nellai based on the presiding deity of the temple "Nellaiappar" an incarnation of Lord Shiva. The district is called as Nellai district only

See also

• Tamil Nadu Express
• Rajdhani Express – Chennai
• Pallavan Express
• Vaigai Express
• Rockfort Express
• Kovai Express
• Pandian Express
• Pearl City Express
• Cheran Express
• Kanyakumari Express
• Pothigai Express

External links

• Nellai Express Route Map
• Nellai Express running status (Towards Chennai)
• Nellai Express running status (From Chennai)