Tamil Nadu Express

Tamil Nadu Express
Overview
Current operator(s)	Indian Railway
Route
Start	Chennai
Stops	9
End	New Delhi
Distance travelled	2,181 km (1,355 mi)
Average journey time	33 hours
Service frequency	Daily
Train number(s)	12621 / 12622
On-board services
Class(es)	AC First, AC Two Tier, AC Three Tier, Sleeper Class, Unreserved
Seating arrangements	Yes
Sleeping arrangements	Yes
Catering facilities	Yes
Observation facilities	Large windows
Technical
Track gauge	1,676 mm (5 ft 6 in)
Operating speed	66 km/h (41 mph) average with halts
Route map

The Tamil Nadu Express or T.N. Express is a passenger train route of the Indian Railways. The train was first started on 7 August 1976 by then Prime Minister, Indira Gandhi.^[1] Introduced as a tri-weekly, it was the first State named train of the south. It runs between Chennai (Chennai Central) and New Delhi (New Delhi railway station). It is considered as the fastest non-Rajadhani Express train. In 1976, it was a tri weekly train, then made four times a week just before the 1982 Asian Games and then converted to a daily train by Madhav Rao Scindia in June 1988 and who added Gwalior to the stoppages.^[2] Numbered 12621/12622, this train belongs to the superfast category of Indian Railways.

History

When first introduced, the train was numbered 121/122 and the train had 13 compartments and was hauled by a single WDM2 locomotive. After the Madras to Vijayawada line was electrified, the train was hauled by a single WAM/4 electric on that stretch, and a single WDM/2 from Vijayawada to New Delhi. When the Chennai-New Delhi line was partially electrified in the late 1980s, it had to change engines twice in the route, from WAM/4 to WDM/2 at Vijayawada and then from WDM/2 to WAM/4 at Itarsi.^[2] It started off with red/cream livery (a la old style Rajdhanis), briefly switched to green-yellow before falling in line with the regulation blue.

When it was a non-daily train, it shared time slots with AP Express and KK Express. The train from Delhi previously split at Katpadi (Vellore) or Jolarpettai, with corresponding train sets departing got Bangalore and Trivandrum (now called Thiruvanthapuram). Similarly, the two portions used to combine at one of these stations and operate to New Delhi.

The first Superfast to connect the Southern Metro with the state capital the train beat the record of GT Express which held the superfast train status of the South that time and fastest to reach New Delhi. Timings were not convenient for Delhi travelers, leading to daily and timings altered to leave Chennai in the evening.

The train had 13 coaches initially including luggage and guard van. Of these 13, 2 coaches were Chair Car(CC). Rest were sleepers and had one Pantry Car. The Guard, LTTE, attendants were all SR staff in the beginning. All staff used to come from Chennai to New Delhi and travel back the next day. The Chair Car got badly damaged near Kazipet loopline due to excess speed on that travel at night and thereafter CC was discontinued.

The Tamil Nadu Express faced a problem with the engine when it had to haul 18+ coaches. The train could not cover the terrains near ET and was regularly late by 2–3 hours while on its way to New Delhi. Mr George Fernandes as Railway Minister, introduced the concept of twin engines and tried to fix the problem. Later the travel time was increased to 33 hours. The train was rescheduled to night later.

Tamil Nadu Express sleeper coach

Tamil Nadu Express AC coach

Though the name is Tamil Nadu Express, the train has only one stop in Tamil Nadu i.e., Chennai.

2012 Tamil Nadu Express accident - Fire at Nellore

On 30 July 2012, the Nellore train fire killed 32 passengers and injured 27 traveling on this route near Nellore, Andhra Pradesh.^[3]

Timings

This train at present leaves New Delhi at 22:30 hrs to reach Chennai / MAS at 07:10 on the 3rd day morning. On return, this train leaves Chennai every evening at 22:00 hrs to reach New Delhi at 07:00 on the 3rd day morning. It covers a distance of 2184 km in about 33 hours at an average of 67 km/h (42 mph).^[4][5] When introduced in 1976, the running time of the train used to be 29 hrs and 50 minutes. It was introduced as a 14 coach train running with one WDM2 (ALCO derived) loco. In 1979 it was converted into a 21 coach train, headed by 2 WDM2 locos and then sometime after year 2000 converted to a 24 coach train - with 6AC coaches.

Route

This train runs via Vijayawada, Warangal, Ballarshah, Nagpur, Itarsi, Bhopal, Jhansi, Gwalior, Agra Cantt and Hazrat Nizamuddin to reach New Delhi station. There is no stop between Vijayawada and Chennai. The train takes around 6 hours and 20 minutes to reach Vijayawada from Chennai, and 6 hrs and 45 minutes to reach Chennai, from Vijayawada.^[4] The non-stop run of 431 km between Vijayawada and Chennai is the longest inter-halt journey for any train other than the Thiruvananthapuram Rajdhani or the Duronto Express Kochuveli Dehradun SF, Kochuveli Amritsar SF and Kerala Sampark Kranti (between Kota and Vododara 525 km non stop).^[2]

Rake

The train has a lot of demand and gets about 24 coaches. The rake generally comprises 6 AC coaches, 13 Sleeper class coaches, pantry car, two general unreserved second class coaches and two SLRs.

Accidents

Tamil Nadu Express has traditionally been accident-prone, with many accidents occurring due to its speed. The top speed of the train was reduced after the derailment of 14 coaches on August 31, 1981 at Asifabad Road Station in Andhra Pradesh, in which 15 persons were killed and 39 injured.^[6] The following table enlists the accidents that happened on Tamil Nadu Express.

See also

• Chennai Central
• Andhra Pradesh Express
• Vijayawada Junction
• Guruvayur Express
• Trichy to Tirunelveli Intercity Express
• Pallavan Express
• Rockfort Express
• Pandian Express
• Vaigai Express
• Nellai Express
• Sethu Express

References

1. ↑ "Tamilnadu Express - Everything about India!". Retrieved 22 Aug 2012. 
2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 "Classic Trains of India". Indian Railways Fan Club. Retrieved 23 Aug 2012. 
3. ↑ 32 passengers charred on Chennai bound Tamil Nadu Express near Nellore
4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 "Tamil Nadu Express - 12622". MakeMyTrip.com. Retrieved 23 Aug 2012. 
5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 "Tamil Nadu Express - 12621". MakeMyTrip.com. Retrieved 23 Aug 2012. 
6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 "Is Tamil Nadu Express jinxed?". The Hindu. July 31, 2012. Retrieved August 24, 2012. 

External links

• Tamil Nadu Express at India Rail Info