Vaigai Express

The Vaigai Express is an Intercity Express high-speed express train which runs daily between Madurai and Chennai, 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. Vaigai SuperFast is fondly referred to as the "King of Southern Railway"; and its rake sharer Pallavan Express "Prince of Southern Railway" running between Chennai Egmore and Karaikudi Junction are collectively known as the "Chord Line brothers".

History and background
The train, which was first started from Madurai, is named after the Vaigai River, which flows through the city.

On 15August 1977 at 6:00a.m., 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 it was bifurcated, forming the Pallavan Superfast Express which comprised eight coaches.

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 Express was converted from the metre gauge to the broad gauge, to be hauled by diesel locomotives manufactured by Golden Rock. From 12February 2014 to 9 July 2015, the Vaigai Express was hauled by an electric locomotive, in the WAP-4 class. Since 9 July 2015, it has been regularly hauled by electric locomotives in the WAP-7 class, maintained by the Electric Loco Shed, Royapuram. The train has also been updated with a modern LHB coach, from 30 June 2019.

Record-breaking runs
On the 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. 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.

History of uniqueness
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.

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.