The Mannai Express is an express train operated by the Southern Railway zone of the

Indian Railways Indian Railways (IR) is a statutory body under the ownership of Ministry of Railways, Government of India that operates India's national railway system. It manages the fourth largest national railway system in the world by size, with a tot ...

. This train connects Chennai Egmore and Mannargudi via Villupuram,

Mayiladuthurai Mayiladuthurai (formerly known as Mayavaram or Mayuram) is a town and district headquarter of Mayiladuthurai district in Tamil Nadu, India. The town is located at a distance of from the state capital, Chennai. Mayiladuthurai was ruled by Mediev ...

and

Thiruvarur Thiruvarur () also spelt as Tiruvarur is a town and municipality in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. It is the administrative headquarters of Thiruvarur district and Thiruvarur taluk. The temple chariot of the Thyagaraja temple, weighing and mea ...

in the Indian state of

Tamil Nadu Tamil Nadu (; , TN) is a States and union territories of India, state in southern India. It is the List of states and union territories of India by area, tenth largest Indian state by area and the List of states and union territories of India ...

. The traffic was opened in 2011.

History

This train initially ran through , , , , , Villupuram Junction, and reaches . But this train is rerouted via Nidamangalam Junction, , Mayiladuthurai Junction and continues till Chennai Egmore via the old existing route. Indian Railways had taken this decision due to some technical reasons caused by this train. But people from

Kumbakonam Kumbakonam (formerly spelt as Coombaconum or Combaconum) or Kudanthai is a city municipal corporation in the Thanjavur district in the States of India, Indian state of Tamil Nadu. It is located from Thanjavur and from Chennai and is the headq ...

Thanjavur Thanjavur (), also Tanjore, Pletcher 2010, p. 195 is a city in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. Thanjavur is the 11th biggest city in Tamil Nadu. Thanjavur is an important center of South Indian religion, art, and architecture. Most of the Gr ...

, started opposing railways decision. But this train is diverted via Thiruvarur Junction during mid of 2017 in the month of March after a long demand from the

and Cauvery Delta district peoples. The technical reasons railways quoted are: # This train causes 2 loco reversals (one at Nidamangalam Junction and another at Thanjavur Junction) which causes more technical difficulties and loss of time and fuel. #while operating this train in the newly diverted route, it can over come those loco reversal problems and it is a shorter distance for Mannargudi when compared with the old route.

Route and halts

This train is being operated via the main line and hauled by an electric locomotive from Chennai Egmore to Mannargudi.

Schedule

Coach composition

The Mannai Express Runs between Chennai Egmore and Mannargudi has a rake sharing agreement (RSA) with

Chendur Express The Chendur Express is an Express trains in India, Express train operated by Southern Railway zone of Indian railways. This train runs between Thiruchendur and Chennai Egmore. It is a daily overnight service and an important train of Tiruchendu ...

between Chennai and Tiruchendur. These two rakes are used for operating ''Mannargudi – Mayiladuthurai – Mannargudi (06403 / 06404)'' and ''Tiruchendur – Tirunelveli – Tiruchendur (06405/ 06406)'' passenger trains. It has one AC First Class, one Ac Two Tier, one AC Three Tier, nine Sleeper class, four Unreserved general sitting coach.

References

External links

16179 Mannai Express

16180 Mannai Express
{{Railways in Southern India Named passenger trains of India Rail transport in Tamil Nadu Railway services introduced in 2011 Transport in Chennai Transport in Mannargudi Express trains in India