Vande Bharat Expansion: Chennai To Get Two More Trains On Sep 24

Chennai is set to welcome two new Vande Bharat Trains this weekend, operating between Vijayawada and Chennai, as well as Tirunelveli and Chennai. The inauguration of these Vande Bharat Express trains is expected on Sunday, September 24. These additions will be part of a total of nine Vande Bharat Express trains to be inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi after his Mann ki Baat session on Sunday.

The Vijayawada-Chennai train will follow the route via Renigunta and will serve passengers heading to Tirupati. It is expected to cover the distance in approximately 6.40 hours, with stops at Renigunta, Gudur, Nellore, Ongole, and Tenali.

Furthermore, Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to inaugurate the Tirunelveli - Chennai Vande Bharat Express Train through a video conference on Sunday. The first train's inaugural run will depart from Tirunelveli Junction around noon and is projected to reach the capital city in approximately 7.5 hours. Before the official launch event, the train will undergo mandatory trials and return to its starting location on Thursday. In addition to this, Southern Railway is also set to receive two additional Vande Bharat trains on Sunday.

Following the initial run, the Tirunelveli-Chennai train is expected to depart at 6 am and reach Chennai around 1:50 pm. The return journey will commence at 2:50 pm daily, except for Tuesdays, from the state capital. Reports suggest that the train will maintain an average speed of 83.30 km/h and make stops at Virudhunagar, Madurai, Dindigul, and Tiruchi.

Fare prices have not yet been disclosed, and the total number of coaches may vary depending on demand. This expansion marks Tamil Nadu's third Vande Bharat route, following the launch of the Chennai-Mysuru Vande Bharat Express in November of the previous year, and subsequently the Chennai-Coimbatore Vande Bharat train.

These developments come shortly after officials confirmed the rollout of the first Vande Metro in January next year, followed by the introduction of the Vande Bharat sleeper train in March 2024. Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw also announced on September 5 that Madhya Pradesh's Neemuch would soon receive a Vande Bharat Express.