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

Indian Railways Indian Railways is a state-owned enterprise that is organised as a departmental undertaking of the Ministry of Railways (India), Ministry of Railways of the Government of India and operates India's national railway system. , it manages the fou ...

. This train connects

Chennai Egmore Chennai Egmore (formerly: Madras Egmore, also known as Chennai Elumbur)(station code: MS), is an NSG–1 category Indian railway station in Chennai railway division of Southern Railway zone. Situated in the neighborhood of Egmore, it is one ...

and

Mannargudi Mannargudi () is a Municipality in Thiruvarur district in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. It is the headquarters of the Mannargudi Taluk, Mannargudi taluk. The town is located at a distance of from the district headquarters Thiruvarur, 12 ...

via

Villupuram Viluppuram, Villupuram, or Vizhuppuram () is a municipality and the administrative headquarters of Viluppuram district. Located south west of a Tiruvannamalai and north west of Cuddalore null The town serves as a major and largest railway ...

Mayiladuthurai Mayiladuthurai (formerly known as Mayavaram or Mayuram) is a :ta:சிறப்பு நிலை நகராட்சிகள், Special Grade Municipality and district headquarters of Mayiladuthurai district in Tamil Nadu, India. The town ...

and

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

in the Indian state of

Tamil Nadu Tamil Nadu (; , TN) is the southernmost States and union territories of India, state of India. 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 Indi ...

. 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 hea ...

Thanjavur Thanjavur (), also known as Thanjai, previously known as Tanjore, Pletcher 2010, p. 195 is a city in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. It is the 12th biggest city in Tamil Nadu. Thanjavur is an important center of southern Indian religion, art ...

, 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. After Sept 16 2023, There is an additional stoppage given by Indian Railways at Koradacheri on both directions. 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 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