The Southern Railway has announced that Chennai is set to receive its third Vande Bharat Express soon, with the Integral Coach Factory (ICF) in Chennai already having produced the rake for the train. This semi-high-speed carrier, equipped with eight coaches, is expected to make stops at Virudhnagar, Madurai, and Trichy along its route, as reported by The New Indian Express. Currently, the Nellai Express covers the 658 km distance in approximately 10 hours and 40 minutes, while the Kanyakumari and Nagercoil Express take around 11 hours. The new Vande Bharat Express is projected to depart from Tirunelveli in the morning and arrive at Chennai Egmore by the afternoon.
An official from the Madurai railway division expressed to TNIE that the introduction of the Vande Bharat Express will be a significant advantage for passengers traveling from Tirunelveli and Virudhunagar districts to Chennai. It is expected to not only alleviate the demand for night trains but also provide faster connectivity to the southern region. The Chennai-Tirunelveli-Nagercoil section typically experiences high demand, particularly during weekends and festive seasons. The introduction of the Vande Bharat Express is anticipated to ease the load on trains operating on this route.