South-bound travellers from Chennai to get new Antyodaya Express from November 1

By Express News Service  |   Published: 25th October 2017 08:02 AM  |  

CHENNAI: Southern Railway will introduce two Antyodaya Express, fully unreserved daily trains between Chennai and Southern Tamil Nadu, according to the new timetable that will come into effect from November 1.

It is learnt that a train comprising 16-second sitting (2S) coaches will start at 12.30am at Tambaram and will reach Tirunelveli at 3.30 pm, via Villupuram, Mayiladuthurai, Tiruchirappalli and Madurai. On its return journey it will leave Tirunelveli at 9.45 pm and will reach Tambaram the next day at 5.30 pm.
Another Antyodaya Express to Sengottai will leave Tambaram at 7 am and will reach Sengottai at 10.30pm.

The train will be operated via Villupuram, Mayiladuthurai, Tiruchchirappalli, Aruppukottai, Virudhunagar, Rajapayalam and Tenkasi. Similarly, the train would start at 10.30pm at Sengottai and reach Tambaram at 6.00am.

The two unreserved trains will come as a big relief to southern district rail passengers as these sectors have huge demands throughout the year. “The new trains will be flagged off by Railway Minister and the date will be notified soon,” said a railway official.

Another much-awaited demand of Southern Railway passengers — AC Express during the weekend — also has been included in the timetable. From November 3, Chennai Central-Madurai AC Express will run on Fridays. The return will be on Saturdays.

“The existing Chennai-Madurai bi-weekly Duronto Express will continue to run on Mondays and Wednesdays. The ticket fares will be less in AC Express compared to Duronto. Based on popularity of the AC Express, Duronto may be completely converted into an AC Express in future,” Railway sources said.
The new timetable has also got two Humsafar, three-tier AC Sleeper Expresses for Tamil Nadu.

A three-tier AC Express train will be operated from Tambaram to Bhagat Ki Kothi (Rajasthan) on Fridays, while another Humsafar train from Tirunelveli to Gandhidham (Gujarat) will run on Thursdays. The date of commencement of the train will be announced shortly.

With effect from October 31 Chennai-Palani Super Fast Express will be extended up to Palakkad.

The extension of Chennai Egmore-Thiruvananthpuram Ananthapuri Express to Kollam and Thiruvanathapuram-Palakkad Amritha Express to Madurai will also begin on the same day.