Tirunelveli - Chennai Vande Bharat Express: New service cuts travel time to 8 hours; here's everything you need to know about it

economictimes.indiatimes.com:

Narendra Modi is all set to reveal the much-anticipated Tirunelveli — Chennai Vande Bharat Express Train. This high-speed train will link Tirunelveli and Chennai, making the journey more convenient for travelers. The inaugural event will be held through a video conference from New Delhi on Sunday, September 24.

The Tirunelveli — Chennai Vande Bharat Express will set off from Tirunelveli Junction at 6 a.m. The train is expected to reach Chennai at 1.50 p.m. For the return journey, the train will depart from Chennai at 2.50 p.m. and arrive in Tirunelveli at 10.40 p.m.

One of the main advantages of this new service is the reduced travel time. It will take less than eight hours to travel between Chennai and Tirunelveli, a significant improvement from the 11 to 12 hours it currently takes on regular express trains.

The Vande Bharat Express comes with some impressive features:

• It has an average speed of 83.30 kmph and can cover a distance of 652 km in both directions in just 7 hours and 50 minutes.
• The train will make stops at Virudhunagar, Madurai, Dindigul, Tiruchy, Villupuram, and Tambaram.
• It will be operational on all days except Tuesdays.

The successful trial run of the Vande Bharat Express, including its journey through Pazhavanthangal in Chennai, assures passengers of its reliability. Ticket reservations for the Chennai — Tirunelveli Vande Bharat Express have already begun.

For those curious about the fares, here's what you can expect:

• For travel in ordinary AC coaches, it's Rs 1,620 (including GST).
• If you choose first-class AC coaches, the cost is Rs 3,025, which includes catering charges of Rs 300 for ordinary AC passengers and Rs 370 for executive-seat car passengers.

Adding to the good news, Southern Railway will