Vande Bharat is the fastest, but Tejas arrives early: Chennai to Madurai Vande Bharat, Vaigai superfast trains face 8-17 minutes delay while Tejas express reaches destination before scheduled time
1/7
Fastest Train Is Not The Most On Time
Here is a surprise for Chennai-Madurai travellers. Vande Bharat (20665/20666) is the fastest train from Chennai to Madurai. But a six month check of running records shows it reaches Madurai 17 minutes late on average. Vaigai Express (12635/12636) is eight minutes late. Tejas Express (22671/22672) is the only one that arrives before schedule.
2/7
Meet The Three Trains
Three trains fight for passengers on this route. Vaigai Superfast Express (12635/12636) runs daily. Tejas Express (22671/22672) is a premium chair car train. Vande Bharat Express (20665/20666) runs from Chennai Egmore to Tirunelveli and stops at Madurai. A six month study checked how on time each one really is.
3/7
Vande Bharat Is Fastest But Often Late
Vande Bharat (20665/20666) is still the fastest. It finishes the Chennai-Madurai run about 80 to 90 minutes ahead of Vaigai. But it reaches Madurai 17 minutes late on average. It reaches Dindigul 22 minutes behind schedule and wins back only five minutes after that.
4/7
Vaigai Is Slower But More Punctual
Vaigai Express (12635/12636) takes longer, but it keeps time better than Vande Bharat. On average, it reaches Madurai eight minutes behind schedule. Vande Bharat is 17 minutes late. On October 24, Vaigai Superfast Express left Chennai Egmore 10 minutes late. It then hit a nearly 20-minute delay near Kodambakkam due to track maintenance. Despite all that, it covered the 430-km stretch from Chengalpattu to Madurai in just 5 hours and 35 minutes.
5/7
Tejas Beats The Clock
Tejas Express (22671/22672) is the surprise winner. It reaches Madurai 12 minutes before schedule on average. It reaches Dindigul 18 minutes late, then recovers 30 minutes on the last stretch. A Southern Railway official said it gets a generous timetable allowance and fewer signal stops.
6/7
Tejas Is Almost As Fast
Vande Bharat’s lead over Tejas is small. It is just five minutes faster towards Madurai and nine minutes faster towards Chennai. Vande Bharat is also the costlier ticket. So passengers paying premium fares can fairly ask if such a little saved time is worth it.
7/7
Why Vande Bharat Cannot Go Faster
Vande Bharat is built to run up to 160 kmph. But the Chennai-Trichy tracks allow only 110 kmph. An official said curves, tight junctions and old signalling hold it back. Unfenced stretches add risk from cattle and trespassers. Upgrades for 130 kmph are under way.(Inputs from TOI)