Why is the Tamil Nadu Super Fast Express so famous and a big deal among rail enthusiasts?

ABOUT TAMILNADU EXPRESS

• The Tamilnadu SF Express is a superfast express train in Indian Railways which runs between New Delhi and Chennai Central.
• The train operates as train number 12621 from MGR Chennai Central to New Delhi and as train number 12622 in the reverse direction.
• The 12621 Tamilnadu SF Express departs MGR Chennai Central at 10:00 pm on daily basis and arrives New Delhi at 07:05 am on the third day of commencing of journey. The total travel time is 33 hours 05 minutes.
• The 12622 Tamilnadu SF Express departs New Delhi at 10:30 pm on daily basis and arrives MGR Chennai Central at 07:10 am on the third day of commencing of journey. The total travel time is 32 hours 40 minutes.
• The train travels 2,182 kilometers between New Delhi and MGR Chennai Central.
• The train is being operated by Southern Railway zone of Indian Railways.
• The train runs with ICF rake of 24 coaches in which there are 2 AC III tier coach, 3 AC II tier coach, 1 AC II tier cum AC First Class, 13 sleeper coach, 1 pantry car, 2 unreserved coach and 2 Seating cum Luggage Rake (SLR).
• The train is hauled by a electric locomotive WAP-4 of ED shed or WAP-7 of RPM shed.

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Stoppages of Tamilnadu Express

The stoppages of the train between New Delhi and MGR Chennai Central are :-

• Agra Cantt (AGC).
• Gwalior Jn (GWL).
• Jhansi Jn (JHS).
• Bhopal Jn (BPL).
• Itarsi Jn (ET).
• Nagpur Jn (NGP).
• Balharshah Jn (BPQ).
• Warangal (WL).
• Vijayawada Jn (BZA).

Note :- The train Tamilnadu SF Express (12621) has an additional stop at Hazrat Nizamuddin (NZM).

So, there are total 10 stoppages of Tamilnadu SF Express (12621) whereas 09 stoppages of Tamilnadu SF Express (12622).

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Coming to the main question regarding why is the Tamilnadu SF Express so famous and a big deal among all rail enthusiasts?

There are several factors behind the question that why the train Tamilnadu SF Express so famous and a big deal among all rail enthusiasts. The factors are listed below :-

TRAIN SERVICE

• The inaugural date of Tamilnadu SF Express from MGR Chennai Central was 7 August, 1976 and from New Delhi was 8 August, 1976.
• Tamilnadu SF Express runs on the same route in which Grand Trunk SF Express runs. The train is the second oldest running train between New Delhi and Chennai after Grand Trunk SF Express (inaugurated in the year 1929).
• The train operates on daily basis between New Delhi and Chennai which makes train famous and popular. Many other trains operates on weekly, bi-weely or tri-weekly basis.

TRAVEL TIME

• The total travel time of Tamilnadu SF Express from MGR Chennai Central to New Delhi is 33 hours 05 minutes whereas from New Delhi to MGR Chennai Central is 32 hours 40 minutes.
• Due to less travel time as compared to other trains like Grand Trunk SF Express, the train is more popular among the people travelling between Chennai and New Delhi.

ACCIDENTS

• Tamilnadu SF Express train has made a history by meeting with different accidents like derailment, collision, fire. In today's time, the train is a accident-prone train in Indian Railways.
• Before the period of 1990s, the train has met with 9 out of 10 total accidents at different locations like Vijayawada, Kazipet, Nagpur - Itarsi section etc.
• Accidents has made the train famous and a big deal among the mass media, travellers in the train.

SPEED

• The present average speed of the train is 66 km/hr between New Delhi and MGR Chennai Central.
• The average speed was 75 km/hr. It was reduced to 66 km/hr after the third accident of the train at Asifabad Road railway station in the year 1981.
• In this accident, 15 passengers were killed and 39 were injured.
• The train operates at more average speed as compared to other superfast trains.
• So, speed of the train is greatly affected by the accidents and this has made a big deal among the travellers and rail enthusiasts.

PRIORITY

• Tamilnadu SF Express is a superfast express train of Indian Railways.
• Though, the train does not belong to premium category like Rajdhani Express, the train gets the highest priority on the tracks of Indian Railways like Rajdhani Express.
• The train never gets delayed while running between New Delhi and Chennai, arrives station before the scheduled time.
• The train gets signal on time and all these things makes a famous train among the people and travellers between New Delhi and Chennai.

FARE

• The Tamilnadu SF Express train is a non-premium category train running between New Delhi and Chennai.
• So, the fare in this train is same as other superfast trains as per the class of travel.
• Fare plays an important role in deciding the train to go from one place to another.
• Because of less travel time as compared to other superfast trains and less fare as compared to premium trains, the train is in high demand for travellers between New Delhi and Chennai.

So, the above listed 6 factors makes Tamilnadu SF Express train so famous, popular and a big deal among people, travellers and rail enthusiasts.

IMAGES: Google. 

Source: Ankit Barnawal