JOURNEY TIME REDUCED BY HALF - 473

  JOURNEY TIME REDUCED BY       

                      HALF 


50 years back , the train journey from what was the then MADRAS or the present day CHENNAI to TIRUNELVELI by the Tirunelveli Express took all of 18 hours . Starting at Egmore at 5.30 pm the Electric / Steam Locomotive driven train would reach at 10.30 AM the next morning . I have made umpteen trips on this route from my early childhood days under the care of my parents . The very same train used to take a little more than 12 hours for the Egmore to Madurai leg of the journey . This was on the Meter Gauge then  with the change of Electric Locomotive to the Coal Fired Steam Locomotive at VILLUPURAM .

I recently had an opportunity to travel by the Chennai Egmore / Madurai Junction - TEJAS EXPRESS . The Train departed from Egmore at 6 am sharp and arrived at Madurai Junction at 11 40 Am , taking just 5 Hours and 40 Minutes to traverse the distance . The Ambiance both inside and outside the coach plus the catering services provided on an airline model was a pleasant experience. 

TRAIN TRAVEL HAS COME A LONG WAY NOW 


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