| Mannai Express | |
| Type: | Mail/Express |
| Status: | Active |
| Locale: | Tamil Nadu |
| Ridership: | Express |
| Operator: | Southern Railway zone |
| Start: | (MS) |
| End: | (MQ) |
| Distance: | 357km (222miles) |
| Journeytime: | 07 hours 05 minutes |
| Frequency: | Daily |
| Trainnumber: | 16179 / 16180 |
| Line Used: | MS ↔ MV Main Line / MV ↔ NMJ Main Line / NMJ ↔ MQ Line (Two Rake Reversal) |
| Class: | 1A, 2A, 3A, SL, GS & SLRD |
| Stops: | 07 |
| Seating: | Yes |
| Sleeping: | Yes |
| Catering: | No |
| Observation: | Large windows in all carriages |
| Entertainment: | No |
| Stock: | WAP-4 from Arakkonam, Erode Electric Loco Shed |
| El: | 25kV AC, 50 Hz (Overhead line) |
| Speed: |
|
| Maintenance: | Tirunelveli Yard |
| Sharing: |
|
The Mannai Express is an express train operated by the Southern Railway zone of the Indian Railways. This train connects Chennai Egmore and Mannargudi via Villupuram, Mayiladuthurai and Thiruvarur in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. The traffic was opened in 2011.[1]
This train initially ran through,,,,, Villupuram Junction, and reaches . But this train is rerouted via Nidamangalam Junction,, Mayiladuthurai Junction and continues till Chennai Egmore via the old existing route. Indian Railways had taken this decision due to some technical reasons caused by this train. But people from Kumbakonam, Thanjavur, started opposing railways decision. But this train is diverted via Thiruvarur Junction during mid of 2017 in the month of March after a long demand from the Thiruvarur and Cauvery Delta district peoples.[2] After Sept 16 2023, There is an additional stoppage given by Indian Railways at Koradacheri on both directions. The technical reasons railways quoted are:
This train is being operated via the main line and hauled by an electric locomotive from Chennai Egmore to Mannargudi.
| 16179 ~ Chennai Egmore → Mannargudi | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Station Name | Station Code | Arrival | Departure | Day |
| Chennai Egmore | MS | - | 22:55 | 1 |
| Tambaram | TBM | 23:23 | 23:25 | |
| Chengalpattu Junction | CGL | 23:53 | 23:55 | |
| Villupuram Junction | VM | 01:25 | 01:30 | 2 |
| Chidambaram | CDM | 03:33 | 03:35 | |
| Mayiladuthurai Junction | MV | 04:13 | 04:15 | |
| Thiruvarur Junction | TVR | 04:53 | 04:55 | |
| Koradacheri | KDE | 05:11 | 05:12 | |
| Needamangalam Junction | NMJ | 05:22 | 05:24 | |
| Mannargudi | MQ | 06:20 | - | |
| 16180 ~ Mannargudi → Chennai Egmore | ||||
| Mannargudi | MQ | - | 22:35 | 1 |
| Needamangalam Junction | NMJ | 22:52 | 22:54 | |
| Koradacheri | KDE | 23:04 | 23:05 | |
| Thiruvarur Junction | TVR | 23:18 | 23:20 | |
| Mayiladuthurai Junction | MV | 00:03 | 00:05 | 2 |
| Chidambaram | CDM | 00:38 | 00:40 | |
| Villupuram Junction | VM | 02:45 | 02:50 | |
| Chengalpattu Junction | CGL | 04:08 | 04:10 | |
| Tambaram | TBM | 04:38 | 04:40 | |
| Mambalam | MBM | 04:58 | 05:00 | |
| Chennai Egmore | MS | 05:30 | - | |
The Mannai Express runs between Chennai Egmore and Mannargudi has a rake sharing agreement (RSA) with Chendur Express between Chennai and Tiruchendur. These two rakes are used for operating Mannargudi – Mayiladuthurai – Mannargudi (06403 / 06404) and Tiruchendur – Tirunelveli – Tiruchendur (06405/ 06406) passenger trains.[3]
It has one AC First Class, one Ac Two Tier, one AC Three Tier, nine Sleeper class, four Unreserved general sitting coach.