From Pondicherry to Madurai or Mudumulai ??

How to get from Pondicherry to Madurai. Trains??? We want to avoid busses and I can't find any trains even from Villupuram or Cuddalore to Madurai.

Anybody know???

Multi Train Routes:
--------------
Train No/ Name | arrive | depart | Hours | Distance | Days Departing
2897 PDY BBS EXPRESS Source 18:15 0 hrs, 40 min 38km - - Wed - - - -
Layover (VILLUPARAM JN) 18:55 20:05 1 hrs, 10 min
2633 KANYAKUMARI EXP 02:05 02:10 6 hrs, 0 min 338km
------------- -------
Total Hours/Distance 7 hrs, 50 min 376km


--------------
Train No/ Name | arrive | depart | Hours | Distance | Days Departing
2897 PDY BBS EXPRESS Source 18:15 0 hrs, 40 min 38km - - Wed - - - -
Layover (VILLUPARAM JN) 18:55 19:45 0 hrs, 50 min
M609 MLMR TSI EXP 02:30 02:40 6 hrs, 45 min 338km
------------- -------
Total Hours/Distance 8 hrs, 15 min 376km


--------------
Train No/ Name | arrive | depart | Hours | Distance | Days Departing
2897 PDY BBS EXPRESS Source 18:15 0 hrs, 40 min 38km - - Wed - - - -
Layover (VILLUPARAM JN) 18:55 19:45 0 hrs, 50 min
M629 MLMR MNM EXP 02:30 02:40 6 hrs, 45 min 338km
------------- -------
Total Hours/Distance 8 hrs, 15 min 376km


--------------
Train No/ Name | arrive | depart | Hours | Distance | Days Departing
2897 PDY BBS EXPRESS Source 18:15 0 hrs, 40 min 38km - - Wed - - - -
Layover (VILLUPARAM JN) 18:55 21:15 2 hrs, 20 min
2693 PEARL CITY EXP 03:05 03:10 5 hrs, 50 min 338km
------------- -------
Total Hours/Distance 8 hrs, 50 min


376km


www.indigroove.com

EDIT NOTE- ignore this post, see next post.

There are 3 trains a day from Pondi to Madurai (I think), a morning, late afternoon and an overnight train, but all only have unreserved 2nd class and can't be booked, so they won't appear on any website.

(I was sure that one of the trains had Sleeper Class (the overnight) but I've no way of checking at the moment.

Oh, forget my last post, I just realised an error in my head, in the imaginary map I have in my head I keep getting 2 branch lines mixed up, and the above info is for Rameswaram to Madurai.

Pondi to Villuparam Jn is about 38kms, from Villuparam there are many daily trains to Madurai.

The best timed trains include: -

Train 6127, Villuparam Jn 10:30, Madurai 16:10 (2A, 3A, SL, 2S.)
Train 2635, Villuparam Jn 14:45, Madurai 20:15 (CC, 2S.)
Train 2631, Villuparam Jn 23:45, Madurai 05:20 (2A, FC, 3A, SL.)
Train 2637, Villuparam Jn 23:55, Madurai 06:15 (1A, 2A, FC, 3A, SL.)

Thanks all of you- it helped a lot!!

When searching on the India Rail site it is important to search for Villuparam not Villupuram.

Usually, you have to book well in advance to get tickets for the route Pondicherry to Madurai. We tried a few weeks in advance earlier in the year, and the waitlist was over 400.

And you should definitely avoid travelling by bus from Pondicherry to Madurai. I usually prefer buses to trains (yes, I know that is mad), but this particular route is terrible. Due to the waitlist we had to travel by bus, but thought that since the bus was described as semi deluxe we would be okay. Afterall, we had, a week before, travelled on a semi deluxe bus from Kumily to Pondicherry (11½ hours) which we survived without major discomfort. However, this was a bus registered in Pondicherry. The bus from Pondicherry to Madurai is a Tamil bus. From what I could gather, the only difference between a standard Tamil bus and a semi deluxe Tamil bus is that the seat rests on the semi deluxe bus are slightly higher.

I am not particularly tall (6.1 or 185cm), but there is no way for me to fit my legs behind the seat in front on a Tamil bus. Add to this that the roads from Pondicherry to Madurai are uncharacteristically bad for Tamil roads, and that you, if you are above average height, will have to sit sideways for the entire 8½ hours the trip lasts, and you have a recipe for a week of bone aches.

By the way, this particular bus leaves the bus station in Pondicherry at 21.30 should anyone want an experience for life. I am not aware of any proper luxury buses for this route.