This train is named after the Nilgiri (Tamil : English - (Nil - Blue; giri - Mountain)) Hills.

The train is primarily intended for travellers to these hills, especially to the towns of Ooty, Kotagiri and Coonoor.

Mettupalayam is near Coimbatore, which is at the foot of these hills, and the Nilgiri Express links to the Nilagiri passenger train operated by the Nilgiri Mountain Railway (NMR) at Mettupalayam railway station, enabling passengers to complete the journey to Udagamandalam by rail.

It still exist past NMR UNESCO World Heritage Tag in 1994 with Ooty Mettupalayam Passenger acts as connecting train.

The 38 kilometres (24 mi)Coimbatore-Mettupalayam stretch was electrified in 2007, and the same locomotive is used to haul the train in this section in both directions.