Chennai suburban train services delayed by Tambaram signal failure

Chennai: Passengers, including office-goers, struggled to reach their destinations on time after suburban train services on the busy Chengalpattu–Tambaram–Chennai Beach corridor were disrupted on Friday morning. Officials said a signal failure near Tambaram station delayed several EMU services during peak hours.

Railway officials said the fault, reported around 8.50am, affected train movements on the Chengalpattu–Tambaram–Chennai Beach section, leading to delays and temporary halts at multiple stations. Several services heading towards Chennai Beach were detained at stations, including Guduvanchery, Urapakkam, Vandalur and Perungalathur. Services operating from Tambaram towards Chennai Beach were also affected, while fast EMU services on the corridor witnessed delays. Servies were restored around 9.15am.

“The visual display unit which monitors train movements at Tambaram station, went blank. Station master had to resort to hand signals, which affected trains, mostly EMU services, crossing Tambaram station,” a railway official said.

The disruption during morning rush hour affected office-goers, students and industrial workers travelling between the southern suburbs and various parts of the city.