Revised Chennai suburban train services throw life out of gear for commuters

CHENNAI: For thousands of office-goers and school and college students solely dependent on electric multiple units (EMUs) for their daily commute, day one of the revised suburban train operations to facilitate Egmore station redevelopment work began with confusion. They faced risky walks along railway tracks, snail-paced trains, packed platforms, delayed services and trains queuing on the same track during peak hour due to changes on the Chennai Beach–Tambaram stretch.

From Friday (Feb 20) as part of the ongoing redevelopment of Chennai Egmore railway station. The frequency of trains reduced to 164 services instead of the regular 204 services. The suburban trains shifted to platforms 5 and 6 from platforms 10 and 11. The revised schedule will be in force till April 5.


On Friday, the trains operated at a lower frequency, and the problem was compounded by delayed departures and arrivals at Egmore station, as it led to trains queuing on the same track and halting at adjacent stations such as Chennai Park, Chetpet and Nungambakkam. This forced people to get down from trains and walk on the track to reach their destination.

Railway officials maintained that the issues reported on Day 1 would be corrected, but commuters complained of poor planning by the railway officials, resulting in chaotic situations at railway stations across the stretch.

R Rishidharan, a college student who was going to get down at Nungambakkam, reached Egmore station promptly to catch the 7.50 am train, but was shocked to see a heavy crowd on the platform. “Though there were staffers to guide commuters to platforms 5 and 6, where the suburban trains are operated from instead of the regular platforms 11 and 12, commuters grew impatient over delayed operations. I boarded the train at 8.15 am, and I was told that it was originally scheduled to arrive at Egmore at 7.40 am. The train moved at a snail’s pace until Chetpet, and gathered pace moderately up to Nungambakkam,” he said. Rishidharan’s plight continued on his return journey as he found himself stuck in one of the three trains halted between Nungambakkam and Chetpet.

Vijayan, a secretariat staffer, said he started from Vandalur at 8am as usual to get down at Chennai Fort at 9.30am, but the trains slowed after Mambalam and halted at Chetpet. “Many staffers like me were stranded for more than 1 hour at Chetpet, and we reached the office at 10.30 am, one hour late,” he said.

Dharani, another commuter who boarded the suburban train at Tambaram at 8.45 am, said the train did not cross Chetpet yet. “Office-goers like me are severely affected due to this sudden change in train operations,” he said.

Railway officials said that the trains arriving from Tambaram slowed down after Chetpet and operated at a speed of 15 kmph, as the trains had to traverse five tracks to enter platform 5.

“The revised schedule and operations were arrived at after multiple deliberations to minimize passenger inconvenience, and MTC and CMRL were also requested to augment the services to cater to those affected by changes in suburban train operations,” said the official. “However, we are taking feedback from commuters and corrective measures will be taken,” the official added.