Comfort with qualms
Every day, battling the harsh summer, commuters often wish for a respite. This wish came true in the form of air-conditioned buses first, and then, the metro trains. As an extension of this, Chennai city — one that is connected seamlessly by MRTS and suburban trains — welcomes air-conditioned EMU covering two routes, Chennai Beach to Tambaram, and Chennai Beach to Chengalpattu.
For someone who is used to the comfort and connectivity of the Chennai Metro, this newly introduced train certainly sparked a tinge of curiosity. When I arrived at the Nungambakkam station, a wave of excitement took over, with several questions running through my mind — would it be crowded like other MRTS trains? Will it look the same as the metro?
At this point, a railway policeman asked, 'Entha train-ku wait pandringa? (For which train are you waiting?)'. 'AC train, sir,' I replied. After a 10-minute wait, the AC MRTS rolled on the tracks with coaches barely filled.
The AC EMU services commenced on April 19, with a total of six services — Chennai Beach-Tambaram (two services) and Chennai Beach-Chengalpattu (four services). Initially, these services ran six days a week, except Sunday. Later, in May, four additional services were introduced to cater for the needs of office-goers and students. Currently, eight services run from Chennai Beach-Tambaram-Chengalpattu on weekdays, and one service runs on weekends. Yet, at first glance, in almost two months, only a few opt for this train.
When asked about the difference between normal EMUs and AC EMUs, a railway engineer, who requested anonymity, shared, 'Apart from the air-conditioning, AC EMUs use energy-efficient regenerative Electro-Pneumatic brakes, saving up to 35% of electrical energy compared to the normal EMUs.'
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Time of India
4 days ago
- Time of India
St Thomas Mt to be key S Chennai hub
Chennai: To streamline operations and eliminate mid-journey transfers, Chennai Metro Rail Limited (CMRL) is extending corridor five from Alandur to St Thomas Mount with a new 1.25km elevated viaduct. The new link, running parallel to the existing elevated structure, will have two tacks for up trains and two for down — transforming Mount into a full-scale interchange between corridors two (St Thomas Mount-Chennai Central) and five (Madhavaram-Sholinganallur). As per the original plan, commuters travelling from Madhavaram towards southern suburbs such as Madipakkam, Medavakkam, or Sholinganallur had to get down at Alandur and board another train to continue. With the revised alignment, trains can now run uninterrupted. You Can Also Check: Chennai AQI | Weather in Chennai | Bank Holidays in Chennai | Public Holidays in Chennai To make space for this expanded alignment, CMRL acquired additional land and will also demolish portions of corridor two infrastructure near Railway Station Road, adjusting curves to accommodate the new link, said T Archunan, director (projects), CMRL. He also mentioned that a new building and passenger facilities will come up at Mount on vacant land, establishing it as a key southern transit node, on par with Alandur. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Cuối cùng, chơi miễn phí game chiến thuật hay nhất 2025! Sea of Conquest Phát ngay Undo The project gains greater significance as St Thomas Mount is also set to connect with the MRTS network, though the last leg from Velachery has remained incomplete for more than a decade. Commuters welcomed CMRL's initiative but criticised Southern Railway for the stagnation. "CMRL is working with long-term passenger convenience in mind. But Southern Railway has left the MRTS stretch hanging for years," said V Shankar, a Velachery commuter. "If MRTS was handed over to CMRL, it would've been completed by now." Southern Railway said in the past that delays on the Velachery–Mount MRTS leg were due to metro work. CMRL officials, however, said that all related metro work on that stretch near Thillai Ganga Nagar and Mount was completed long ago, and that the delay is unrelated to their operations. With CMRL targeting a 2026 launch for corridor five, commuters hope that if the MRTS leg is handed over in time, both networks could open together, finally bridging one of the city's most stubborn connectivity gaps.
Time of India
7 days ago
- Time of India
Southern Railway claims Chennai AC EMU ridership rising, but fare concerns persist
By Ramyasre N CHENNAI: Facing criticism over poor patronage, Southern Railway has now claimed that Chennai's airconditioned (AC) EMU suburban trains are witnessing a steady rise in footfall. In a press release issued on Monday, the Chennai division said average daily ridership on the Beach–Chengalpet and Tambaram–Chengalpet sections rose from 1,488 in April to 2,571 in May and further to 2,800 in June. These figures come weeks after visuals of near-empty AC EMU rakes during peak hours went viral, prompting questions about affordability and route utility. With fares marginally higher than first-class tickets on regular EMUs and on a par with Chennai Metro or AC buses for comparable distances, many commuters said the service remains out of reach for daily use. Railway officials say revised schedules, introduced in May, and improved connectivity at key stations like Tambaram, Guindy, Mambalam and Chengalpet have contributed to better occupancy. Eight AC services are currently in operation. However, the numbers, while rising, still represent a fraction of suburban ridership. Officials expect further growth with the eventual integration of the St Thomas Mount–Velachery MRTS section with Chennai Metro under a proposed multimodal transport system.
Indian Express
19-06-2025
- Indian Express
Beat the Heat for rupees 29: Eastern Railway to Launch Budget Air-Conditioned Suburban Train Service
(Written by Debasmita Chowdhury) The Eastern Railway zone is running trials for air-conditioned suburban train services which officials said will be offered at significantly low fares. It has received its first AC EMU (Electric Multiple Unit) train manufactured at Integral Coach Factory, Chennai, which has been deployed to the Sealdah Division for testing and trial runs. A second AC EMU rake is expected to arrive shortly at the Eastern Railway Jurisdiction. Officials say that the inaugural service, which is to be operated on the Sealdah-Ranaghat route once the trials are concluded, will offer competitive fares of Rs 29 for journeys up to 10 km and Rs 37 for distances of 11-15 km. Monthly season tickets are priced at Rs 590 and Rs 780 respectively. Dr Uday Shankar Jha, Principal Chief Commercial Manager, Eastern Railway, said, 'It is a matter of great pride that the eastern part of the country, Eastern Railway, is taking the lead to introduce ACAMU services.' He stated that the air-conditioned coaches would provide relief from 'extreme heat, extreme rush, and so many other related discomforts' that suburban passengers currently face. Jha also said, 'Initially, it is believed that AC travel will be very costly, but Indian Railways has introduced a fair scheme which is much more competitive and in comparison to roadways, it is almost 10 times cheaper'. The 12-coach trains will feature stainless steel construction with end-to-end connectivity through sealed vestibule gangways, allowing free movement between compartments. Each coach has four electrically operated sliding doors per side controlled by drivers, three-seater stainless steel seats, and enhanced air circulation systems for approximately 1,100 passengers. Additional amenities include CCTV surveillance, wear-resistant rubber flooring, aluminium extruded modular luggage racks, GPS-based passenger information displays, and large double-sealed windows to enhance the comfort of the passengers. 'Passengers will be able to commute from their home to their office in a pleasant condition and even carry out office work during travel due to better seating and air circulation, hence getting a double benefit,' said Jha. Eastern Railway officials indicate that the service will meet growing suburban passenger demands while modernising rail travel in the Kolkata metropolitan area at a very affordable price. Commercial operations will begin after completion of the current testing and trial runs.
