Southern Railway upgrades Chennai suburban trains to 12-car rakes; boosts capacity by 21%, adds space for 4 lakh more passengers
CHENNAI: Southern
has successfully upgraded all 9-car Electric Multiple Unit (EMU) trains to 12-car formations across major suburban routes, significantly enhancing Chennai's suburban rail capacity.
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The conversion was completed in stages at the Avadi EMU Car Shed.
The longer trains now operate on the Chennai Beach–Chengalpattu, Chennai Central–Arakkonam, and Chennai Central–Gummidipoondi/Sullurupeta lines, offering a 21% increase in seating capacity.
This upgrade aims to ease overcrowding, especially during peak travel times, and improve commuter comfort. The suburban rail network currently handles around 8.6 lakh daily passengers, while non-suburban services carry an additional 3.4 lakh.
The 12-car upgrade makes room for up to 4 lakh more passengers daily.
According to Railway officials, the move was made to improve safety and reduce congestion, particularly along the heavily used South West and North East corridors. The upgrade is part of Southern Railway's wider effort to modernise the suburban system and cater to rising passenger numbers.
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