16-07-2025
Station redevelopment works slow down suburban services on Chengalpattu-Beach route
Passengers of the suburban train services on the south section have been switching over to Metro trains as the Electrical multiple units (EMUs) from Chengalpattu to Beach via Tambaram have been facing operational delays during the morning peak hours.
This section has the highest commuter population — 9 lakh of the total 18 lakh who travel daily in suburban trains.
T. Vinoth Kumar, a regular commuter, said while the Southern Railway operates several services during the morning peak hours, all the trains are halted before the Egmore Railway Station to accommodate both the fast and slow services on the same platform, thereby causing delays.
After the fourth line between the Egmore and Beach stations got commissioned, the fast trains, which used to get precedence till Beach, have been operated as slow services from the Egmore station. 'Railway officials must take steps to prevent the operational delays,' Mr. Kumar said.
A. Joshna, another commuter, said the Egmore Railway Station had become a bottleneck, as the fast trains that operated on mail and express track used to halt at Platform 11 and would then be redirected to the third line or fast line towards Beach with stops at Park and Fort Stations. However, after the fourth line was commissioned, the platform where fast trains halted at the Fort station was demolished.
The Railway officials are now forced to accommodate both the fast and slow trains on the track for slow trains from Egmore to Beach station, leading to congestion and delays, she said.
A senior official of the Chennai Division said they were working to prevent the delays caused by speed restrictions imposed in view of the ongoing station redevelopment works, including at Guindy, Saidapet, and Mambalam, under the Amrit Bharat Station Scheme.
While the Railway officials are working to remove the speed restrictions in phases, it is not feasible for fast trains to skip any of the two stations (Park and Fort), as they are vital links to the Central Railway Station and the Moore Market Complex Station, and the Secretariat respectively.
