A Chennai suburban train derailment near Fort railway station disrupted services on the Beach–Chengalpattu via Tambaram section on October 5, before Southern Railway completed re-railing work and restored normal operations by 12.15 p.m. No injuries were reported in the incident.
The electrical multiple unit (EMU) train was travelling from Chengalpattu towards Chennai Beach when one set of wheels on its seventh coach derailed near Fort railway station at around 10.30 a.m., according to a senior Southern Railway official. The train was stopped after the incident, while railway staff began restoration work.
An accident relief train was deployed immediately, and maintenance personnel were assigned to re-rail the affected wheel. Senior officials from the Chennai Division of Southern Railway were present at the site and monitored the work, the official said.
The derailment affected one line on the Beach–Chengalpattu via Tambaram section. The other line continued to operate normally, according to Southern Railway. Some incoming trains bound for Chennai Beach were stopped at Park and Egmore railway stations and operated towards Tambaram while restoration work was under way.
A suburban train proceeding from Tambaram towards Chennai Beach was also held for about an hour for repairs before it departed, according to information released after the incident. The railway administration said the rectification work, including re-railing the wheel, was successfully completed at 12.15 p.m.
The affected route is a key suburban rail connection serving passengers travelling between Chennai Beach, Tambaram and Chengalpattu. The temporary operating changes at Park, Egmore and Tambaram allowed services to continue on the unaffected line while railway teams worked at the site.
Southern Railway said services returned to normal after the re-railing operation was completed. The cause of the derailment was not specified in the information released on Monday.
