A suburban EMU derailment at Chennai Fort railway station disrupted train services on the Chengalpattu–Tambaram–Chennai Beach section on Monday morning, forcing Southern Railway to alter departure points and routes for commuters. No passengers were injured, the railway said.
The EMU was travelling from Chengalpattu to Chennai Beach when one set of wheels on the train’s seventh coach came off the tracks on Platform 1 at around 10.30 am. Southern Railway deployed an Accident Relief Train for restoration work after the incident.
A preliminary inspection reportedly found that clips used to fasten the rails had come loose along a stretch of about 200 metres. Railway workers began repairs, but the exact cause of the derailment had not been established. The preliminary finding points to a track-maintenance issue, while the railway’s continuing inspection and rectification work will determine the final cause.
The disruption also affected another EMU approaching Chennai Fort behind the derailed train. That train had to brake suddenly and developed a brake fault, according to the report. It was subsequently restored, while senior Chennai Division officials monitored the recovery operation.
By 1 pm, the derailed wheels had been rerailed and the EMU was moved to Chennai Beach station. Clearance and rectification work continued after the train was removed, with railway personnel working to restore normal operations on the affected section.
Southern Railway shifted the departure point for trains bound for Tambaram and Chengalpattu to Chennai Park station. Services towards Tambaram were also being operated from Chennai Egmore, while trains from Chennai Beach towards Tambaram were running on the other line.
The changes affected one of Chennai’s important suburban rail corridors, which connects the city with densely populated areas along the southern suburban network. For passengers, the operational changes meant that journeys involving Chennai Beach, Chennai Park, Chennai Egmore, Tambaram and Chengalpattu required attention to revised boarding points and train movements.
The incident placed the condition of track components and the speed of railway restoration under immediate scrutiny, although the exact cause remained pending. The railway’s stated next steps were to complete clearance and rectification work while officials continued monitoring the affected location.
