Chennai Metro Rail Limited will begin passenger services on the Yellow Line at 6 am from October 23, bringing forward the start of operations on the 15-km Phase II Corridor 4 stretch between Poonamallee Bypass and Vadapalani. The revised schedule follows commuter feedback and will cover all 11 elevated stations on the corridor.
Services will run in both directions from 6 am to 9 pm, with the last trains departing from Poonamallee Bypass and Vadapalani at 9 pm. The change is intended to improve access for passengers travelling during the early morning, particularly those commuting towards Vadapalani and Poonamallee.
From Monday to Saturday, trains will operate every 10 minutes during the morning peak period from 8 am to 11 am and the evening peak period from 5 pm to 8 pm. During non-peak hours, including the period between 6 am and 8 am, trains will run at 15-minute intervals.
On Sundays and public holidays, the Yellow Line will operate every 15 minutes throughout the day. The service window on those days will remain from 6 am to 9 pm, without a separate peak-hour frequency.
The revised timings apply to the stretch on which Chennai Metro Rail Limited commenced regular passenger services on October 11. The Yellow Line is part of Phase II Corridor 4 and connects the western side of the city with Vadapalani through an elevated alignment.
The earlier start time responds to a practical gap in the corridor’s initial operating schedule: passengers beginning work, education or other travel before the morning peak had limited access to the new metro service. By starting trains at 6 am, the operator is extending the usable service window while retaining a 15-minute frequency during the first two operating hours.
The schedule also establishes different operating patterns for weekdays and Sundays or public holidays. Weekday passengers will receive more frequent services during the morning and evening peaks, while the full-day frequency on Sundays and holidays will remain at one train every 15 minutes.
The service timings and frequencies announced by CMRL apply to both directions of the 15-km route. Trains will continue to operate until 9 pm, with the final departures from both terminals scheduled for that time.
