Chennai Train Disruptions Expected as Fourth Line Work Begins on Egmore Beach Route
Passengers arriving from southern districts to Chennai Egmore are expected to face significant disruptions in train services as the railway authorities undertake crucial construction work on the fourth line connecting Chennai Beach to Egmore. The work, which is aimed at enhancing the capacity of this busy route, will cause many long-distance trains to halt at intermediate stations, including Chengalpet, Tambaram, and Mambalam, resulting in a number of short-terminations, partial cancellations, and diversions.
Trains coming from major southern cities like Karaikudi, Mannargudi, Tirunelveli, Mandapam, and Tuticorin will not proceed all the way to Chennai Egmore during this period. Passengers travelling on these routes will need to alight at stations such as Chengalpet or Tambaram, where alternative transport options may be limited. Additionally, trains from Hyderabad and Puducherry will also experience short-terminations, adding to the passenger inconvenience. The construction work on the fourth line is being carried out as part of an ongoing effort to streamline rail connectivity between Chennai’s major stations. The aim is to alleviate congestion on the current tracks, which often face a heavy load due to the high volume of passengers. However, the immediate impact of the work will be felt by those dependent on the services for daily or intercity travel. Express trains to cities like Madurai, Hyderabad, Rameswaram, and Puducherry will also see their departure stations shifted from Egmore to either Tambaram or Chennai Beach during this period.
Several other trains, including those from Secunderabad, Kakinada, Kacheguda, and Mandapam, will be diverted to different routes, bypassing stations such as Egmore, Tambaram, and Chengalpattu. These trains will take a detour via Korukkupet, Perambur, Arakkonam, and Kancheepuram. To mitigate the impact of these diversions, additional stoppages have been arranged at Perambur and Chennai Beach stations.
In particular, the Chennai-Tirunelveli Vande Bharat Express, which is one of the premium services on the route, will be delayed by approximately 15 minutes on March 6 and 7, owing to the ongoing construction work. Despite the delay being relatively minor, the Vande Bharat Express’s punctuality is crucial to its passengers, many of whom rely on the fast service for business and personal travel. For residents a local activist, the decision to stop trains at Chengalpet has added extra burden, especially for those travelling from remote areas. “Chengalpet is nearly two hours away from Chennai, and local train services are infrequent during early hours, which will cause major inconvenience for commuters. Moreover, the fares for autorickshaws and taxis to cover the distance are exorbitant,” he stated.
The disruption is expected to particularly affect passengers during the early morning hours, between 4 am and 6 am, when most trains from the southern districts arrive in Chennai. During this period, direct buses from Chengalpet to Tambaram are limited to just one every 15 to 20 minutes. These buses are often overcrowded, and passengers have raised concerns over the high fares charged by taxis and autorickshaws. Given that alternative travel options will be scarce during peak hours, many passengers are anticipating considerable delays and a stressful travel experience. Although the short-term disruptions will undoubtedly cause inconvenience to thousands of commuters, the long-term benefits of the infrastructure work are significant. Once completed, the fourth line is expected to enhance the overall efficiency and capacity of the railway network, making travel between Chennai and the southern districts more reliable and less congested. However, in the interim, the authorities will need to carefully manage the impact on passengers, ensuring that alternative transport options are available and that communication is clear and timely.
For now, passengers planning to travel on these routes are advised to check the latest schedules and updates, as the situation continues to evolve over the next few days. Despite the temporary inconvenience, the construction of the fourth line is seen as a necessary step towards modernising Chennai’s railway infrastructure, which will ultimately benefit commuters in the future.
