First circular suburban service in city from today
One Train Will Be A MEMU, Other To Be Regular EMU
Chennai:Southern Railway headquarters on Monday finally greenlighted the schedule for running the first circular suburban train service in Chennai division. The service will begin on Tuesday.
Internal communication accessed by TOI shows that the services that will be run will be a Mainline Electric Multiple...
more... Unit (MEMU) and a regular Electric Multiple Unit (EMU).
As reported by TOI last week, both will be run as special services.
This has become possible after Southern Railway constructed a detour line between Takkolam and Arakkonam with the mainline.
This electrified 5km line was necessitated as the regular line between Takkolam and Arakkonam was not electrified due to objection from Defence ministry over the presence of INS Rajali nearby. The Defence ministry gave ₹60 crore for construction of the detour line.
The MEMU rake will leave Chennai Beach at 10.30am, reach Arakkonam at 12.30pm and stop for five minutes.
It will then stop at Tirumalpur at 1.15pm, reach Kancheepuram at 1.30pm and Chengalpet at 2.15pm. It will stop there for five minutes. It will reach Tambaram at 3.15pm and then reach Chennai Beach at 4.10pm. The existing train number BA1/ BA2 passenger special running between Chennai Beach-Arakkonam-Chennai Beach via Tiruvallur will be cancelled. The second circular train will start from Chennai Beach at 9.50am, reach Tambaram at 10.45am, Chengalpet at 11.35am and stop for five minutes. It will then proceed to Kancheepuram at 12.25pm, Tirumalpur at 1pm where it will stop for 20 minutes and then Arakkonam at 2pm. It will stop there for five minutes. After that, it will reach Chennai Beach at 4.15pm.
After this service is introduced, the existing train number 66041/66042 Chennai Beach-Tirumalpur-Chennai Beach service will be cancelled.
Earlier, commuters between Arakkonam and Chengalpet would have to take a circuitous route to traverse this distance or rely on costly bus or share auto services. This direct train would be a boon to areas located in Kancheepuram and Vellore districts.
