Chennai suburban railway is a commuter rail system in the Indian city of Chennai (Madras) operated by the Southern Railway. Chennai has a complex railway network. The system uses Electrical Multiple Units (EMU) operating on Alternating Current (AC) drawn from over-head cables through the catenary system.
The Suburban trains and MTC are the lifelines for travelling in chennai, The suburban trains are generally reliable and fast. The frequency of suburban trains is generally good and it is advisable to take a first class ticket during peak hours. Trains offer a reliable alternative to quickly reach your destination when compared to buses which might get trapped in traffic jams .
The train Timing, seasonal tickets and fares can be found in Fare and Timing .Seasonal tickets are available for daily travellers which can be purchased monthly or 3 months once which works out cheaper . The trains provide 2 classes : 1st class(First Class) and 2nd class(Second Class). 2nd class are crowded during peak hour and are very cheap compared to 1st class .1st class is generally not crowded but is costly for a days travel. The compartment difference is first class has cushion seats and compartments have slashes in the top with FIRST class written in bold and are less crowded ,this helps in distinguishing. Minimum fare is 6Rs. People traveling from airport can board in Trisulam and follows the South line given below .Tickets can be procured in respective station ,follow the chart below for the Trains. The fare in Chennai suburban trains is the lowest in the country and you don't have to compromise comfort for the meager amount that you pay as in other Indian metros.
Note: Remember to take ticket before you enter the stations. First class is expensive for 1 day ,travel Via seasonal passes in First Class works out economical . Please dont get in First Class compartment with second class ticket or pass.Fine is 300Rs for getting in to First class without appropriate ticket.
North Line [210 km]
Stations: Chennai Central MMC - Basin Bridge - Korukkupet - Tondiarpet - Tondiarpet Yard - Tiruvottiyur - Wimco Nagar - Kathivakkam - Ennore - Athipattu Pudhunagar - Athipattu - Nandiambakkam - Minjur - Anupambattu - Ponneri - Kavaraipettai - Gummidipoondi - Elavur - Arambakkam - Tada (AP) - Sullurpeta (AP) - Gudur(AP) - Nellore (AP) - Bitragunta (AP)
Suburban service terminates at Sullurpeta (AP).
The MEMU service terminates at Bitragunta (AP).
Few trains operate between Chennai Beach and Sullurpeta via Royapuram and Washermanpet.
South Line [163 km]
Stations: Chennai Beach - Chennai Fort - Chennai Park - Chennai Egmore - Chetpet - Nungambakkam - Kodambakkam - Mambalam - Saidapet - Guindy - St. Thomas Mount - Pazhavanthangal - Meenambakkam - Trisulam - Pallavaram - Chromepet - Tambaram Sanatorium - Tambaram - Perungalathur - Vandalur - Urapakkam - Guduvancheri - Potheri - Kattangulathur - Maraimalai Nagar Kamarajar - Singaperumal Koil - Paranur - Chengalpattu - Tirumani - Ottivakkam - Padalam - Karunguzhi - Madurantakam - Pakkam - Melmaruvathur - Acharapakkam - Tozhuppedu - Karasangal - Olakur - Panchalam - Tindivanam - Mailam - Perani - Vikravandi - Mundiyampakkam - Villupuram
Suburban service terminates at Chengalpattu.
A EMU service operates between Beach - Villupuram which goes along the suburban tracks till Chengalpattu and on the main line after that till Villupuram.
South West Line [122.71 km]
The Beach Chengalpattu section is parallel to but completely separate from the long-distance tracks of Indian Railways. The Trisulam station on this line is 100m from the Chennai International Airport terminal. This line first opened as an electrified suburban rail line in 1930.
Stations: Chennai Beach - Chennai Fort - Chennai Park - Chennai Egmore - Chetpet - Nungambakkam - Kodambakkam - Mambalam - Saidapet - Guindy - St. Thomas Mount - Pazhavanthangal - Meenambakkam - Trisulam - Pallavaram - Chromepet - Tambaram Sanatorium - Tambaram - Perungalathur - Vandalur - Urapakkam - Guduvancheri - Potheri - Kattangulathur - Maraimalai Nagar Kamarajar - Singaperumal Koil - Paranur - Chengalpattu - Villiambakkam - Palur - Palayasivaram - Walajabad - Nathapettai - Kanchipuram - Tirumalpur - Thakolam - Arakkonam
Suburban electric trains on this route, terminate at Tirumalpur station.
Tirumalpur - Arakkonam section being electrified.
West Line [213 km]
Chennai Central MMC - Basin Bridge - Vyasarpadi Jeeva - Perambur - Perambur Carriage Works - Perambur Loco Works - Villivakkam - Korattur - Pattaravakkam - Ambattur - Tirumullaivayil - Annanur - Avadi - Hindu College - Pattabiram -Thirunindravur - Veppampattu - Sevvapet Road - Putlur - Tiruvallur - Egattur - Kadambattur - Mosur - Puliyamangalam - Arakkonam - Sholinghur - Walajah Road - Tiruvalam - Sevur - Katpadi - Gudiyattam - Ambur - Vinnamangalam - Vaniyambadi - Kettandapatti - Jolarpet
Suburban service terminates at Arakkonam.
MEMU service operates between Arakkonam and Jolarpet.
West North Line [151 km]
Services first began on this line in 1985.
Stations: Chennai Central MMC - Basin Bridge - Vyasarpadi Jeeva - Perambur - Perambur Carriage Works - Perambur Loco Works - Villivakkam - Korattur - Pattaravakkam - Ambattur - Tirumullaivayil - Annanur - Avadi - Hindu College - Pattabiram -Thirunindravur - Veppampattu - Sevvapet Road - Putlur - Tiruvallur - Egattur - Kadambattur - Senjipanambakkam - Manavur - Thiruvalangadu - Mosur - Puliyamangalam - Arakkonam - Tiruttani - Nagari - Puttur - Renigunta - Tirupati
Suburban service terminate at Tiruttani.
MEMU service terminate at Tirupati (AP).
Few trains operate between Chennai Beach and Tiruttani. The section from Chennai Beach till Vyasarpadi covers a distance of 5.64 km via Royapuram and Washermanpet stations.
West South Line [290 km]
Main article: West South Line, Chennai Suburban
Chennai Beach - Royapuram - Washermanpet - Vyasarpadi Jeeva - Perambur - Perambur Carriage Works - Perambur Loco Works - Villivakkam - Korattur - Pattaravakkam - Ambattur - Tirumullaivayil - Annanur - Avadi - Hindu College - Pattabiram -Thirunindravur - Veppampattu - Sevvapet Road - Putlur - Tiruvallur - Egattur - Kadambattur - Senjipanambakkam - Manavur - Thiruvalangadu - Mosur - Puliyamangalam - Arakkonam - Katpadi - Vellore Cantt.
Suburban service terminates at Arakkonam.
MEMU service terminates at Vellore Cantonment station.
The section from Vellore Cantonment till Villupuram is under gauge conversion and being electrified.
New Lines
The following new lines have been proposed in the Second Master Plan by CMDA as a long-term Urban transportation Scheme[1]
Avadi — Sriperumbudur — Kanchipuram
Saidapet — Sriperumbudur — Kanchipuram (Partly Elevated)
Sriperumbudur — Oragadam — Chengalpattu
Kelambakkam — Vandalur
St.Thomas Mount — Porur
New Lines proposed in CTS(Comprehensive Transportation Study)
The following new lines have been proposed in the Comprehensive Transportation Study of the Chennai Metropolitan Development Authority.[2] These lines will provide a circumferential travel network for the city.
Perungudi — Mamallapuram
Mamallapuram — Chengalpattu
Chengalpattu — Tiruvallur
Tiruvallur — Gummidipundi
