North Line, Chennai Suburban

The North Line of the Chennai Suburban Railway is the third-longest suburban rail line in the system, running north from Chennai Central MMC to Bitragunta in Andhra Pradesh. Suburban services terminate at Sullurpeta and MEMU services operate to Bitragunta. As of 2013, more than 100,000 people use trains on the 46-km line between Chennai Central and Gummidipoondi every day, up from less than 80,000 in 2010.[1] By 2017, this has increased to 120,000 people per day.[2]

North Line
Chennai Central MMC — Bitragunta
210 Bitragunta 176 Nellore 137 Gudur Odur Pedapariya 110 Nayudupeta Doravarichatram Polireddipalem 82 Sullurpeta Akkampet 70 Tada 63 Arambakkam Elavur 47 Gummidipundi Kavaraipettai 35 Ponneri Anuppampattu 26 Minjur 23 Nandiambakkam 22 Athipattu Athipattu Pudunagar 16 Ennore 15 Kattivakkam Wimco Nagar 9 Tiruvottiyur V.O.C Nagar 5 Tondiarpet Korrukupet West Line 2 Basin Bridge 0 Chennai Central MMC Washermanpet Royapuram Chennai Beach South West Line South Line

North Line, Chennai Suburban
Overview
Type	Suburban railway
System	Chennai Suburban Railway
Status	Operational
Locale	Chennai (Madras), India
Termini	Chennai Central Moore Market Complex (MMC) Bitragunta (Andhra Pradesh)
Stations	30
Daily ridership	120,000
Operation
Operator(s)	Southern Railway (India)
Technical
Line length	210 kilometres (130 mi) (82 km Suburban and 128 km MEMU)
Track gauge	Broad Gauge
Operating speed	90 km/h (maximum service speed)

Sections

The North line near Washermanpet, Chennai

Chennai Central MMC - Gummidipoondi

• Suburban trains; runs on two main lines.
• 3rd and 4th line is under construction for around 10 years.
• 3rd line is operated only between Ennore and korukkupet.

Problems in the north line

Commuters on the Chennai Central-Gummidipoondi suburban line are concerned about irregular train services, poor maintenance and lack of amenities such as drinking water, public convenience and security in the stations. Commuters feel as step-motherly treatment compared to the services and amenities provided on the Chennai Central-Arakkonam and the Chennai Beach-Tambaram sections.

Trains are scheduled to transit between Gummidipoondi and Chennai Central in 80 minutes, but trains regularly take 120 minutes over the 46 kilometres (29 mi). It is common for trains to wait for clearance at signals between Ennore-Chennai Central.[3] All the trains are always late by 20 to 30 min.

Gummidipoondi - Sulurpeta (AP)

• Suburban trains; runs on two main lines.

Sulurpeta(AP) - Bitragunta (AP)

• MEMU trains run between Chennai Central MMC and Nellore to be extended to Bitragunta.
• Passenger trains run between Chennai Central MMC and Bitragunta via Nellore.

Expansion

The third and fourth lines in the route is being laid at a cost of ₹ 2,750 million. The memorandum of understanding (MoU) for exchange of land between the Southern Railways and Chennai Port Trust was signed in 2015 to commission the third and fourth lines. The fourth line between Chennai Beach and Athipattu costs ₹ 1200 million running to a length of 22.1 km. The third line between Athipattu and Korukkupet was commissioned at a cost of ₹ 1,550 million, running for a length of 18 km and the fourth line in the section between Tiruvottiyur and Ennore for a length of 7 km was commissioned on 24 June 2017. The third line between Chennai Beach and Korukkupet will run for a length of 4.1 km at a cost of ₹ 1,420 million and is expected to be completed by March 2018.[2]

References

1. Ayyappan, V. (7 May 2013). "Trains late, people backtrack". The Times of India. Chennai: The Times Group. Retrieved 12 May 2012.
2. Srikanth, R. (27 June 2017). "Poor public transport leaves them on slow lane". The Hindu. Chennai: The Hindu. Retrieved 2 July 2017.
3. "Suburban railway stations need more facilities". The Hindu. 7 March 2011.