South Line, Chennai Suburban

The South Line of Chennai Suburban Railway is the fourth longest suburban line that runs southwards from Chennai (Madras) City. It is the oldest suburban line of Chennai (Madras), opened in 1931. Suburban services terminate at Chengalpattu (Chingleput) and MEMU services at Villupuram. The capacity utilisation of Chennai Beach-Egmore-Tambaram section is 69 percent. The tract travels along the GST Road from St.Thomas Mount to Villupuram.[1]

South Line, Chennai Suburban
Overview
Type	Suburban railway
System	Chennai Suburban Railway
Status	Operational
Termini	Chennai Beach (Madras Beach) Villupuram
Stations	46
Operation
Opened	1931
Operator(s)	Southern Railway (India)
Depot(s)	Egmore, Tambaram
Technical
Line length	163 kilometres (101 mi) (60 km Suburban and 103 km MEMU)
Track gauge	Broad Gauge
Operating speed	90 km/h (maximum service speed)

Sections

South Line
Chennai Beach — Villupuram
North Line West Line 0.00 Chennai Beach Blue Line High Court 1.80 Chennai Fort  MRTS  3.07 Chennai Central 3.07 Chennai Park 3.07 Parktown MRTS 4.32 Chennai Egmore  Green Line  6.56 Chetput Cooum River 8.15 Nungambakkam 9.68 Kodambakkam 11.29 Mambalam 12.90 Saidapet Adyar River 15.01 Guindy  Blue Line  17.12 St. Thomas Mount  Green Line │ MRTS  18.75 Pazhavanthangal 20.04 Meenambakkam  Blue Line  21.22 Tirusulam 23.15 Pallavaram 25.35 Chromepet 27.36 Tambaram Sanatorium 29.14 Tambaram 32.64 Perungalathur 34.44 Vandalur 37.50 Urapakkam 40.41 Guduvancheri 43.94 Potheri 45.85 Kattangulathur 46.96 Maraimalai Nagar 51.48 Singaperumal Koil 55.59 Paranur 59.84 Chengalpattu Junction to Arakkonam 63.00 Tirumani 68.37 Ottivakkam 73.08 Padalam 80.83 Karunguzhi 84.48 Maduranthakam 91.07 Pakkam 95.37 Melmaruvathur 98.21 Acharapakkam 104.27 Tozhuppedu 109.44 Karasangal 113.86 Olakur 118.59 Panchalam 125.48 Tindivanam 134.84 Mailam 143.44 Perani 149.92 Vikravandi 156.44 Mundiyampakkam to Katpadi 162.76 Viluppuram Junction

Beach–Tambaram

• This section has 2 dedicated lines for the suburban train operations apart from 2 main lines for mixed traffic.
• EMUs are operated along 3rd and 4th main lines during peak hours.
• 12-car EMU are operated in this sector.

Tambaram–Chengalpattu

• This section has double main line in which suburban trains as well as long distance or south bound trains are operated.
• 12-car EMU are operated in this sector.
• A third line from Tambaram to Chengelpattu is under construction.

Beach–Melmaruvathur

• Two MEMU services between Chennai Beach and Melmaruvathur and Chennai Egmore - Puducherry is operational. This is a double electrified line.

Tambaram–Villupuram

• One MEMU Train service is operational between Tambaram and Villupuram.

Melmaruvathur–Villupuram

• A MEMU service is operational between Melmaruvathur and Villupuram.

Hours of Operation

• Chennai Beach–Tambaram

The first EMU starts from Chennai Beach at 3:55 and the last train at 23:59. Most of the trains in this section end at Tambaram station. The peak hour headway is 7 minutes and the headway at the first and last hours of operation is 20 minutes.

• Tambaram–Chennai Beach

The first EMU starts from Tambaram at 4:00 and the last train at 23.55. Peak hour headway is 7 minutes.

• Tambaram–Chengalpattu

The first EMU starts from Tambaram at 4:50 and the last train at 23:40. Peak hour headway is 15 minutes.

• Chengalpattu–Tambaram

The first EMU starts from Chengalpattu at 4:05 and the last train at 23.10. Peak hour headway is 15 minutes.

• Chennai Beach–Melmaruvathur
  • Two service from Chennai Beach to Melmaruvathur at 08:30 and 11:10
  • Two services from Melmaruvathur to Chennai Beach at 15:30 and 17:50
• Melmaruvathur–Villupuram
  • Two services from Melmaruvathur to Villupuram at 11:40 and 13:15
  • Two services from Villupuram to Melmaruvathur at 13:45 and 15:10

Gallery

Guindy station in 2006

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References

1. Sreevatsan, Ajai (17 January 2012). "MTC loses passengers to suburban train services". The Hindu. Chennai: The Hindu. Retrieved 8 April 2012.