Tiruvallur to Velachery - Non-resumption of MRTS services even now - Whats happening?
The Southern Railways or SR haven`t yet started the cross-sectoral services from places like Arakkonam,Tiruttani, Tiruvallur, Gummidipoondi, Avadi, Pattabiram etc to Velachery on the MRTS section and to Tambaram on the EMU section. This has become a topic for discussion for many now. It has been more than 2 months since the SR has resumed MRTS services from Chennai Beach are well known.
It must be recalled that the MRTS services between Chennai Beach and Chintadripet were stopped due to the fourth railway line construction work between Beach and Egmore in August 2023. On 29th of October 2024, the work got over and train services started once again.
The regular passengers are unhappy that MRTS cross-sectoral services from Arakkonam,Tiruttani, Tiruvallur, Gummidipoondi, Avadi, Pattabiram etc to Velachery to Velachery via Chennai Beach haven`t resumed. The Point is that previously these services were used by many IT employees, college students, office goers and employees from Chepauk and secretariat etc.
Especially those office goers and senior persons etc from places like Arakkonam, Avadi, Pattabiram and Gummidipoondi etc faced issues as they had to get down at Beach station to get another connecting train.
Mr. T. Sadagoppan, president of TN Progressive Consumer Care spoke about how despite resuming trains services from Chennai Beach to Velachery in October 2024 there is still no direct connectivity even after the completion of a fourth line. He added that the resumption would reduce the burden of the commuters from suburbs.
It was brought out by Mr. S, Murugaiyan, Thirunindravur Rail Passengers Welfare Association that 13 direct train services were operated from Tiruvallur to Velachery. He added that the train services were reduced to eight after the commencement of 4th railway line work. The services were restricted up to the Beach station.
It is worthy to note that passengers who shift to MRTS were affected due to delayed arrival of direct trains to Chennai Beach railway station. Bitter truth is that the passengers were forced to wait for even 30 minutes as MRTS that runs with 20minute frequency. This has made some passengers board trains to Chennai Central and shift to MRTS at Park station for their commute to avoid delay.
Former member of DRUCC Mr. Y. Jayapaulraj spoke about how previously there was a cross-sectoral service from Tiruvallur to Tambaram and how it must be resumed again. This would help many passengers belonging to the western suburbs.
According to an official of Chennai division of SR, for the sake of maintenance work SR has cancelled 50 services and direct trains to suburbs would begin once again in the March month.
