Commuters lament absence of 12 car rakes

CHENNAI: Though Southern Railway has introduced three new trains for suburban sections in the revised time table that came into effect on Wednesday, suburban passengers are disappointed as railways has not made any announcement on the introduction of 12-car Electrical Multiple Unit (EMU) trains in Chennai- Avadi- Tiruvallur- Arakkonam section, a long pending demand of commuters.

The rail passengers’ association says that repeated pleas to increase train capacity had fallen on deaf ears and lack of sufficient trains caused hardship to students and office goers, particularly during peak hours.
“Train service is the most convenient and cheapest mode of travel for people from Tiruvallur, Thirunindravur, Pattabhiram, Avadi and Ambattur compared to buses. As passenger demand increases every year, all coaches of EMU trains operated from Chennai MMC to Tiruvallur are running jam-packed for the past four years. But, railways has not done much to improve the condition, said K Baskar, secretary, Tiruvallur railway passengers association.

During the railway budget in 2014, ministry announced that existing nine-car EMU trains operated in Chennai-Arakkonam suburban section will be augmented as 12 car EMUs and the same was proposed to be introduced by 2015-end.

After missing the deadlines several times, in June 2017 Southern Railway announced that trains with augmented cars will run by end of 2017. However, the railways has not made any announcement in the newly released time table.

According to railway records, with 120 trains services about 4-4.5 lakh passengers travel in Tiruttani/Arakkonam-Tiruvallur-Avadi - Chennai MMC section a day, while the commuters patronage in Chengalpattu- Tambaram-Chennai Beach stood at 5 lakh a day. All trains in Chennai Beach-Chengalpattu section were augmented with 12 cars a decade ago. However, railways could not implement the same in Chennai-Arakkonam section due to operational reasons, said railway sources.

“Several EMUs operated from Arakkonam, Tiruvallur and Tiruttani to Chennai MMC have been routed to Gummudipoondi and Sulurpet section through rake sharing arrangements. These rakes are maintained at Avadi. Unless, platform length of all the 19 stations between Chennai MMC and Sulurpet section increased, 12 car EMUs cannot be operated up to Arakkonam. The works were delayed due to administrative reasons,” said a railway official.

However, the railways said they were planning to introduce 12 car EMUs up to Avadi during first phase in a few months. “Platform lengthening works at MMC and Perambur loco station will end in two months. Initially, 12 car EMUs will operate up to Avadi. An announcement will be made soon,” said an officer.
The delay in augmenting EMUs has further put another railway’s proposal to operate 12 car EMUs from Avadi, Arakkonam and Tiruvallur up to Tambaram via Chennai Beach in slow mode.

Naina Masilamani of Arakkonam Rail Passengers Association said diverting the few western suburban trains to Tambaram via Chennai Beach will reduce congestion at Chennai MMC and Chennai Park. “Railways should try to complete the works at earliest,” he urged.