MRTS cross-sectoral services unlikely to resume due to infrastructure constraints

Southern Railway disappoints commuters by announcing no resumption of MRTS cross-sectoral services due to infrastructural constraints.

Commuters relying on the Mass Rapid Transit System (MRTS) for cross-sectoral suburban train services have received disappointing news, as Southern Railway has announced that the services will not resume in the near future due to infrastructural constraints.

Southern Railway had truncated MRTS services up to Chintadripet to facilitate the construction of a fourth railway line between Chennai Beach and Egmore stations. Previously, MRTS services operated directly from Velachery to Avadi, Tiruvallur, Arakkonam, and Gummidipoondi via Beach. However, despite the completion of the fourth line and the recent safety inspection by the Railway Safety Commissioner, commuters’ demands for the restoration of direct services to the northern and western sectors via Beach remain unfulfilled.

A senior official from the Chennai division confirmed that cross-sectoral services on MRTS would not resume. He said 12-car rakes had become the standard for suburban services on three of the city’s four railway corridors in the city — the Beach-Tambaram, Moore Market Complex (MMC)-Avadi, and MMC-Gummidipoondi routes.

However, MRTS stations between Chintadripet and Thirumayilai lack platforms long enough to accommodate 12-car rakes, making their operation unfeasible. The flexibility provided by 12-car rakes is crucial for seamless integration of cross-sectoral services, such as those connecting Chengalpattu and Arakkonam. The absence of sufficiently long platforms at key MRTS stations is expected to not only hinder cross-sectoral services to Avadi, Tiruvallur, and Gummidipoondi — previously available on the MRTS network — but also limit an increase in train operations.

Consumer activist T. Sadagopan highlighted the difficulties faced by commuters, particularly those traveling from Avadi and Tiruvallur to software hubs on Rajiv Gandhi Salai. He said the MRTS was previously a vital link for employees heading to Thiruvanmiyur and Taramani.

However, due to Southern Railway’s inability to acquire land for the fourth line between Chennai Beach and Egmore stations, one of the MRTS tracks has been repurposed between Chennai Fort and Beach. This forced thousands of commuters from the western suburbs to alight at Park station and undertake a lengthy walk to the MMC to access suburban trains.

Commuters have also expressed frustration over the railway authorities’ failure to plan platform extensions in advance, despite being aware that 12-car rakes will become the standard.