The Chennai Division of the Southern Railway would be taking up remodelling of the Arakkonam Station Yard from Friday, due to which a number of train services would be cancelled. A number of development works are proposed to be taken up for 17 days from April 20 to May 6. The major modification work, costing ₹ 35 crore, once completed, would speed up train services and also bring in passenger safety.
Naveen Gulati, Divisional Railway Manager (Chennai Division), Southern Railway, said the upgradation work is proposed to be taken up at the Arakkonam Station Yard for 17 days. He said the upgradation work includes straightening of tracks, increasing the length of service road, extension of platforms to accommodate 26/24 coaches, commissioning of new electronic interlocking signal system and removal of ‘diamond’ crossovers that slow down the trains would be executed.
Mr. Gulati said in the 17-day period, there would be minimum cancellations or delay in train services during the first phase of 12 days when development work would be carried out for five hours from 9.30 a.m. to 3 p.m. In the last phase of five days when there would not be any automatic signalling system and would have to be carried through manual intervention also called Non-Interlocked signal, all trains bound for Tiruttani via Arakkonam would be cancelled. Instead special trains would be operated to Tiruttani.
The Southern Railway would also divert mail/express trains running on Gudur-Chennai/Perambur-Arakkonam-Jolarpet route via Gudur-Renigunta-Tiruttani-Melpakkam-Jolarpet with stoppage at Tiruttani during the last phase of Non-Interlocked signal from May 2 to 6.
The Chennai Central-Tirupati Express (train no.16053) would be fully cancelled from April 21 to 23 and again from April 28 to 30. Similarly, the Southern Railway has cancelled nine train services on May 6. The nine train services are: Chennai Central-Mysuru Shatabdi, Mysuru-Chennai Central Shatabdi, Coimbatore-Chennai Central Cheran Express, Chennai Central-Coimbatore Kovai Express, Coimbatore-Chennai Central Kovai Express, Chennai Central-Tirupati Sapthagiri Express, Tirupati-Chennai Central express, Chennai Central-Jolarpet Yelagiri express and Jolarpet-Chennai Central Yelagiri express.
Mr. Gulati said for assisting the passengers who would have booked tickets for cancelled trains special assistance teams would be available for cancelling the tickets at Chennai Central, Egmore, Tiruttani, Katpadi, and Gudur. Also, a list of cancelled trains would be displayed in major railway stations located between Chennai Central and Arakkonam, he added.
Passengers could also seek assistance at the customer care service at 138.
The Southern Railway would be operating a new suburban service from Chengalpet to Gummidipoondi from April 23. The Chennai division would be operating four direct services from Chengalpet to Gummidipoondi via Chennai Beach railway station.
A senior official of Southern Railway said the new train service would be operated only on weekdays from Monday to Friday. The nine-car electrical multiple unit (EMU) service will be operated from Gummidipoondi at 6 a.m. and 2.25 p.m. and in the return direction, from Chengalpet at 10.30 a.m. and from Tambaram at 6.05 p.m.
