02-07-2025
Commuters say recent speed restrictions on west section cause delay in train services
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As part of safety measures, the Southern Railway recently issued a new set of speed restrictions for suburban trains operated from the Moore Market complex (MMC) to Arakkonam via Avadi and Tiruvallur on the west section. However, commuters call it a retrograde step as this has led to fast local trains running behind schedule during the morning and evening hours.
While the Beach-Chengalpattu via Tambaram has the highest population (more than 6 lakh), the west section — supposed to be the longest route covered by the Chennai Division — till Arakkonam and Tiruttani operates the highest number of electric multiple units (241 services).
Unlike the other three sections, the west section has remained a major challenge for railway officials because of multiple crossovers between mainline mail, express and suburban trains. The officials said there was a total of 12 crossovers, and this put a lot of pressure on both the safe and punctual operation of the trains.
In the circular issued on June 25, loco-pilots have been directed to maintain a speed of 15 km per hour, as against the earlier 30 kmph for suburban trains and fast locals, in 12 places, including Basin Bridge, Vyasarpadi, Villivakkam, Pattabhiram, Tiruvallur, and Arakkonam.
T. Prasanna, a regular commuter from Tiruvallur, said ever since the speed restrictions were announced, the suburban services have been taking a lot of time to reach their destinations, especially during the peak hours. Even if they chose to ride fast local trains, it took a minimum of two hours to reach MMC from Tiruvallur, as after Villivakkam, the trains had to be operated on the slow line.
S. Purushoth, a resident of Avadi, said that earlier, the suburban trains from Basin Bridge station would operate at 30 kmph without hindrance, but now the EMUs were being held up invariably for want of green signal and in cases where they are given the go ahead, the trains were operated at 5 kmph.
A senior official of the Chennai Division said the speed restrictions had been introduced for safety purposes as passengers' safety preceded punctuality. The section has multiple crossovers, with five major ones affecting the train services at Avadi, Ambattur, and Vyasarpadi. 'We are looking into the issue, and if feasible, the speed restrictions would be removed in phases,' he said.
Regarding a few trains bound for MMC getting help up at Vyasarpadi, the senior railway official said this was because two trains — one to MMC and the other to Beach — were being operated back-to-back. For this, a loop line is being planned at Vyasarpadi for halting the Beach train to let the one to MMC proceed. In the meantime, loop lines are also being planned at Ambattur and Avadi to operate suburban trains without obstacles, but this project could take some time.