Chennai: Due to the redevelopment work at Egmore railway station, the railway administration has decided to operate express trains again from Tambaram.
Southern Railway had decided to upgrade Chennai’s Egmore railway station to world-class standards. Accordingly, the redevelopment work began in February 2023 at a cost of Rs. 734.91 crore and is in progress.
As part of this, the transfer of express trains to Tambaram station began in June last year for the widening and modernization of the first 5 platforms at Egmore railway station. Following this, other express trains were also shifted to the Tambaram terminal in successive phases in September and December last year.
After this, the first-phase work to build a massive foot overbridge connecting platform 1 to platform 11 at the railway station began in February this year.
Following this, some important express trains such as Uzhavan, Ananthapuri, and Rameswaram were temporarily diverted to Tambaram station and operated from there from February 3 to April 4.
In addition, the services of suburban electric trains were temporarily altered for 43 days from February 20 to April 3. After this, once the major works were completed, the operation of express trains from Egmore station returned to normal.
Meanwhile, as the third phase, some express trains have been decided to be diverted to Tambaram for the iron foot overbridge works.
To construct the foot overbridge, cranes weighing more than 500 tons will be used to install iron girders. This bridge will be 18 meters wide and 120 meters long.
Currently, an iron foot overbridge is to be built across platforms 1 to 5 in the Gandhi Irwin Road area. Following this, work to build an iron foot overbridge from platform 6 to platform 11 will begin soon.
As a result, it has been decided to once again divert the express trains operated from Egmore to Tambaram. Regarding this, railway officials said, “Due to the construction of the foot overbridge, we have recommended to the Southern Railway headquarters that some express trains be shifted to Tambaram. The change will be made after approval is received.”
This change will come into effect soon. Steps have been taken to alter train services without causing any inconvenience to passengers. It is also being considered to operate electric trains from platforms 5 and 6. They said this.
