Chennai’s First 12-Car AC Suburban Train Launched; Ridership Doubles Since April
Southern Railway has launched Chennai’s first 12-car air-conditioned suburban train, operating between Chennai Beach and Chengalpattu. The service runs four times daily, with two trips in each direction.
Since the introduction of AC local trains in April, ridership has seen a significant jump from 1,488 to 2,800 daily commuters by June. Currently, eight AC services are active on the Chennai Beach–Chengalpattu route, witnessing strong patronage at key stations like Tambaram, Guindy, Mambalam, Perungalathur, and Chengalpattu.
In addition, all 9-car suburban trains on major routes have now been upgraded to 12-car rakes. These include:
Chennai Beach–Chengalpattu
Chennai Central–Arakkonam
Chennai Central–Gummidipundi/Sullurupeta
AC local fares remain only slightly higher than non-AC first-class and comparable to CMRL and MTC AC bus fares for similar distances. With upcoming MRTS Phase II extension and integration with Chennai Metro, further increase in ridership is expected.
