Chennai receives first air-conditioned EMU train service

The first air-conditioned EMU train service launched on Saturday in Chennai Beach-Chengalpattu department. |Picture source: M. Srinath

In a key initiative aimed at providing passengers with a worry-free travel experience, Southern Railway launched Chennai’s first air-conditioned EMU (electric multiple units) train service on Saturday (19 April 2025), located in Chennai’s Beach-Chengalpattu district. Although the minimum fare is set at Rs 35, passengers must pay Rs 85 to get from Chennai Beach to Tamparam and Rs 105 to Sanggu Pattu.

AC EMU services were first introduced in the Mumbai suburban railway, which has witnessed stable sponsorships by commuters, especially office residents and women. Chennai Beach-Chengalpattu, the Chennai Beach-Chengalpattu, takes a high footstep, and AC EMU services will bring good news to commuters during peak hours and hot and humid weather.

Southern Railway says the modern AC EMU Rake is equipped with better passenger facilities including automatic doors, passenger information systems, CCTV cameras and well-marked entry/exit points, which are milestones for enhancing passenger comfort.

Passengers traveling by AC EMU train | Photo source: M. Srinath

Train time

The first AC EMU train climbed out of Chennai beach at 7:05 am on Saturday, arrived at Tamparam at 7:42 am and arrived at Changgarpatu at 8:35 am on the return direction, which departed from Changgarpatu at 9 am and arrived at Chennai beach at 10 AM

In the evening, the train departed from Chennai Beach at 3:45 pm and arrived at Chenggupatu at 5:25 pm. On return, it left Changgarpatu at 5:45 pm and arrived at Chennai Beach at 7:15 pm.

The EMU service for Tambaram-Chennai Beach-Tambaram air conditioning has also begun. It will depart from Tambaram at 5:45 am, arrive at Chennai Beach at 6:45 pm, train departs from Chennai Beach at 7:35 pm, and arrives at Tambaram at 8:35 pm, both services operate in both directions.

“Popular move”

While many commuters welcome new services, there is also a need to increase service frequency and lower fares.

K. Shankar Babu, a former staff member at the Intellaal Coach Factory (ICF), said their rakes had already gone to the Central and Western Railways when the first air conditioner unit was built at the ICF a few years ago. This is the first time the Southern Railway has been assigned to the rakes of air conditioning. He said new features have been added after feedback from these railway users.

“For local commuters, this AC EMU is very convenient and comfortable. If the Railroad Administration changes the mode of timing for the office, it will see more patronage. The fare is also reasonable, as more facilities such as CCTV and fire alarms have been added.”

RV Ragunathan regularly takes EMU from Perungalathur to the beach, and he said: “We are fascinated by the new service. I have been traveling on the first class on the EMU train for the past 25 years and during peak hours it is overcrowded. The new AC service will provide comfortable travel. “Mohammed Yasif Khan, on the other hand, said he prefers to travel on subway tracks and thinks this can be a gamechanger for passengers in the summer.

This is the first time the Southern Railway has been assigned to the rakes for air conditioning | Image source: M. Srinath

Workday service may attract more passengers | Image source: M. Srinath

Purasawakkam resident Aadhesh said: “We have been asking for this all the time.” [service] In the past three months. Finally here, we expect service frequency to increase soon. ” Suresh Gagariya from Purasawalkam recommends improving the seat interior to make the experience healthier.

“If they lower the fare slightly, it might be useful for passengers like me,” Arva, a school teacher who travels from Egmore to Tambaram.

According to railway officials, the first service did not attract crowds, but since it was Saturday, it was believed that this was the standard for the course. They added that weekday service may attract more passengers.