CHENNAI: The Southern Railway has extended the operation of two trains from Egmore to Tambaram, with the latter set to be the city’s third railway hub.
As a result, the two weekly trains, going to Guwahati and Dibrugarh, will start and terminate at Tambaram. This measure on experimental basis, commencing on August 7, will be carried out till August 31.
When contacted, railway authorities said this decision was part of the plans to commission the new coaching terminal at Tambaram. Though a date is yet to be fixed, an official, on condition of anonymity, said the inauguration might take place around October and by that time, the new annual railway time-table is likely to be launched.
It is anticipated that once the terminal, which would serve as maintenance depot for coaches, is functional, Tambaram will be equipped to operate long-distance trains. The same has been a long-pending demand of local residents. Railways had repeatedly extended the
deadline for inaugurating the terminal for various reasons.
But, if commissioned, the facility at Tambaram will greatly help to share the burden of Egmore and Central stations. Both stations have infrastructural limitations, hindering future expansion. Last September, Railways had extended two Express trains, namely, Kakinada - Egmore Circar Express and Kacheguda-Egmore Express, to Chengalpattu. This move again was a step taken to de-congest Egmore station.