Chennai: In a major sigh of relief for rail commuters, the Southern Railway has decided to bring back the Chennai Beach-Chengalpet fast local trains from 1 June.
According to a press release, four fast locals will be operated from Chengalpet to Chennai Beach and two fast locals will run from Tirumalpur to Chennai Beach during morning peak hours. One fast local will run from Chennai Beach to Tirumalpur during evening peak hour.
Due to the introduction of the fast local, train (16115/16116) which was operated from Chennai Beach will be operated from Chennai Egmore from 1 June, the release added.
Last year, on 24 June rail commuters hanging on the foot-board of a crowded Chennai Beach-Thirumalpur suburban train were hit by a concrete fence between platforms three and four at the St Thomas Mount Railway Station. Five passengers fell on the track and were killed while four others got injured, forcing railway authorities to cancel the Chennai Beach-Chengalpattu trains.
Ever since its cancellation, thousands of railway passengers have been forced to use alternative means of transport.
Chengalpet-Chennai Beach Fast local trains (40518, 40520, 40522, 40526) will leave from Chengalpet at 7.50, 8.05, 8.25, 8.50 am and arrive Chennai Beach at 9.15, 9.47, 9.55 and 10.20 am, respectively.
Likewise, Tirumalpur-Chennai Beach Fast local (40704 and 40706) will leave from Tirumalpur at 7.05 am and 8 am and leave from Chengalpet at 8.10 am and 9.05 am and arrive Chennai Beach at 9.30 am and 10.28 am, respectively. Also, train (40707) Chennai Beach- Tirumalpur Fast local will leave from Chennai Beach at 6.13 pm and arrive Tirumalpur at 8.40 pm.
The Chennai Egmore-Pondicherry-Chennai Egmore Express which was extended to run from Chennai Beach in view of the cancellation of fast locals earlier will again be operated from Chennai Egmore on 1 June.
A press release said, train (16116) Pondicherry-Chennai Egmore Express will arrive Chennai Egmore at 9.30 am and train (16115) Chennai Egmore -Pondicherry Express will leave Chennai Egmore at 6.10 pm.