Chennai Egmore railway station: Difference between revisions

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{{Short description|Railway station in Chennai, India}}
{{Short description|Railway station in Chennai, India}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2022}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2025}}
{{Use Indian English|date=March 2015}}
{{Use Indian English|date=June 2025}}
{{Infobox station
{{Infobox station
| name = Chennai Egmore
| name               = Chennai Egmore
| native_name = <hr/>Chennai Elumbur
| native_name       = Chennai Elumbur
| other_name = Madras Egmore / Madras Elumbur
| other_name         =  
| style = Indian Railways
| style             = Indian Railways
| type = [[File:Indian_Railways_Suburban_Railway_Logo.svg|30px]] [[Indian Railways]] and [[Chennai Suburban Railway]] station
| image             = Chennai Egmore facade panorama.jpg
| image = Chennai Egmore facade panorama.jpg
| image_caption     = Chennai Egmore railway station
| image_caption = Chennai Egmore
| address           = Gandhi-Irwin Road, [[Egmore]], [[Chennai]]
| address = Gandhi-Irwin Road, Egmore, [[Chennai]]
| coordinates       = {{coord|13.0780|N|80.2616|E|display=inline,title}}
| coordinates = {{coord|13.0780|N|80.2616|E|display=inline,title}}
| owned             = [[Ministry of Railways (India)|Ministry of Railways]]
| owned = [[Ministry of Railways (India)|Ministry of Railways]], [[Indian Railways]]
| system            = {{ubl|[[Indian Railways]]|[[Chennai Suburban Railway]]}}
| line = {{Plainlist|* 1.Chennai Egmore–Kacheguda line
| line               = {{ubl| [[Chennai Egmore–Thanjavur main line]] |[[South Line, Chennai Suburban]] }}
*2. Chennai Egmore–Trichy chord line
| platform           = 11
*3.Chennai Egmore–Mumbai line (via Guntakal)
| tracks             = 12
*4.Chennai Egmore–Guwahati line
| other             = {{ric|Chennai Metro}} {{rcb|Chennai Metro|Green|croute}} [[Egmore metro station|Egmore]]
*5.Chennai Egmore–Trichy main line(Via Kumbakonam,Thanjavur)
| structure         = At-grade
*6.Chennai Egmore–Mangalore line (Via Trichy fort, Erode jn, Palakkad Jn, Kozhikode)
| depth             =  
*7.Chennai Egmore–Kollam Jn line ( Via Madurai, Sengottai ,Punalur)
| levels             = 1
*8.Chennai Egmore–Thiruvananthapuram line ( Via Trichy, Madurai, Tirunelveli
| parking           = Available
*9.Chennai Egmore-Tuticorin line ( Via Trichy, Tirunelveli ),
| accessible        = Yes
*10.Chennai Egmore - Tiruchendur line ( Via kumbakonam, Trichy, Tirunelveli ),
| code               = {{Indian railway code
*11.Chennai Egmore - Rameshwaram line (Via Kumbakonam,Trichy,Karaikudi),
   | code    = MS<ref>{{cite web |title=Station Code Index |url=https://indianrailways.gov.in/railwayboard/uploads/directorate/coaching/TAG_2023-24/Station_Code_Index.pdf |publisher=Centre For Railway Information Systems |access-date=23 March 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240216225807/https://indianrailways.gov.in/railwayboard/uploads/directorate/coaching/TAG_2023-24/Station_Code_Index.pdf |archive-date=16 February 2024 |page=5 |date=2023–24}}</ref>
*12.Chennai Egmore - Sengottai line ( Via Tiruvarur, Pattukottai, Tenkasi),
*13.Chennai Egmore - Rameswaram line (Via Trichy, Pudukkottai, Manamadurai)
*14.Chennai Egmore - Mannargudi line ( Via Villupuram, Needamangalam)
*15.Chennai Egmore - Karaikal line( Via Villupuram, Chidambaram, Nagapattinam)
}}
| platform = 11
| tracks = 12
| other = {{Plainlist|* Taxi stand
* Metro rail station
* Auto rickshaw stand
* Bus stop
}}
| structure = Standard on-ground station
| depth =  
| levels =  
| parking = Available
| bicycle = <!-- unsupported parameter
| baggage_check = Yes (Followed strictly on important days)
-->
| ADA = {{Access icon|20px}}
| code = {{Indian railway code
   | code    = MS
   | zone    = [[Southern Railway zone]]
   | zone    = [[Southern Railway zone]]
   | division = {{rwd|Chennai}}
   | division = {{rwd|Chennai}}
   }}
   }}
| opened = {{start date and age|1905}}
| opened             = {{start date and age|1880}} (station) <br /> {{start date and age|11 June 1908}} (terminal building)
| closed =  
| closed             =  
| rebuilt =  
| rebuilt           =
| electrified = Yes
| elevation          = {{cvt|8|m}}
| former = South Indian Railway
| architect          = {{ubl|[[Henry Irwin]] |E. C. Bird}}
| mpassengers =  
| architectural_style = {{ubl |[[Gothic architecture|Gothic]] |[[Indo-Saracenic architecture|Indo Saracenic]] |[[Dravidian architecture|Dravidian]]}}
| passengers = 3,00,000 per day
| original            = [[South Indian Railway]]
| pass_system =  
| status            = Active
| pass_year =  
| electrified        = 1931
| pass_percent =  
| mpassengers       =  
| services = 65 Express trains/day<br />600 suburban trains/day<br />95 DEMU services/day
| passengers         =  
| map_type = India Chennai#Tamil Nadu#India
| pass_system       =  
| map_caption = Location in Chennai##Location in Tamil Nadu##Location in India
| pass_year         =  
| image_size =  
| pass_percent       =  
| services           = {{ubl|120 [[Express trains in India|Mail/Express]]|442 [[Chennai Suburban|Suburban]]/[[Multiple units of India|MU]]}} per day (2022)
| map_type           = India Chennai#Tamil Nadu#India
| map_caption       = Location in Chennai##Location in Tamil Nadu##Location in India
| image_size         =  
}}
}}


'''Chennai Egmore''', formerly known as '''Madras Egmore''', also known as '''Chennai Elumbur''' (station code: '''MS'''), is a railway station in [[Chennai]], [[Tamil Nadu]], India. Situated in the neighborhood of [[Egmore]], it is one of the four intercity railway terminals in the city; the other three are [[Chennai Central railway station]], [[Tambaram railway station]] and [[Chennai Beach railway station]]. The station was built in 1906–1908 as the terminus of the [[South Indian Railway Company]]. The building built in [[Gothic architecture|Gothic]] style is one of the prominent [[landmark]]s of Chennai. The main entrance to the station is situated on Gandhi-Irwin Road and the rear entrance on [[EVR Periyar Salai|Poonamallee High Road]].
'''Chennai Egmore''' (also known as '''Chennai Elumbur''', formerly '''Madras Egmore''') (station code: '''MS'''), is a major [[Railway stations in Chennai|railway station]] in [[Chennai]], India. It is classified as a [[Categorization of Indian Railway stations by commercial importance|NSG–1]] category station and comes under the purview of the [[Chennai railway division]] of the [[Southern Railway zone]] of the [[Indian Railways]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Southern Railway List of Stations |url=https://sr.indianrailways.gov.in/cris//uploads/files/1686913242750-SR%20-LIST%20OF%20STATIONS-2023.pdf |publisher=Centre For Railway Information Systems |access-date=23 March 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240323095403/https://sr.indianrailways.gov.in/cris//uploads/files/1686913242750-SR%20-LIST%20OF%20STATIONS-2023.pdf |archive-date=23 March 2024 |page=1 |date=1 April 2023}}</ref> It is situated in the neighbourhood of [[Egmore]], with the main entrance situated on Gandhi-Irwin road and the rear entrance on [[EVR Periyar Salai|Poonamallee high road]]. It caters to inter-city [[Express trains in India|express trains]], [[Multiple units of India|multiple units]], and [[Chennai suburban|suburban]] services.


The station was apparently constructed from 8679 on land purchased from Pulney Andy.<ref>{{cite news |first=S. |last=Muthiah |date=27 October 2012 |orig-year=19 September 2010 |title=Whither this National Library? |url=http://www.thehindu.com/life-and-style/metroplus/article696892.ece |department=Madras Miscellany (column) |work=[[The Hindu]] |access-date=21 June 2019}}</ref> The building is built in the [[Gothic architecture|Gothic]] style of architecture with imposing domes and corridors. It has the 5th longest platform in the country and the 6th longest in the world. The station is one of the prominent landmarks of the city of Chennai. The recently opened{{when|date=June 2019}} northern entrance to this railway station is on the arterial Poonamallee High Road in Chennai city.
The station served as the terminus of the [[South Indian Railway Company]] in Madras since the 1880s. The construction of the terminal building began in September 1905 and it was officially opened on 11 June 1908. The building is built in [[Indo-Saracenic architecture|Indo Saracenic]] style. In 1951, the station became part of the Southern Railway zone of the Indian Railways.


==History==
==History==
{{multiple image
[[File:02Madras Egmore Station.jpg|thumb|left|Egmore station in 1913]]
| align    = left
| direction = vertical
| header    =
| width    = 200
| image1    = Egmore Station.jpg
| alt1      =
| caption1  = Egmore Station c. 1908
| image2    = 02Madras Egmore Station.jpg
| alt2      =
| caption2  = Egmore Station in 1913
}}
 
History says that the station was actually a fort, called the Egmore Redoubt, similar to [[Leith]] Castle, which is a part of [[Santhome]]. It is said that the station came up in a place that once used to store ammunition for the British.<ref name="Egmore-Fort">{{cite news| last = Pain| first = Paromita| title = Heritage tracks| newspaper = Business Line| location = Chennai| date = 27 June 2008| url = http://www.thehindubusinessline.in/life/2008/06/27/stories/2008062750030200.htm| access-date = 8 November 2012}}</ref>
 
The station building was constructed on a {{convert|2.5|acre}} land, for which {{convert|1.8|acre}} was acquired from S. Pulney Andy, an English physician, who, in his letter to the 'Collector of Madras,' initially refused to sell his property owing to the difficulty with which he had purchased and developed the property. However, the South Indian Railway (SIR) Company, which was then operating train services to the south, persuaded him to sell the land, for which Andy claimed {{INRConvert|1|l}} as compensation. After acquiring the land, the SIR invited Henry Irwin, CIE (chief engineer), who did much of latter day [[Indo-Saracenic Revival architecture|Indo-Saracenic]] in Madras, and E. C. Bird, company architect, to design a building to suit the traffic need. After several alterations in the plan, the construction work began in September 1905 and was completed in 1908.<ref name="RedLetterDayForSR">{{cite news  | title  =Red-letter day for Southern Railway  | location = Chennai  | date = 11 June 2008  | url = http://www.hindu.com/2008/06/11/stories/2008061160021800.htm  | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080613114239/http://www.hindu.com/2008/06/11/stories/2008061160021800.htm  | url-status = dead  | archive-date = 13 June 2008  | newspaper =[[The Hindu]]  | access-date = 17 June 2012}}</ref> It was constructed by contractor T. Samynada Pillai of [[thirunageswaram]] near kumbakonnam at a cost of {{INRConvert|17|l}}. The station was officially opened on 11 June 1908.<ref name="EgmoreAndTheSouth">{{cite news  | last = Muthiah  | first = S.  | title = Egmore and the South  | location = Chennai  | date = 16 June 2008  | url = http://www.hindu.com/mp/2008/06/16/stories/2008061650520500.htm  | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080620165303/http://www.hindu.com/mp/2008/06/16/stories/2008061650520500.htm  | url-status = dead  | archive-date = 20 June 2008  | newspaper = [[The Hindu]]  | access-date = 29 December 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite news  | last = Muthiah  | first = S.  | title = The railway of the Deep South  | newspaper = The Hindu  | location = Chennai  | date = 9 May 2010  | url = http://www.thehindu.com/arts/history-and-culture/article425584.ece  | access-date = 28 December 2011  | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20101117021454/http://www.thehindu.com/arts/history-and-culture/article425584.ece  | archive-date = 17 November 2010  | url-status = dead  }}</ref>
 
There was initially a demand that the station be named after [[Robert Clive]], which was, however, strongly opposed by the public as they wanted to name it Egmore. When the station was opened there was no electricity connection and a generator was used.<ref name="RedLetterDayForSR"/> The station became the major [[Metre-gauge railway|metre-gauge]] terminal for Chennai after the formation of [[Southern Railway zone|Southern Railway]] in 1951 and served as the gateway to the southern [[Tamil Nadu]], chiefly due to its acting as a connecting point for passengers from the south to the [[Chennai Central]] for boarding north-, west- and east-bound trains. Irwin and Bird worked on the design of the building, which was sympathetically added to in the 1930s and 1980s.<ref name="EgmoreAndTheSouth"/> In the 1990s it was converted into a major broad gauge terminal, a role in which it became operational in 1998.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.hindu.com/2008/06/07/stories/2008060757850200.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080610214331/http://www.hindu.com/2008/06/07/stories/2008060757850200.htm|url-status=dead|archive-date=10 June 2008|title=One hundred years of tireless travel ... still chugging with charm|date=7 June 2008|work=[[The Hindu]]|access-date=24 May 2011}}</ref>


Earlier, cars used to come inside the platform itself, which was found only in this station.<ref>{{cite news
The site of the railway station hosted a fortified redoubt in the early 18th century, and later housed a [[sanatorium]], and an [[orphanage]] in the mid 18th century. By the late 19th century, part of the land was owned by [[Pulney Andy]] (1831–1909), one of the first Indians to earn a medical degree in the United Kingdom.<ref name="Hist">{{cite web |last=V |first=Sriram |title=Chennai Landmark – The Egmore Station |work=Madras Musings |date=25 November 2014 |url=https://sriramv.com/2014/11/25/chennai-landmark-the-egmore-station/ |access-date=8 November 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |first=S. |last=Muthiah |date=27 October 2012 |orig-year=19 September 2010 |title=Whither this National Library? |url=http://www.thehindu.com/life-and-style/metroplus/article696892.ece |work=[[The Hindu]] |access-date=21 June 2019}}</ref> The [[South Indian Railway]] (SIR) was established in 1874 through the amalgamation of three railway companies that existed in the [[Madras Presidency]]. Egmore became the company's terminus in Madras by the 1880s. An increase in traffic led to plans for the construction of a full-fledged terminus in the early 1900s.<ref name="Hist"/> The station was planned on a {{cvt|2.5|acre}} plot of land, of which {{cvt|1.8|acre}} was owned by Andy. After initial reluctance, Andy sold the land for approximately {{INRconvert|0.1|m|year=1904}} in 1904.<ref name="Hist"/><ref name="Heritage">{{cite web |last=Pain |first=Paromita |title=Heritage tracks |work=[[Business Line]] |date=27 June 2008 |url=http://www.thehindubusinessline.in/life/2008/06/27/stories/2008062750030200.htm |access-date=8 November 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140416180606/http://www.thehindubusinessline.in/life/2008/06/27/stories/2008062750030200.htm |archive-date=16 April 2014}}</ref>
| last = Krishnaswamy
| first = Murali N.
| title = Chugging on . . . a hundred years hence
| newspaper = The Hindu
| location = Chennai
| publisher = Kasturi & Sons
| date = 17 June 2008
| url = http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-features/tp-youngworld/chugging-on-a-hundred-years-hence/article1443993.ece
| access-date = 28 September 2019}}</ref> In its report, the SIR commented on the construction of a new building for Egmore:<ref name="RedLetterDayForSR"/>
{{cquote|For some time it had been felt that the traffic to be handled in 'Madras' had outgrown the accommodation provided for it at the Egmore station and that something better was required. The old-fashioned, cramped station had done duty for many years as terminus for the South Indian Railway. Hence the move to construct a new station building for Madras.}}


SIR also claimed during the inauguration of the new building that it had given Madras a building to be proud of, "whose covered platform area is greater than that of [[Charing Cross railway station|Charing Cross Station]] in London."<ref name="RedLetterDayForSR"/>
[[File:Chennai_Egmore_station,_Second_Entrance2.jpg|thumb|left|Rear entrance added in 2006]]


The signal cabin at the station was opened in 1935, when the suburban line between [[Chennai Beach railway station|Madras Beach]] and {{stnlnk|Tambaram}} was electrified. The signalling of the station is controlled by a [[Siemens]] all-electric power frame of 1935.<ref name="SignalBox_MadrasEgmore">{{cite web
The terminal building was designed by British architects [[Henry Irwin]] and E. C. Bird. It measured {{cvt|300|ft}} by {{cvt|70|ft}}, and was constructed by [[T. Samynada Pillai]]. The construction of the station began in September 1905 and was completed in 1908 at a cost of {{INRconvert|1.7|m|year=1908}}.<ref name="Hist"/><ref name="Heritage"/><ref name="Red">{{cite web |title =Red-letter day for Southern Railway |date=11 June 2008 |url=http://www.hindu.com/2008/06/11/stories/2008061160021800.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080613114239/http://www.hindu.com/2008/06/11/stories/2008061160021800.htm |url-status=dead |archive-date=13 June 2008 |work=[[The Hindu]] |access-date=17 June 2012}}</ref>  The station was opened to the public on 11 June 1908, and initially relied on [[diesel generators]] for electricity.<ref name="South">{{cite web |last=Muthiah |first=S. |title=Egmore and the South |date=16 June 2008 |url=http://www.hindu.com/mp/2008/06/16/stories/2008061650520500.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080620165303/http://www.hindu.com/mp/2008/06/16/stories/2008061650520500.htm |url-status=dead |archive-date=20 June 2008 |work=[[The Hindu]] |access-date=29 December 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last=Muthiah |first=S. |title=The railway of the Deep South |work=[[The Hindu]] |date=9 May 2010 |url=http://www.thehindu.com/arts/history-and-culture/article425584.ece |access-date=28 December 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101117021454/http://www.thehindu.com/arts/history-and-culture/article425584.ece |archive-date=17 November 2010 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last=Krishnaswamy |first=Murali N. |title=Chugging on . . . a hundred years hence |work=[[The Hindu]] |date=17 June 2008 |url=http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-features/tp-youngworld/chugging-on-a-hundred-years-hence/article1443993.ece |access-date=28 September 2019}}</ref> The station underwent developments in 1930, and became part of the first [[Railway electrification|electrified]] suburban line established in 1931.<ref name="Hist"/><ref name="South"/><ref>{{cite web|url=https://sr.indianrailways.gov.in/uploads/files/1401880179452-mas--general-info.pdf|title=Chennai division|work=[[Southern Railway zone]], [[Indian Railways]]|access-date=1 June 2025}}</ref> A signal cabin at the station was opened in 1935, after the suburban line between [[Chennai Beach railway station|Madras Beach]] and {{stnlnk|Tambaram}} was electrified.<ref>{{cite web |last=Hinson |first=John |title=Madras Egmore: South Indian Railway |work=The Signal Box |url=http://www.signalbox.org/overseas/india/madrasegmore.htm |access-date=9 September 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20020418214138/http://www.signalbox.org/overseas/india/madrasegmore.htm |archive-date=18 April 2002 |url-status=dead }}</ref> After the nationalisation of the railways in 1951, the station became part of the [[Southern Railway zone]] of the [[Indian Railways]], and emerged as a major terminal for trains to the south of the state.<ref name="Hist"/><ref name="Heritage"/> The station was expanded in 1980, and the tracks were converted into [[broad gauge]] in 1998.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.hindu.com/2008/06/07/stories/2008060757850200.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080610214331/http://www.hindu.com/2008/06/07/stories/2008060757850200.htm|url-status=dead|archive-date=10 June 2008|title=One hundred years of tireless travel ... still chugging with charm|date=7 June 2008|work=[[The Hindu]]|access-date=24 May 2011}}</ref> The [[Chennai suburban|suburban]] trains continued to operate on meter gauge until 2004 when a new suburban terminal was added to the station.<ref name="Hist"/><ref name="Heritage"/> In 2006, a second entrance was established on the [[EVR Periyar Salai|Poonamallee High road]] at a cost of {{INRConvert|115.3|m|year=2006}}.<ref name="Red"/><ref>{{cite news |last=Vydhianathan |first=S. |title=Second terminal at Puratchi Thalaivar Dr. M. G. Ramachandran Central Railway Station proposed |location=Chennai |date=26 October 2004|url=http://www.hindu.com/2004/10/26/stories/2004102610770100.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20041201070212/http://www.hindu.com/2004/10/26/stories/2004102610770100.htm |url-status=dead |archive-date=1 December 2004 |work=[[The Hindu]] |access-date=9 November 2012}}</ref> In 2013, [[Track ballast|ballast]]-less tracks were laid along the terminus.<ref>{{cite news |last=Ayyappan |first=V. |title=Puratchi Thalaivar Dr. M. G. Ramachandran Central Railway Station, Chennai Egmore Railway Station to get washable tracks |work=[[The Times of India]] |date=14 February 2013 |url=http://epaper.timesofindia.com/Default/Scripting/ArticleWin.asp?From=Archive&Source=Page&Skin=TOINEW&BaseHref=TOICH/2013/02/14&PageLabel=5&EntityId=Ar00504&ViewMode=HTML |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304113404/http://epaper.timesofindia.com/Default/Scripting/ArticleWin.asp?From=Archive&Source=Page&Skin=TOINEW&BaseHref=TOICH/2013/02/14&PageLabel=5&EntityId=Ar00504&ViewMode=HTML |url-status=dead |archive-date=4 March 2016 |access-date=17 February 2013}}</ref> In the early 2020s, it was one of the stations selected for upgradation under the [[Amrit Bharat Station Scheme|Amrit Bharat]] scheme of the Indian Railways,<ref>{{cite news |title=Amrit Bharat Stations |url=https://pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=1897980 |access-date=8 April 2024 |work=[[Press Information Bureau]] |date=10 February 2023 }}</ref> and underwent major renovation as a part of the scheme.<ref name="PR">{{cite press release|url=
| last = Hinson
https://sr.indianrailways.gov.in/view_detail.jsp?lang=0&dcd=12916&id=0,4,268|title=Chennai Egmore Redevelopment works move at swift pace|date=26 December 2022|access-date=1 June 2025|work=[[Indian Railways]]}}</ref>
| first = John
| title = Madras Egmore: South Indian Railway
| work = The Signal Box
| url = http://www.signalbox.org/overseas/india/madrasegmore.htm
| access-date = 9 September 2013
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20020418214138/http://www.signalbox.org/overseas/india/madrasegmore.htm
| archive-date = 18 April 2002
| url-status = dead
}}</ref>


A new suburban station building was opened in November 2004 when the Tambaram–Beach broad-gauge section became fully operational. With increasing passenger traffic, the entrance on the Gandhi-Irwin Road eventually became insufficient.<ref name="RedLetterDayForSR"/> In 2004, construction of a second entry to the station on the Poonamallee High Road side began at a cost of {{INRConvert|11.53|c}}.<ref>{{cite news
==Design==
| last = Vydhianathan
The station lies on a {{cvt|2.5|acre}} plot of land on Gandhi-Irwin road in [[Egmore]].<ref name="Hist"/> It is situated between two [[Overpass|flyovers]] on either side of the road.<ref name="South"/> The station building is spread over {{cvt|135406|m2}}, and was designed in [[Gothic architecture|Gothic]] and [[Indo-Saracenic architecture]] with elements of [[Dravidian architecture]]. It was notable for early use of [[concrete]] during the construction.<ref name="Hist"/><ref name="PR"/> The building had a three-span roof structure, with a large dome atop of it. It had carved motifs on the pillars and brackets, which were based on Dravidian temple architecture. The building has been constructed using [[brick]], [[granite]], and [[sandstone]], which gives contrasting appearance.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://madrasmusings.com/vol-32-no-23/heritage-watch-egmore-station-then-now-and-in-future/|title=Egmore station then and now|work=Madras Musings|access-date=1 June 2025|date=16 March 2023}}</ref> The building had [[stained glass]] windows and was earlier equipped with wooden stairways to move across platforms.<ref name="Hist"/>
| first = S.
| title = Second terminal at Puratchi Thalaivar Dr. M. G. Ramachandran Central Railway Station proposed
| location = Chennai
| date = 26 October 2004
| url = http://www.hindu.com/2004/10/26/stories/2004102610770100.htm
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20041201070212/http://www.hindu.com/2004/10/26/stories/2004102610770100.htm
| url-status = dead
| archive-date = 1 December 2004
| newspaper = [[The Hindu]]
| access-date = 9 November 2012}}</ref> In June 2006, the second entrance was opened.<ref name="RedLetterDayForSR"/>


==Layout==
== Network and services ==
Chennai Egmore station lies between two flyovers separated by a distance of about {{cvt|925|m}}, measuring {{cvt|300 x 70|ft}} on {{cvt|2.5|acre}} of land<ref name="EgmoreAndTheSouth"/> The station is about {{cvt|750|m}} long and has 11 platforms.  Platforms 1, 2 and 3 are on the eastern side. They are relatively short in length. They are used for short trains. Platform 4 is the main platform leading to the portico. Platforms 4, 5, 6 and 7 lie under the dome. These are used for long-distance trains. Platforms 10 and 11 are newly constructed ones that are handling broad-gauge electric multiple units (EMUs or suburban electric trains). Some platforms have escalators. The platform is the 5th longest in the country and the 6th longest in the world.
The station is classified as a [[Categorization of Indian Railway stations by commercial importance|NSG–1]] category station and comes under the purview of the [[Chennai railway division]] of the [[Southern Railway zone]] of the [[Indian Railways]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Southern Railway List of Stations |url=https://sr.indianrailways.gov.in/cris//uploads/files/1686913242750-SR%20-LIST%20OF%20STATIONS-2023.pdf |publisher=Centre For Railway Information Systems |access-date=23 March 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240323095403/https://sr.indianrailways.gov.in/cris//uploads/files/1686913242750-SR%20-LIST%20OF%20STATIONS-2023.pdf |archive-date=23 March 2024 |page=1 |date=1 April 2023}}</ref> It is located on the [[Chennai Egmore–Thanjavur main line]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://sr.indianrailways.gov.in/cris/uploads/files/1444728316895-A4SMap-2015.pdf|title=Southern Railway Route Map|publisher=[[Southern Railway zone]], [[Indian Railways]]|access-date=12 August 2023|archive-date=12 August 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230812121221/https://sr.indianrailways.gov.in/cris/uploads/files/1444728316895-A4SMap-2015.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref> It also forms part of the [[South Line, Chennai Suburban|South Line]] of the [[Chennai suburban]] rail network that extends from [[Chennai Beach railway station|Chennai Beach]] towards [[Tambaram railway station|Tambaram]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://st2.indiarailinfo.com/kjfdsuiemjvcya0/0/9/1/8/592918/0/linemap.pdf|title=Chennai rail network|work=Indiarailinfo|access-date=1 June 2025}}</ref> {{As of|2022}}, the station handles about 120 [[Express trains in India|Mail/Express]] trains and 442 [[Suburban rail|Suburban]]/[[Multiple units of India|Multiple Units]] daily.<ref name="PR"/><ref>{{cite news |last=Venugopal |first=Vasudha |title=Display boards at station fail to show the way |work=[[The Hindu]] |date=5 February 2013 |url=http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/chennai/display-boards-at-station-fail-to-show-the-way/article4379567.ece |access-date=11 February 2013}}</ref> While the station serves as a major terminus for trains operating towards the central and southern Tamil Nadu, a few services operate from the station to other destinations in India, by connecting with the [[Gudur–Chennai section]] of the [[Howrah–Chennai main line]] via Chennai Beach station.<ref name="Red"/><ref>{{cite web|title=Train Timings at Chennai Egmore|url=http://www.sr.indianrailways.gov.in/uploads/files/1341216868714-ms-mas.pdf|work=[[Southern Railway zone]], [[Indian Railways]]|access-date=20 August 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Egmore to remain railway hub |work=[[The Hindu]] |date=22 December 2011 |url=http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-tamilnadu/article2736904.ece |access-date=31 December 2011}}</ref> Beginning in the early 2010s, Indian Railways terminated few of the services at Tambaram railway station to reduce congestion at the station.<ref>{{cite news |last=Malavan |first=K. |title=Tambaram 3rd Rail Terminus update |work=[[The Hindu]] |date=20 January 2012 |url=http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-tamilnadu/article2816286.ece |access-date=20 January 2012}}</ref>


{{wide image|Egmore Railway Station, Chennai, India - Panoramic view.jpg|520px|Top view Egmore Station }}
==Facilities==
There are 11 platforms in the station.<ref name="Heritage"/><ref>{{cite web|url=https://indiarailinfo.com/departures/779?date=undefined&src=&dest=undefined&locoClass=undefined&bedroll=undefined&stptype=0&|title=Chennai Egmore|work=Indiarailinfo|access-date=1 June 2025}}</ref> In 2019–20, platforms five to nine were extended.<ref name="IE">{{cite web |title=Egmore railway station to have better services for commuters |work=[[The New Indian Express]] |date=26 November 2019 |url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/cities/chennai/2019/nov/26/egmore-to-have-better-services-for-commuters-2067180.html |access-date=24 October 2020}}</ref> The station has a train care centre attached to it, which houses the trains terminating at the station.<ref>{{cite news |last=Ayyappan |first=V. |title=Passengers panic as pests overrun dirty train bogies |date=29 October 2012 |url=http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2012-10-29/chennai/34797147_1_sleeper-coaches-bogies-pests-and-rodents |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130103150228/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2012-10-29/chennai/34797147_1_sleeper-coaches-bogies-pests-and-rodents |url-status=dead |archive-date=3 January 2013 |work=[[The Times of India]] |access-date=10 November 2012}}</ref> There are 16 air-conditioned dormitories, 14 retiring rooms, and three waiting halls for passengers.<ref name="IE"/>


Chennai Egmore station is not a junction. This can be understood also from its name. It has one line towards [[Chennai Beach railway station]] (via Park Town and Fort), while the other is towards [[Tambaram railway station]] (via [[Mambalam]]).
In April 2012, the Government Railway Police and the [[Railway Protection Force]] released a plan in which a [[helpline]] was launched and the station was divided into three sectors, for the deployment of security personnel.<ref>{{cite news |title=Railway police launches two helplines |work=[[The Hindu]] |date=1 May 2012 |url=http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/chennai/article3371573.ece |access-date=25 November 2012}}</ref> The station has an Integrated Security Surveillance System implemented in 2012, which consists of a set of [[Closed-circuit television|CCTV]] cameras installed around the station.<ref>{{cite news |title=Chennai: Suburban railway stations to come under CCTV surveillance |work=[[IBN Live]] |date=18 July 2012 |url=http://ibnlive.in.com/news/chennai-suburban-railway-stations-to-come-under-cctv-surveillance/272054-62-130.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131111231320/http://ibnlive.in.com/news/chennai-suburban-railway-stations-to-come-under-cctv-surveillance/272054-62-130.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=11 November 2013 |access-date=14 January 2014}}</ref> The station has been divided into two zones for cleaning and maintenance&ndash;the first six platforms fall under zone I and the remaining platforms fall under zone II.<ref>{{cite news |last=Varma |first=M. Dinesh |title=New agency undertakes cleaning of Egmore station |work=[[The Hindu]] |date=7 December 2012 |url=http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/chennai/new-agency-undertakes-cleaning-of-egmore-station/article4171806.ece |access-date=13 December 2012}}</ref>


==Traffic==
== Connectivity ==
[[File:Chennai-Egmore-Railway-Station-1.jpg|left|thumb|220px|Nightview of the main entrance]]
There is a bus shelter at the southern entrance at the Gandhi-Irwin road and a bus terminus near the northern entrance on the Poonamallee High road. Bus services are operated by the state-run [[Metropolitan Transport Corporation (Chennai)|Metropolitan Transport Corporation]]. There is a multi-storey parking lot attached to the station.<ref name="IE"/><ref>{{cite news |last=Madhavan  |first=D. |title=Whenners Road hit by 'pothole plague' |work=[[The Hindu]] |date=5 October 2019 |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/chennai/whenners-road-hit-by-pothole-plague/article29603406.ece |access-date=24 October 2020}}</ref> Pre-paid taxi and autorickshaw services are also available from the station.<ref>{{cite news |last=Ayyappan |first=V. |title=One more prepaid autorickshaw counter opened at Egmore Railway Station |work=[[The Times of India]]  |date=1 August 2014 |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/chennai/One-more-prepaid-autorickshaw-counter-opened-at-Egmore-railway-station/articleshow/39417907.cms |access-date=24 October 2020}}</ref> The [[Egmore metro station]] on the [[Green Line (Chennai Metro)|Green Line]] of the [[Chennai Metro]] serves the station.<ref>{{cite web|url =http://www.chennaimetrorail.gov.in/linemap.php|title =Chennai Metro Rail Line Map|url-status =dead|archive-url =https://web.archive.org/web/20140713212247/http://chennaimetrorail.gov.in/linemap.php|archive-date =13 July 2014}}</ref>
As of 2013, the station handles about 35 main line trains and 118 suburban trains, and about 150,000 people daily.<ref>{{cite news
| last = Venugopal | first = Vasudha | title = Display boards at station fail to show the way | newspaper = The Hindu
| location = Chennai | date = 5 February 2013 | url = http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/chennai/display-boards-at-station-fail-to-show-the-way/article4379567.ece | access-date = 11 February 2013}}</ref> Its average daily earning is {{INRConvert|17.06|l}}.<ref name="RedLetterDayForSR"/>
 
The total revenue generated by the station during 2012–2013 was {{INRConvert|287.3|c}}, making it the second highest revenue-generating station of the Southern Railway, behind [[Puratchi Thalaivar Dr. M.G. Ramachandran Central railway station]].
 
==Maintenance==
[[File:Chennai-Egmore-Railway-Station-6.jpg|thumb|The illuminated station at night]]
The station has been divided into two zones for mechanised cleaning contracts—platforms 1 to 6 fall under zone I and platforms 7 to 11 fall under zone II. In December 2012, Southern Railway awarded contract to a new agency with a 43-member team taking charge of upkeep of zone II.<ref>{{cite news
| last = Varma
| first = M. Dinesh
| title = New agency undertakes cleaning of Egmore station
| newspaper = The Hindu
| location = Chennai
| date = 7 December 2012
| url = http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/chennai/new-agency-undertakes-cleaning-of-egmore-station/article4171806.ece
| access-date = 13 December 2012}}</ref> Contracts for cleaning Chennai Egmore station has been awarded for a period of 3 years from 2010 for a value of {{INRConvert|2.05|c}}.<ref>{{cite news
| title = Cleanliness drive in railway stations
| newspaper = The Hindu
| location = Chennai
| date = 8 July 2010
| url = http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/chennai/cleanliness-drive-in-railway-stations/article504748.ece
| access-date = 7 November 2012}}</ref>
 
===Train care centre===
The station has a train care centre named Egmore Railway Yard(GSN Yard – Gopal Samy Nagar), where the trains arriving at the station are prepared for departure. However, the centre is soiled and grimy due to lack of maintenance.<ref>{{cite news
| last = Ayyappan
| first = V.
| title = Passengers panic as pests overrun dirty train bogies
| location = Chennai
 
| date = 29 October 2012
| url = http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2012-10-29/chennai/34797147_1_sleeper-coaches-bogies-pests-and-rodents
| archive-url = https://archive.today/20130103150228/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2012-10-29/chennai/34797147_1_sleeper-coaches-bogies-pests-and-rodents
| url-status = dead
| archive-date = 3 January 2013
| newspaper = [[The Times of India]]
| access-date = 10 November 2012}}</ref>
 
==Amenities==
There are 14-bedded air-conditioned dormitories and 16 retiring rooms on the first floor of the station. Three new waiting halls were added to the prepaid AC hall and second call hall.<ref name="IE_BetterServices"/> In 2019–2020, platforms 5, 7, 8, and 9 were extended to accommodate locomotives.<ref name="IE_BetterServices"/>
 
==Connectivity==
The station has two entrance, viz. the main southern entrance on the Gandhi–Irwin Road and the secondary northern entrance on the Poonamallee High Road. Both the entrances has MTC bus routes passing through them and have pre-paid taxi and autorickshaw counters.<ref>{{cite news
  | last = Ayyappan  
  | first = V.  
  | title = One more prepaid autorickshaw counter opened at Egmore Railway Station
  | newspaper = The Times of India
  | location = Chennai
 
  | date = 1 August 2014
  | url = https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/chennai/One-more-prepaid-autorickshaw-counter-opened-at-Egmore-railway-station/articleshow/39417907.cms
  | access-date = 24 October 2020}}</ref> While the southern entrance has a bus shelter, the northern entrance has a two-storey parking lot and a bus terminus.<ref name="IE_BetterServices">{{cite news
  | last = Express News Services
  | title = Egmore railway station to have better services for commuters
  | newspaper = The New Indian Express
  | location = Chennai
  | publisher = Express Publications
  | date = 26 November 2019
  | url = https://www.newindianexpress.com/cities/chennai/2019/nov/26/egmore-to-have-better-services-for-commuters-2067180.html
  | access-date = 24 October 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite news
  | last = Madhavan
  | first = D.
  | title = Whenners Road hit by 'pothole plague'
  | newspaper = The Hindu
  | location = Chennai
  | publisher = Kasturi & Sons
  | date = 5 October 2019
  | url = https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/chennai/whenners-road-hit-by-pothole-plague/article29603406.ece
  | access-date = 24 October 2020}}</ref>
The station is also connected to the [[Chennai Metro]] Rail Line 2, serving as an underground station.<ref>{{Cite web|url =http://www.chennaimetrorail.gov.in/linemap.php|title =Chennai Metro Rail Line Map|url-status =dead|archive-url =https://web.archive.org/web/20140713212247/http://chennaimetrorail.gov.in/linemap.php|archive-date =13 July 2014}}</ref>
 
==Security==
[[File:Egmore station backside.JPG|thumb|200x200px|Backside view of the station]]
In April 2012, the Government Railway Police (GRP) and the [[Railway Protection Force]] (RPF) together launched a helpline known as ''Kaakum karangal'' (literally meaning 'Protecting hands') in the terminus. This involved dividing the terminus into three sectors and deploying 18 police personnel for security.<ref>{{cite news
| title = Railway police launches two helplines
| newspaper = [[The Hindu]]
| location = [[Chennai]]
| date = 1 May 2012
| url = http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/chennai/article3371573.ece
| access-date = 25 November 2012}}</ref>
 
The main station has [[Closed-circuit television|CCTV]] cameras installed. The suburban platforms are covered by the {{INRConvert|40|c}} Integrated Security Surveillance System (ISSS) project implemented in 2012. The project, implemented jointly by the Southern Railways and [[HCL Technologies|HCL Infosystems]], includes installation of CCTV cameras that would record visuals around the clock and store the data for 30 days, with the footage transmitted and stored using an Internet Protocol system.<ref name="IBNLive_CCTVSurveillance">{{cite news
  | title = Chennai: Suburban railway stations to come under CCTV surveillance
  | newspaper = [[IBN Live]]
  | location = [[Chennai]]
  | date = 18 July 2012
  | url = http://ibnlive.in.com/news/chennai-suburban-railway-stations-to-come-under-cctv-surveillance/272054-62-130.html
  | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20131111231320/http://ibnlive.in.com/news/chennai-suburban-railway-stations-to-come-under-cctv-surveillance/272054-62-130.html
  | url-status = dead
  | archive-date = 11 November 2013
  | access-date = 14 January 2014}}</ref>
 
==Future==
[[File:Chennai Egmore station, Second Entrance2.jpg|thumb|Second entrance to the station]]
The station serves not only to the south but also to the north ([[Hyderabad Deccan railway station|Hyderabad]]) and east ({{stnlnk|Howrah}}). Additionally, the Chennai–Mumbai [[Dadar Chennai Egmore Express|Dadar Central Express]] (west) originates from the Egmore station.<ref name="RedLetterDayForSR"/><ref name="latest timetable at ms and mas">{{cite web|title=Train Timings (from 1.7.12) at Chennai Central, Chennai Egmore, Perambur, Tambaram|url=http://www.sr.indianrailways.gov.in/uploads/files/1341216868714-ms-mas.pdf|work=Southern Railway Website PDF Upload|publisher=Southern Railway|access-date=20 August 2012}}</ref>
 
As the growth potential at Chennai Egmore station is limited due to space constraint, the railway is planning to originate or terminate some of the additional trains to be introduced in future at [[Tambaram railway station]]. However, the station will remain a hub of train services and there is no proposal to shift all the services to Tambaram.<ref>{{cite news
  | title = Egmore to remain railway hub
  | newspaper = The Hindu
  | location = Chennai
  | date = 22 December 2011
  | url = http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-tamilnadu/article2736904.ece
  | access-date = 31 December 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite news
  | last = Malavan
  | first = K.
  | title = Tambaram 3rd Rail Terminus update
  | newspaper = The Hindu
  | location = Chennai
  | date = 20 January 2012
  | url = http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-tamilnadu/article2816286.ece
  | access-date = 20 January 2012}}</ref>
 
In February 2013, as part of a national initiative to eliminate ballast tracks at major stations, washable aprons—ballastless tracks or tracks on a concrete bed—were laid along the entire length of track of platform 2 at the terminus.<ref name="TOI_StationsToGetWashableTracks">{{cite news
| last = Ayyappan
| first = V.
| title = Puratchi Thalaivar Dr. M. G. Ramachandran Central Railway Station, Chennai Egmore Railway Station to get washable tracks
| newspaper = The Times of India
| location = Chennai
| date = 14 February 2013
| url = http://epaper.timesofindia.com/Default/Scripting/ArticleWin.asp?From=Archive&Source=Page&Skin=TOINEW&BaseHref=TOICH/2013/02/14&PageLabel=5&EntityId=Ar00504&ViewMode=HTML
| access-date = 17 February 2013}}</ref>
 
==Legacy==
Though several changes were made to the station, the letters "SIR" emblazoned on its bas relief crest still remains, though the middle letter 'I' was painted out a few years ago to read "SR" (meaning Southern Railway).<ref name="EgmoreAndTheSouth"/>


==See also==
==See also==
* [[Chennai Central railway station]]
* {{anl|Chennai Central railway station}}
* [[Chennai Suburban Railway]]
* {{anl|Heritage structures in Chennai}}
* [[Railway stations in Chennai]]
{{Portal bar|India|Transport|Engineering}}
* [[Heritage structures in Chennai]]


==References==
==References==
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== External links ==
== External links ==
* {{Commons category-inline|Chennai Egmore railway station}}
{{Chennai - Suburban Railway, South West|Chennai Egmore|Park Town, Chennai|Chetput|4|4.32}}
{{Chennai - Suburban Railway, South West|Chennai Egmore|Park Town, Chennai|Chetput|4|4.32}}
{{Chennai - Suburban Railway, South|Chennai Egmore|Park Town, Chennai|Chetput|4|4.32}}
{{Chennai - Suburban Railway, South|Chennai Egmore|Park Town, Chennai|Chetput|4|4.32}}
{{Chennai topics|left}}
{{Chennai topics|left}}
{{Transport in Chennai}}
{{Transport in Chennai}}
{{Authority control}}


[[Category:Railway stations in India opened in 1908]]
[[Category:Railway stations in India opened in 1908]]
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[[Category:Heritage sites in Chennai]]
[[Category:Heritage sites in Chennai]]
[[Category:Railway stations in Chennai]]
[[Category:Railway stations in Chennai]]
[[Category:Stations of Chennai Suburban Railway]]
[[Category:Chennai Suburban Railway stations]]

Latest revision as of 03:33, 11 February 2026


Chennai Egmore

Chennai Elumbur
Chennai Egmore railway station
LocationGandhi-Irwin Road, Egmore, Chennai
Coordinates13°04′41″N 80°15′42″E / 13.0780°N 80.2616°E / 13.0780; 80.2616
Elevation8 m (26 ft)
Owned byMinistry of Railways
Line(s)
Platforms11
Tracks12
ConnectionsTemplate:Ric Template:Rcb Egmore
Construction
Structure typeAt-grade
Platform levels1
ParkingAvailable
Architect
Architectural style
Other information
StatusActive
Station codeMS[1]
Zone(s) Southern Railway zone
Division(s) Chennai
History
Opened1880; 146 years ago (1880) (station)
11 June 1908; 118 years ago (11 June 1908) (terminal building)
Electrified1931
Original companySouth Indian Railway
Services
per day (2022)
Location
Chennai Egmore is located in Chennai
Chennai Egmore
Chennai Egmore
Location in Chennai
Chennai Egmore is located in Tamil Nadu
Chennai Egmore
Chennai Egmore
Location in Tamil Nadu
Chennai Egmore is located in India
Chennai Egmore
Chennai Egmore
Location in India

Chennai Egmore (also known as Chennai Elumbur, formerly Madras Egmore) (station code: MS), is a major railway station in Chennai, India. It is classified as a NSG–1 category station and comes under the purview of the Chennai railway division of the Southern Railway zone of the Indian Railways.[2] It is situated in the neighbourhood of Egmore, with the main entrance situated on Gandhi-Irwin road and the rear entrance on Poonamallee high road. It caters to inter-city express trains, multiple units, and suburban services.

The station served as the terminus of the South Indian Railway Company in Madras since the 1880s. The construction of the terminal building began in September 1905 and it was officially opened on 11 June 1908. The building is built in Indo Saracenic style. In 1951, the station became part of the Southern Railway zone of the Indian Railways.

History[edit | edit source]

Egmore station in 1913

The site of the railway station hosted a fortified redoubt in the early 18th century, and later housed a sanatorium, and an orphanage in the mid 18th century. By the late 19th century, part of the land was owned by Pulney Andy (1831–1909), one of the first Indians to earn a medical degree in the United Kingdom.[3][4] The South Indian Railway (SIR) was established in 1874 through the amalgamation of three railway companies that existed in the Madras Presidency. Egmore became the company's terminus in Madras by the 1880s. An increase in traffic led to plans for the construction of a full-fledged terminus in the early 1900s.[3] The station was planned on a 2.5 acres (1.0 ha) plot of land, of which 1.8 acres (0.73 ha) was owned by Andy. After initial reluctance, Andy sold the land for approximately ₹0.1 million (US$1,400) in 1904.[3][5]

Rear entrance added in 2006

The terminal building was designed by British architects Henry Irwin and E. C. Bird. It measured 300 ft (91 m) by 70 ft (21 m), and was constructed by T. Samynada Pillai. The construction of the station began in September 1905 and was completed in 1908 at a cost of ₹1.7 million (US$24,000).[3][5][6] The station was opened to the public on 11 June 1908, and initially relied on diesel generators for electricity.[7][8][9] The station underwent developments in 1930, and became part of the first electrified suburban line established in 1931.[3][7][10] A signal cabin at the station was opened in 1935, after the suburban line between Madras Beach and Tambaram was electrified.[11] After the nationalisation of the railways in 1951, the station became part of the Southern Railway zone of the Indian Railways, and emerged as a major terminal for trains to the south of the state.[3][5] The station was expanded in 1980, and the tracks were converted into broad gauge in 1998.[12] The suburban trains continued to operate on meter gauge until 2004 when a new suburban terminal was added to the station.[3][5] In 2006, a second entrance was established on the Poonamallee High road at a cost of ₹115.3 million (equivalent to ₹300 million or US$4.2 million in 2019).[6][13] In 2013, ballast-less tracks were laid along the terminus.[14] In the early 2020s, it was one of the stations selected for upgradation under the Amrit Bharat scheme of the Indian Railways,[15] and underwent major renovation as a part of the scheme.[16]

Design[edit | edit source]

The station lies on a 2.5 acres (1.0 ha) plot of land on Gandhi-Irwin road in Egmore.[3] It is situated between two flyovers on either side of the road.[7] The station building is spread over 135,406 m2 (1,457,500 sq ft), and was designed in Gothic and Indo-Saracenic architecture with elements of Dravidian architecture. It was notable for early use of concrete during the construction.[3][16] The building had a three-span roof structure, with a large dome atop of it. It had carved motifs on the pillars and brackets, which were based on Dravidian temple architecture. The building has been constructed using brick, granite, and sandstone, which gives contrasting appearance.[17] The building had stained glass windows and was earlier equipped with wooden stairways to move across platforms.[3]

Network and services[edit | edit source]

The station is classified as a NSG–1 category station and comes under the purview of the Chennai railway division of the Southern Railway zone of the Indian Railways.[18] It is located on the Chennai Egmore–Thanjavur main line.[19] It also forms part of the South Line of the Chennai suburban rail network that extends from Chennai Beach towards Tambaram.[20] As of 2022, the station handles about 120 Mail/Express trains and 442 Suburban/Multiple Units daily.[16][21] While the station serves as a major terminus for trains operating towards the central and southern Tamil Nadu, a few services operate from the station to other destinations in India, by connecting with the Gudur–Chennai section of the Howrah–Chennai main line via Chennai Beach station.[6][22][23] Beginning in the early 2010s, Indian Railways terminated few of the services at Tambaram railway station to reduce congestion at the station.[24]

Facilities[edit | edit source]

There are 11 platforms in the station.[5][25] In 2019–20, platforms five to nine were extended.[26] The station has a train care centre attached to it, which houses the trains terminating at the station.[27] There are 16 air-conditioned dormitories, 14 retiring rooms, and three waiting halls for passengers.[26]

In April 2012, the Government Railway Police and the Railway Protection Force released a plan in which a helpline was launched and the station was divided into three sectors, for the deployment of security personnel.[28] The station has an Integrated Security Surveillance System implemented in 2012, which consists of a set of CCTV cameras installed around the station.[29] The station has been divided into two zones for cleaning and maintenance–the first six platforms fall under zone I and the remaining platforms fall under zone II.[30]

Connectivity[edit | edit source]

There is a bus shelter at the southern entrance at the Gandhi-Irwin road and a bus terminus near the northern entrance on the Poonamallee High road. Bus services are operated by the state-run Metropolitan Transport Corporation. There is a multi-storey parking lot attached to the station.[26][31] Pre-paid taxi and autorickshaw services are also available from the station.[32] The Egmore metro station on the Green Line of the Chennai Metro serves the station.[33]

See also[edit | edit source]

References[edit | edit source]

  1. ↑ "Station Code Index" (PDF). Centre For Railway Information Systems. 2023–24. p. 5. Archived from the original (PDF) on 16 February 2024. Retrieved 23 March 2024.
  2. ↑ "Southern Railway List of Stations" (PDF). Centre For Railway Information Systems. 1 April 2023. p. 1. Archived from the original (PDF) on 23 March 2024. Retrieved 23 March 2024.
  3. ↑ 3.00 3.01 3.02 3.03 3.04 3.05 3.06 3.07 3.08 3.09 V, Sriram (25 November 2014). "Chennai Landmark – The Egmore Station". Madras Musings. Retrieved 8 November 2015.
  4. ↑ Muthiah, S. (27 October 2012) [19 September 2010]. "Whither this National Library?". The Hindu. Retrieved 21 June 2019.
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 5.4 Pain, Paromita (27 June 2008). "Heritage tracks". Business Line. Archived from the original on 16 April 2014. Retrieved 8 November 2012.
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 "Red-letter day for Southern Railway". The Hindu. 11 June 2008. Archived from the original on 13 June 2008. Retrieved 17 June 2012.
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 Muthiah, S. (16 June 2008). "Egmore and the South". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 20 June 2008. Retrieved 29 December 2011.
  8. ↑ Muthiah, S. (9 May 2010). "The railway of the Deep South". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 17 November 2010. Retrieved 28 December 2011.
  9. ↑ Krishnaswamy, Murali N. (17 June 2008). "Chugging on . . . a hundred years hence". The Hindu. Retrieved 28 September 2019.
  10. ↑ "Chennai division" (PDF). Southern Railway zone, Indian Railways. Retrieved 1 June 2025.
  11. ↑ Hinson, John. "Madras Egmore: South Indian Railway". The Signal Box. Archived from the original on 18 April 2002. Retrieved 9 September 2013.
  12. ↑ "One hundred years of tireless travel ... still chugging with charm". The Hindu. 7 June 2008. Archived from the original on 10 June 2008. Retrieved 24 May 2011.
  13. ↑ Vydhianathan, S. (26 October 2004). "Second terminal at Puratchi Thalaivar Dr. M. G. Ramachandran Central Railway Station proposed". The Hindu. Chennai. Archived from the original on 1 December 2004. Retrieved 9 November 2012.
  14. ↑ Ayyappan, V. (14 February 2013). "Puratchi Thalaivar Dr. M. G. Ramachandran Central Railway Station, Chennai Egmore Railway Station to get washable tracks". The Times of India. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 17 February 2013.
  15. ↑ "Amrit Bharat Stations". Press Information Bureau. 10 February 2023. Retrieved 8 April 2024.
  16. ↑ 16.0 16.1 16.2 "Chennai Egmore Redevelopment works move at swift pace". Indian Railways (Press release). 26 December 2022. Retrieved 1 June 2025.
  17. ↑ "Egmore station then and now". Madras Musings. 16 March 2023. Retrieved 1 June 2025.
  18. ↑ "Southern Railway List of Stations" (PDF). Centre For Railway Information Systems. 1 April 2023. p. 1. Archived from the original (PDF) on 23 March 2024. Retrieved 23 March 2024.
  19. ↑ "Southern Railway Route Map" (PDF). Southern Railway zone, Indian Railways. Archived (PDF) from the original on 12 August 2023. Retrieved 12 August 2023.
  20. ↑ "Chennai rail network" (PDF). Indiarailinfo. Retrieved 1 June 2025.
  21. ↑ Venugopal, Vasudha (5 February 2013). "Display boards at station fail to show the way". The Hindu. Retrieved 11 February 2013.
  22. ↑ "Train Timings at Chennai Egmore" (PDF). Southern Railway zone, Indian Railways. Retrieved 20 August 2012.
  23. ↑ "Egmore to remain railway hub". The Hindu. 22 December 2011. Retrieved 31 December 2011.
  24. ↑ Malavan, K. (20 January 2012). "Tambaram 3rd Rail Terminus update". The Hindu. Retrieved 20 January 2012.
  25. ↑ "Chennai Egmore". Indiarailinfo. Retrieved 1 June 2025.
  26. ↑ 26.0 26.1 26.2 "Egmore railway station to have better services for commuters". The New Indian Express. 26 November 2019. Retrieved 24 October 2020.
  27. ↑ Ayyappan, V. (29 October 2012). "Passengers panic as pests overrun dirty train bogies". The Times of India. Retrieved 10 November 2012.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link)
  28. ↑ "Railway police launches two helplines". The Hindu. 1 May 2012. Retrieved 25 November 2012.
  29. ↑ "Chennai: Suburban railway stations to come under CCTV surveillance". IBN Live. 18 July 2012. Archived from the original on 11 November 2013. Retrieved 14 January 2014.
  30. ↑ Varma, M. Dinesh (7 December 2012). "New agency undertakes cleaning of Egmore station". The Hindu. Retrieved 13 December 2012.
  31. ↑ Madhavan, D. (5 October 2019). "Whenners Road hit by 'pothole plague'". The Hindu. Retrieved 24 October 2020.
  32. ↑ Ayyappan, V. (1 August 2014). "One more prepaid autorickshaw counter opened at Egmore Railway Station". The Times of India. Retrieved 24 October 2020.
  33. ↑ "Chennai Metro Rail Line Map". Archived from the original on 13 July 2014.

External links[edit | edit source]

Chennai Egmore
Next station east north/north:
Park Town, Chennai		 South West Line, Chennai Suburban Next station south/south west:
Chetput
Stop number: 4 km from start: 4.32
Chennai Egmore
Next station northbound:
Park Town, Chennai		 South Line, Chennai Suburban Next station southbound:
Chetput
Stop number: 4 km from start: 4.32
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