Coach terminal to be ready at Tambaram in two months

It is expected that the Railway Board will consider starting and terminating trains at Tambaram railway station which with its eight platforms has the infrastructure to meet needs of a terminal. This terminal assumes importance as Basin Bridge and Egmore yards have no space or scope for expansion. Work was held up as two contractors who had been given the job left midway due to various reasons resulting in the work being delayed. 

The Tambaram coaching terminal will ensure that trains can halt and be maintained due to availability of space. The work estimated at Rs.29.61 crore till April 1 includes setting up of two pit lines – a huge pit of nearly 600 m between the tracks will enable workers to go beneath the coaches to work on the undercarriage as a 24 coach train with engines is of this length -  and two stabling tracks, where maintained coaches can be parked. Due to lack of space, terminating trains are currently parked as far away as Chengalpattu, 52 km away and at suburban stations midway where space is available. 

“Though civil work is over, electrification and signalling work need more time” officials add.  Presently, Chennai’s two coaching terminals _ Basin Bridge and Egmore _ have no space for expansion and hence Tambaram coaching terminal assumes importance. But for passengers, “they must take an extra effort to climb foot overbridges along with their luggage to reach suburban services or to reach Egmore” according to Velumani of Chengalpattu. “In such cases, escalators have to be set up on platforms where passengers can disembark from express trains and board suburban trains” he added. Also questions arise as to the fare structure for upper class express train passengers in suburban trains and whether sleeper class passengers will have to purchase fresh tickets for onward travel to Egmore.