Chennai, Apr 19 (UNI) In a significant initiative aimed at providing hassle-free pleasant
travel experience for passengers, the Chennai Division of Southern Railway launched
the first Air-conditioned suburban EMU train service on Saturday.
The first EMU train was operated on the Chennai Beach-Chengalpattu section.
The AC EMU service was first introduced in the Mumbai suburban and witnesses’
steady patronage among commuters, especially office-goers and women travellers.
Following its success, the AC EMU service has been introduced in Chennai suburban
in Chennai Beach-Chengalpattu section which registers high footfalls.
The fare has been fixed nominally at Rs 35, Railway sources said.
The service will be a boon for commuters during the peak hours and the hot and humid
weather conditions.
The modern AC EMU rake, equipped with better facilities for passengers like automatic
doors, passenger information systems, CCTV cameras, well-marked entry/exit points,
and is a significant milestone in enhancing passenger comfort.
To be operated on all days in both the direction except Sundays, the first Air- conditioned
EMU service left Chennai Beach at 0700 hrs and reached Chengalpattu at 0835 hrs,
covering the nearly 65 km distance in 95 minutes, after having stoppages in 14 main
stations, substantially reducing the travelling time when compared to the ordinary EMU
which will have stoppages in all stations and takes about two hours and 15 mts to cover
the distance.
In the return direction, it left Chengalpattu at 0900 hrs and reached Chennai Beach at
1030 hrs.
A total of three AC EMU services would be operated today, while the regular services
will start on Monday with the first train leaving Chennai Beach at 0545 hrs.
UNI GV 1315