Southern Railway Implements Major Schedule Adjustments for Chennai Trains in March
In response to an approved railway track closure in Chennai, Southern Railway has announced significant modifications to its train service patterns for the month of March. This operational change is set to impact numerous long-distance and express trains, leading to delays that vary from minor adjustments to substantial slowdowns.
Detailed List of Affected Train Services and Delays
The following trains will experience revised timings due to the track section closure:
- Train No 22644 Patna-Ernakulam Jn Superfast Express: Departing at 2pm on March 12, delayed by 50 minutes; also on March 5, delayed by 60 minutes.
- Train No 07153 Narasapur-SMVT Bengaluru Express: Departing at 3.50pm on March 13, delayed by 45 minutes.
- Train No 22504 Dibrugarh-Kanniyakumari Vivek Express: Departing at 7.35pm on March 11, delayed by 40 minutes.
- Train No 05074 Lal Kuan-KSR Bengaluru Puja Special: Departing at 5.45pm on March 28, delayed by 3 hours 20 minutes.
- Train No 12296 Danapur-SMVT Bengaluru Sanghamitra Superfast Express: Departing at 8.15pm on March 28, delayed by 2 hours 10 minutes.
- Train No 12839 Howrah-Dr MGR Chennai Central Mail: Departing at 11.45pm on March 4 and 5, delayed by 1 hour 05 minutes; on March 7, delayed by 1 hour 15 minutes.
- Train No 12616 New Delhi-Dr MGR Chennai Central Grand Trunk Superfast Express: Departing at 4.10pm on March 5 and 7, delayed by 15 minutes.
- Train No 22502 New Tinsukia-SMVT Bengaluru Superfast Express: Departing at 5.40pm on March 6, delayed by 60 minutes.
- Train No 12635 Chennai Egmore-Madurai Vaigai Superfast Express: Departing at 1.15pm on March 26, delayed by 60 minutes; on March 28, delayed by 1 hour 10 minutes.
- Train No 17656 Puducherry-Kakinada Port Express: Departing at 1.30pm on March 26 and 28, delayed by 30 minutes.
- Train No 22645 Indore-Thiruvananthapuram North Superfast Express: Departing Indore at 4.45pm on March 9, delayed by 50 minutes.
- Train No 13351 Dhanbad-Alappuzha Express: Departing at 11.35am on March 7 and 14, delayed by 35 minutes.
- Train No 06547 SMVT Bengaluru-Thiruvananthapuram North Special: Departing at 7.25pm on March 18, delayed by 1 hour 15 minutes.
- Train No 16526 KSR Bengaluru-Kanniyakumari Express: Departing at 8.10pm on March 25, delayed by 30 minutes.
Impact on Passengers and Operational Adjustments
These schedule changes are a direct result of the temporary track closure in Chennai, which necessitates rerouting or slowing down trains to ensure safety and maintenance work. Passengers are advised to check the updated timings and plan their journeys accordingly to avoid inconvenience. Southern Railway has emphasized that these adjustments are essential for infrastructure upkeep and long-term service reliability.
The delays range from as little as 15 minutes to over three hours, affecting key routes connecting major cities across India. Travelers should monitor official announcements for any further updates or modifications to the schedule.
