Chennai: Commuters, including office-goers and students, faced significant delays on Friday morning after suburban train services on the busy Chengalpattu–Tambaram–Chennai Beach corridor were disrupted due to a signal failure near Tambaram station. The fault, reported around 8:50 AM, affected train movements on the section, leading to delays and temporary halts at multiple stations.
Impact on Services
Several EMU services heading towards Chennai Beach were detained at stations such as Guduvanchery, Urapakkam, Vandalur, and Perungalathur. Services operating from Tambaram towards Chennai Beach were also affected, while fast EMU services on the corridor witnessed delays. The disruption lasted until approximately 9:15 AM when services were gradually restored.
Cause of the Disruption
A railway official explained that the visual display unit, which monitors train movements at Tambaram station, went blank. Consequently, the station master had to resort to hand signals to manage train movements, which primarily affected EMU services crossing Tambaram station. This manual method caused significant delays and temporary halts, particularly during the morning rush hour.
Commuters Affected
The disruption during peak hours affected a large number of office-goers, students, and industrial workers who travel daily between the southern suburbs and various parts of the city. Many passengers reported struggling to reach their destinations on time, with some trains running 20-30 minutes behind schedule.
Railway officials have assured that the fault has been rectified and normal services have resumed. However, they are investigating the cause of the signal failure to prevent such incidents in the future.
