RailEnquiry

CHENNAI: Southern Railway has started the ground work to extend platforms at St Thomas Mount railway station to stop Express trains as metro rail services are expected to begin by mid-2014.Chennai Metro Rail had requested that incoming long-distance trains be stopped at St Thomas Mount so that passengers from southern towns would be able to board metro or MRTS trains into the city. The station is to turn into the city's second transit hub where MRTS, metro rail, suburban trains and bus routes converge. Railway engineers have visited the station, which has a spare platform where long distance trains can be stopped, a few times in the last few days to assess the work and cost involved. The spare platform of the station is used to park old rakes. The project is expected to cost Rs 6 crore. "The platform has to be extended to handle 24-coach trains and a link track laid," said a senior railway officer. The existing platforms can take only 22-coach trains. "Discussions are on with metro rail about the work. There is also a plan to share the cost with metro rail. A final decision will be taken soon," he added. Long-distance trains from Madurai, Tuticorin, Rameswaram, Kanyakumari and other southern towns pass by St Thomas Mount en route Egmore. Apart from a long platform, the station may need a foot over-bridge and more space for passengers to move from mainline platform to entry or exit and facilities. Train schedules could be tweaked in a way to accommodate the new stop when remodelling is complete. Metro rail is constructing a multi-storey station where metro trains and MRTS trains will stop. Access ways will be provided for commuters to reach the suburban station. The demand for stops for trains were mooted in one of those meetings that are held routinely between different state government departments and central government agencies in connection with construction of metro rail. Anticipating increased patronage, the Medavakkam-Madipakkam road that runs in front of the station is being widened as part of steps to expand infrastructure facilities in the neighbourhood. It is expected that MRTS and metro rail services will together bring in more than a lakh commuters at the station. Chennai Beach-Velachery MRTS trains on an average carry more than 50,000 commuters daily, while metro rail trains are expected top carry around 26,000 people daily.