Southern Railway cites poor patronage for non-resumption of night train services on west section

Commuters using the suburban trains on the west and south sections who were demanding for restoration of nighttime train services in the new timetable are in for a disappointment, as the Southern Railway has no plans to bring these services back in the near future. They have cited poor patronage as the reason for their decision.

Night train services were discontinued in 2023 after the COVID-19 lockdown was lifted, along with reduction of several peak hour services. 

The Chennai division operates the highest number of suburban train services in both the west and south sections and the non-availability of train services after 10.30 p.m. is inconvenient to commuters residing in villages of Tiruvallur and beyond till Arakkonam. 

The commuters of Tiruvallur and Arakkonam have been seeking restoration of nighttime train services, at least the suburban train, which was operated from Beach to Arakkonam, starting at 1.20 a.m. These services had helped hundreds of factory workers who were on night duty travel back home safe.

A senior official of the Chennai division of Southern Railway confirmed that low patronage and the need to take up maintenance work were the reasons for not operating night train services. He added that the night train bound towards Tiruvallur was stopped as there were hardly 25 persons using the train. Also, maintenance work takes precedence, the railway official added. 

K. Bhaskar, a regular commuter from Tiruvallur, said the Beach to Arakkonam train at 1.20 a.m. was a boon for those finishing their night duty and returning home. He said the low patronage reason was not true as he had travelled in that train for years to Tiruvallur before it was stopped and was aware that several commuters used it. He said more than 100 commuters used to get down at Tiruvallur railway station. He said the railway officials would have gone based on the tickets sold at the counter but normally the commuters travelling during nighttime are season card holders and it would not have been recorded in the patronage.