Southern Railway added train cars; Chennai gains capacity

Southern Railway has expanded its suburban train capacity by converting nine-car trains to 12-car trains, allowing for an additional 400,000 daily commuters. This upgrade, completed across key Chennai suburban routes, increases seating capacity by 21% and addresses severe overcrowding on lines like Chennai Beach-Chengalpet. The project was implemented in phases at the Avadi car shed. The Chennai division currently serves 1.2 million passengers daily, and the expansion aims to improve commuter comfort and safety, especially during peak hours, addressing concerns about overcrowding.