Southern Railway claims Chennai AC EMU ridership rising, but fare concerns persist

By Ramyasre NCHENNAI: Facing criticism over poor patronage, Southern Railway has now claimed that Chennai’s airconditioned (AC) EMU suburban trains are witnessing a steady rise in footfall. In a press release issued on Monday, the Chennai division said average daily ridership on the Beach–Chengalpet and Tambaram–Chengalpet sections rose from 1,488 in April to 2,571 in May and further to 2,800 in June.These figures come weeks after visuals of near-empty AC EMU rakes during peak hours went viral, prompting questions about affordability and route utility. With fares marginally higher than first-class tickets on regular EMUs and on a par with Chennai Metro or AC buses for comparable distances, many commuters said the service remains out of reach for daily use.Railway officials say revised schedules, introduced in May, and improved connectivity at key stations like Tambaram, Guindy, Mambalam and Chengalpet have contributed to better occupancy.

Eight AC services are currently in operation.However, the numbers, while rising, still represent a fraction of suburban ridership. Officials expect further growth with the eventual integration of the St Thomas Mount–Velachery MRTS section with Chennai Metro under a proposed multimodal transport system.