Ghaiinfra at 22:03, 10 February 2026

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{{Short description|Railway station in Chennai, India}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2025}}
{{Use Indian English|date=June 2025}}
{{Infobox station
| name = Chennai Egmore
| native_name = Chennai Elumbur
| other_name =
| style = Indian Railways
| image = Chennai Egmore facade panorama.jpg
| image_caption = Chennai Egmore railway station
| address = Gandhi-Irwin Road, [[Egmore]], [[Chennai]]
| coordinates = {{coord|13.0780|N|80.2616|E|display=inline,title}}
| owned = [[Ministry of Railways (India)|Ministry of Railways]]
| system = {{ubl|[[Indian Railways]]|[[Chennai Suburban Railway]]}}
| line = {{ubl| [[Chennai Egmore–Thanjavur main line]] |[[South Line, Chennai Suburban]] }}
| platform = 11
| tracks = 12
| other = {{ric|Chennai Metro}} {{rcb|Chennai Metro|Green|croute}} [[Egmore metro station|Egmore]]
| structure = At-grade
| depth =
| levels = 1
| parking = Available
| accessible = Yes
| code = {{Indian railway code
| code = MS<ref>{{cite web |title=Station Code Index |url=https://indianrailways.gov.in/railwayboard/uploads/directorate/coaching/TAG_2023-24/Station_Code_Index.pdf |publisher=Centre For Railway Information Systems |access-date=23 March 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240216225807/https://indianrailways.gov.in/railwayboard/uploads/directorate/coaching/TAG_2023-24/Station_Code_Index.pdf |archive-date=16 February 2024 |page=5 |date=2023–24}}</ref>
| zone = [[Southern Railway zone]]
| division = {{rwd|Chennai}}
}}
| opened = {{start date and age|1880}} (station) <br /> {{start date and age|11 June 1908}} (terminal building)
| closed =
| rebuilt =
| elevation = {{cvt|8|m}}
| architect = {{ubl|[[Henry Irwin]] |E. C. Bird}}
| architectural_style = {{ubl |[[Gothic architecture|Gothic]] |[[Indo-Saracenic architecture|Indo Saracenic]] |[[Dravidian architecture|Dravidian]]}}
| original = [[South Indian Railway]]
| status = Active
| electrified = 1931
| mpassengers =
| passengers =
| pass_system =
| pass_year =
| pass_percent =
| services = {{ubl|120 [[Express trains in India|Mail/Express]]|442 [[Chennai Suburban|Suburban]]/[[Multiple units of India|MU]]}} per day (2022)
| map_type = India Chennai#Tamil Nadu#India
| map_caption = Location in Chennai##Location in Tamil Nadu##Location in India
| image_size =
}}

'''Chennai Egmore''' (also known as '''Chennai Elumbur''', formerly '''Madras Egmore''') (station code: '''MS'''), is a major [[Railway stations in Chennai|railway station]] in [[Chennai]], India. It is classified as a [[Categorization of Indian Railway stations by commercial importance|NSG–1]] category station and comes under the purview of the [[Chennai railway division]] of the [[Southern Railway zone]] of the [[Indian Railways]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Southern Railway List of Stations |url=https://sr.indianrailways.gov.in/cris//uploads/files/1686913242750-SR%20-LIST%20OF%20STATIONS-2023.pdf |publisher=Centre For Railway Information Systems |access-date=23 March 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240323095403/https://sr.indianrailways.gov.in/cris//uploads/files/1686913242750-SR%20-LIST%20OF%20STATIONS-2023.pdf |archive-date=23 March 2024 |page=1 |date=1 April 2023}}</ref> It is situated in the neighbourhood of [[Egmore]], with the main entrance situated on Gandhi-Irwin road and the rear entrance on [[EVR Periyar Salai|Poonamallee high road]]. It caters to inter-city [[Express trains in India|express trains]], [[Multiple units of India|multiple units]], and [[Chennai suburban|suburban]] services.

The station served as the terminus of the [[South Indian Railway Company]] in Madras since the 1880s. The construction of the terminal building began in September 1905 and it was officially opened on 11 June 1908. The building is built in [[Indo-Saracenic architecture|Indo Saracenic]] style. In 1951, the station became part of the Southern Railway zone of the Indian Railways.

==History==
[[File:02Madras Egmore Station.jpg|thumb|left|Egmore station in 1913]]

The site of the railway station hosted a fortified redoubt in the early 18th century, and later housed a [[sanatorium]], and an [[orphanage]] in the mid 18th century. By the late 19th century, part of the land was owned by [[Pulney Andy]] (1831–1909), one of the first Indians to earn a medical degree in the United Kingdom.<ref name="Hist">{{cite web |last=V |first=Sriram |title=Chennai Landmark – The Egmore Station |work=Madras Musings |date=25 November 2014 |url=https://sriramv.com/2014/11/25/chennai-landmark-the-egmore-station/ |access-date=8 November 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |first=S. |last=Muthiah |date=27 October 2012 |orig-year=19 September 2010 |title=Whither this National Library? |url=http://www.thehindu.com/life-and-style/metroplus/article696892.ece |work=[[The Hindu]] |access-date=21 June 2019}}</ref> The [[South Indian Railway]] (SIR) was established in 1874 through the amalgamation of three railway companies that existed in the [[Madras Presidency]]. Egmore became the company's terminus in Madras by the 1880s. An increase in traffic led to plans for the construction of a full-fledged terminus in the early 1900s.<ref name="Hist"/> The station was planned on a {{cvt|2.5|acre}} plot of land, of which {{cvt|1.8|acre}} was owned by Andy. After initial reluctance, Andy sold the land for approximately {{INRconvert|0.1|m|year=1904}} in 1904.<ref name="Hist"/><ref name="Heritage">{{cite web |last=Pain |first=Paromita |title=Heritage tracks |work=[[Business Line]] |date=27 June 2008 |url=http://www.thehindubusinessline.in/life/2008/06/27/stories/2008062750030200.htm |access-date=8 November 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140416180606/http://www.thehindubusinessline.in/life/2008/06/27/stories/2008062750030200.htm |archive-date=16 April 2014}}</ref>

[[File:Chennai_Egmore_station,_Second_Entrance2.jpg|thumb|left|Rear entrance added in 2006]]

The terminal building was designed by British architects [[Henry Irwin]] and E. C. Bird. It measured {{cvt|300|ft}} by {{cvt|70|ft}}, and was constructed by [[T. Samynada Pillai]]. The construction of the station began in September 1905 and was completed in 1908 at a cost of {{INRconvert|1.7|m|year=1908}}.<ref name="Hist"/><ref name="Heritage"/><ref name="Red">{{cite web |title =Red-letter day for Southern Railway |date=11 June 2008 |url=http://www.hindu.com/2008/06/11/stories/2008061160021800.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080613114239/http://www.hindu.com/2008/06/11/stories/2008061160021800.htm |url-status=dead |archive-date=13 June 2008 |work=[[The Hindu]] |access-date=17 June 2012}}</ref> The station was opened to the public on 11 June 1908, and initially relied on [[diesel generators]] for electricity.<ref name="South">{{cite web |last=Muthiah |first=S. |title=Egmore and the South |date=16 June 2008 |url=http://www.hindu.com/mp/2008/06/16/stories/2008061650520500.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080620165303/http://www.hindu.com/mp/2008/06/16/stories/2008061650520500.htm |url-status=dead |archive-date=20 June 2008 |work=[[The Hindu]] |access-date=29 December 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last=Muthiah |first=S. |title=The railway of the Deep South |work=[[The Hindu]] |date=9 May 2010 |url=http://www.thehindu.com/arts/history-and-culture/article425584.ece |access-date=28 December 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101117021454/http://www.thehindu.com/arts/history-and-culture/article425584.ece |archive-date=17 November 2010 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last=Krishnaswamy |first=Murali N. |title=Chugging on . . . a hundred years hence |work=[[The Hindu]] |date=17 June 2008 |url=http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-features/tp-youngworld/chugging-on-a-hundred-years-hence/article1443993.ece |access-date=28 September 2019}}</ref> The station underwent developments in 1930, and became part of the first [[Railway electrification|electrified]] suburban line established in 1931.<ref name="Hist"/><ref name="South"/><ref>{{cite web|url=https://sr.indianrailways.gov.in/uploads/files/1401880179452-mas--general-info.pdf|title=Chennai division|work=[[Southern Railway zone]], [[Indian Railways]]|access-date=1 June 2025}}</ref> A signal cabin at the station was opened in 1935, after the suburban line between [[Chennai Beach railway station|Madras Beach]] and {{stnlnk|Tambaram}} was electrified.<ref>{{cite web |last=Hinson |first=John |title=Madras Egmore: South Indian Railway |work=The Signal Box |url=http://www.signalbox.org/overseas/india/madrasegmore.htm |access-date=9 September 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20020418214138/http://www.signalbox.org/overseas/india/madrasegmore.htm |archive-date=18 April 2002 |url-status=dead }}</ref> After the nationalisation of the railways in 1951, the station became part of the [[Southern Railway zone]] of the [[Indian Railways]], and emerged as a major terminal for trains to the south of the state.<ref name="Hist"/><ref name="Heritage"/> The station was expanded in 1980, and the tracks were converted into [[broad gauge]] in 1998.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.hindu.com/2008/06/07/stories/2008060757850200.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080610214331/http://www.hindu.com/2008/06/07/stories/2008060757850200.htm|url-status=dead|archive-date=10 June 2008|title=One hundred years of tireless travel ... still chugging with charm|date=7 June 2008|work=[[The Hindu]]|access-date=24 May 2011}}</ref> The [[Chennai suburban|suburban]] trains continued to operate on meter gauge until 2004 when a new suburban terminal was added to the station.<ref name="Hist"/><ref name="Heritage"/> In 2006, a second entrance was established on the [[EVR Periyar Salai|Poonamallee High road]] at a cost of {{INRConvert|115.3|m|year=2006}}.<ref name="Red"/><ref>{{cite news |last=Vydhianathan |first=S. |title=Second terminal at Puratchi Thalaivar Dr. M. G. Ramachandran Central Railway Station proposed |location=Chennai |date=26 October 2004|url=http://www.hindu.com/2004/10/26/stories/2004102610770100.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20041201070212/http://www.hindu.com/2004/10/26/stories/2004102610770100.htm |url-status=dead |archive-date=1 December 2004 |work=[[The Hindu]] |access-date=9 November 2012}}</ref> In 2013, [[Track ballast|ballast]]-less tracks were laid along the terminus.<ref>{{cite news |last=Ayyappan |first=V. |title=Puratchi Thalaivar Dr. M. G. Ramachandran Central Railway Station, Chennai Egmore Railway Station to get washable tracks |work=[[The Times of India]] |date=14 February 2013 |url=http://epaper.timesofindia.com/Default/Scripting/ArticleWin.asp?From=Archive&Source=Page&Skin=TOINEW&BaseHref=TOICH/2013/02/14&PageLabel=5&EntityId=Ar00504&ViewMode=HTML |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304113404/http://epaper.timesofindia.com/Default/Scripting/ArticleWin.asp?From=Archive&Source=Page&Skin=TOINEW&BaseHref=TOICH/2013/02/14&PageLabel=5&EntityId=Ar00504&ViewMode=HTML |url-status=dead |archive-date=4 March 2016 |access-date=17 February 2013}}</ref> In the early 2020s, it was one of the stations selected for upgradation under the [[Amrit Bharat Station Scheme|Amrit Bharat]] scheme of the Indian Railways,<ref>{{cite news |title=Amrit Bharat Stations |url=https://pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=1897980 |access-date=8 April 2024 |work=[[Press Information Bureau]] |date=10 February 2023 }}</ref> and underwent major renovation as a part of the scheme.<ref name="PR">{{cite press release|url=
https://sr.indianrailways.gov.in/view_detail.jsp?lang=0&dcd=12916&id=0,4,268|title=Chennai Egmore Redevelopment works move at swift pace|date=26 December 2022|access-date=1 June 2025|work=[[Indian Railways]]}}</ref>

==Design==
The station lies on a {{cvt|2.5|acre}} plot of land on Gandhi-Irwin road in [[Egmore]].<ref name="Hist"/> It is situated between two [[Overpass|flyovers]] on either side of the road.<ref name="South"/> The station building is spread over {{cvt|135406|m2}}, and was designed in [[Gothic architecture|Gothic]] and [[Indo-Saracenic architecture]] with elements of [[Dravidian architecture]]. It was notable for early use of [[concrete]] during the construction.<ref name="Hist"/><ref name="PR"/> The building had a three-span roof structure, with a large dome atop of it. It had carved motifs on the pillars and brackets, which were based on Dravidian temple architecture. The building has been constructed using [[brick]], [[granite]], and [[sandstone]], which gives contrasting appearance.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://madrasmusings.com/vol-32-no-23/heritage-watch-egmore-station-then-now-and-in-future/|title=Egmore station then and now|work=Madras Musings|access-date=1 June 2025|date=16 March 2023}}</ref> The building had [[stained glass]] windows and was earlier equipped with wooden stairways to move across platforms.<ref name="Hist"/>

== Network and services ==
The station is classified as a [[Categorization of Indian Railway stations by commercial importance|NSG–1]] category station and comes under the purview of the [[Chennai railway division]] of the [[Southern Railway zone]] of the [[Indian Railways]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Southern Railway List of Stations |url=https://sr.indianrailways.gov.in/cris//uploads/files/1686913242750-SR%20-LIST%20OF%20STATIONS-2023.pdf |publisher=Centre For Railway Information Systems |access-date=23 March 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240323095403/https://sr.indianrailways.gov.in/cris//uploads/files/1686913242750-SR%20-LIST%20OF%20STATIONS-2023.pdf |archive-date=23 March 2024 |page=1 |date=1 April 2023}}</ref> It is located on the [[Chennai Egmore–Thanjavur main line]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://sr.indianrailways.gov.in/cris/uploads/files/1444728316895-A4SMap-2015.pdf|title=Southern Railway Route Map|publisher=[[Southern Railway zone]], [[Indian Railways]]|access-date=12 August 2023|archive-date=12 August 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230812121221/https://sr.indianrailways.gov.in/cris/uploads/files/1444728316895-A4SMap-2015.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref> It also forms part of the [[South Line, Chennai Suburban|South Line]] of the [[Chennai suburban]] rail network that extends from [[Chennai Beach railway station|Chennai Beach]] towards [[Tambaram railway station|Tambaram]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://st2.indiarailinfo.com/kjfdsuiemjvcya0/0/9/1/8/592918/0/linemap.pdf|title=Chennai rail network|work=Indiarailinfo|access-date=1 June 2025}}</ref> {{As of|2022}}, the station handles about 120 [[Express trains in India|Mail/Express]] trains and 442 [[Suburban rail|Suburban]]/[[Multiple units of India|Multiple Units]] daily.<ref name="PR"/><ref>{{cite news |last=Venugopal |first=Vasudha |title=Display boards at station fail to show the way |work=[[The Hindu]] |date=5 February 2013 |url=http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/chennai/display-boards-at-station-fail-to-show-the-way/article4379567.ece |access-date=11 February 2013}}</ref> While the station serves as a major terminus for trains operating towards the central and southern Tamil Nadu, a few services operate from the station to other destinations in India, by connecting with the [[Gudur–Chennai section]] of the [[Howrah–Chennai main line]] via Chennai Beach station.<ref name="Red"/><ref>{{cite web|title=Train Timings at Chennai Egmore|url=http://www.sr.indianrailways.gov.in/uploads/files/1341216868714-ms-mas.pdf|work=[[Southern Railway zone]], [[Indian Railways]]|access-date=20 August 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Egmore to remain railway hub |work=[[The Hindu]] |date=22 December 2011 |url=http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-tamilnadu/article2736904.ece |access-date=31 December 2011}}</ref> Beginning in the early 2010s, Indian Railways terminated few of the services at Tambaram railway station to reduce congestion at the station.<ref>{{cite news |last=Malavan |first=K. |title=Tambaram 3rd Rail Terminus update |work=[[The Hindu]] |date=20 January 2012 |url=http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-tamilnadu/article2816286.ece |access-date=20 January 2012}}</ref>

==Facilities==
There are 11 platforms in the station.<ref name="Heritage"/><ref>{{cite web|url=https://indiarailinfo.com/departures/779?date=undefined&src=&dest=undefined&locoClass=undefined&bedroll=undefined&stptype=0&|title=Chennai Egmore|work=Indiarailinfo|access-date=1 June 2025}}</ref> In 2019–20, platforms five to nine were extended.<ref name="IE">{{cite web |title=Egmore railway station to have better services for commuters |work=[[The New Indian Express]] |date=26 November 2019 |url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/cities/chennai/2019/nov/26/egmore-to-have-better-services-for-commuters-2067180.html |access-date=24 October 2020}}</ref> The station has a train care centre attached to it, which houses the trains terminating at the station.<ref>{{cite news |last=Ayyappan |first=V. |title=Passengers panic as pests overrun dirty train bogies |date=29 October 2012 |url=http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2012-10-29/chennai/34797147_1_sleeper-coaches-bogies-pests-and-rodents |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130103150228/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2012-10-29/chennai/34797147_1_sleeper-coaches-bogies-pests-and-rodents |url-status=dead |archive-date=3 January 2013 |work=[[The Times of India]] |access-date=10 November 2012}}</ref> There are 16 air-conditioned dormitories, 14 retiring rooms, and three waiting halls for passengers.<ref name="IE"/>

In April 2012, the Government Railway Police and the [[Railway Protection Force]] released a plan in which a [[helpline]] was launched and the station was divided into three sectors, for the deployment of security personnel.<ref>{{cite news |title=Railway police launches two helplines |work=[[The Hindu]] |date=1 May 2012 |url=http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/chennai/article3371573.ece |access-date=25 November 2012}}</ref> The station has an Integrated Security Surveillance System implemented in 2012, which consists of a set of [[Closed-circuit television|CCTV]] cameras installed around the station.<ref>{{cite news |title=Chennai: Suburban railway stations to come under CCTV surveillance |work=[[IBN Live]] |date=18 July 2012 |url=http://ibnlive.in.com/news/chennai-suburban-railway-stations-to-come-under-cctv-surveillance/272054-62-130.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131111231320/http://ibnlive.in.com/news/chennai-suburban-railway-stations-to-come-under-cctv-surveillance/272054-62-130.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=11 November 2013 |access-date=14 January 2014}}</ref> The station has been divided into two zones for cleaning and maintenance–the first six platforms fall under zone I and the remaining platforms fall under zone II.<ref>{{cite news |last=Varma |first=M. Dinesh |title=New agency undertakes cleaning of Egmore station |work=[[The Hindu]] |date=7 December 2012 |url=http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/chennai/new-agency-undertakes-cleaning-of-egmore-station/article4171806.ece |access-date=13 December 2012}}</ref>

== Connectivity ==
There is a bus shelter at the southern entrance at the Gandhi-Irwin road and a bus terminus near the northern entrance on the Poonamallee High road. Bus services are operated by the state-run [[Metropolitan Transport Corporation (Chennai)|Metropolitan Transport Corporation]]. There is a multi-storey parking lot attached to the station.<ref name="IE"/><ref>{{cite news |last=Madhavan |first=D. |title=Whenners Road hit by 'pothole plague' |work=[[The Hindu]] |date=5 October 2019 |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/chennai/whenners-road-hit-by-pothole-plague/article29603406.ece |access-date=24 October 2020}}</ref> Pre-paid taxi and autorickshaw services are also available from the station.<ref>{{cite news |last=Ayyappan |first=V. |title=One more prepaid autorickshaw counter opened at Egmore Railway Station |work=[[The Times of India]] |date=1 August 2014 |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/chennai/One-more-prepaid-autorickshaw-counter-opened-at-Egmore-railway-station/articleshow/39417907.cms |access-date=24 October 2020}}</ref> The [[Egmore metro station]] on the [[Green Line (Chennai Metro)|Green Line]] of the [[Chennai Metro]] serves the station.<ref>{{cite web|url =http://www.chennaimetrorail.gov.in/linemap.php|title =Chennai Metro Rail Line Map|url-status =dead|archive-url =https://web.archive.org/web/20140713212247/http://chennaimetrorail.gov.in/linemap.php|archive-date =13 July 2014}}</ref>

==See also==
* {{anl|Chennai Central railway station}}
* {{anl|Heritage structures in Chennai}}
{{Portal bar|India|Transport|Engineering}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

== External links ==
* {{Commons category-inline|Chennai Egmore railway station}}

{{Chennai - Suburban Railway, South West|Chennai Egmore|Park Town, Chennai|Chetput|4|4.32}}
{{Chennai - Suburban Railway, South|Chennai Egmore|Park Town, Chennai|Chetput|4|4.32}}
{{Chennai topics|left}}
{{Transport in Chennai}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Railway stations in India opened in 1908]]
[[Category:Chennai railway division]]
[[Category:Heritage sites in Chennai]]
[[Category:Railway stations in Chennai]]
[[Category:Chennai Suburban Railway stations]]

Chennai Egmore railway station - Revision history

Ghaiinfra at 22:03, 10 February 2026