Two changes for west-side commuters took effect on Friday 23 October 2026: Southern Railway began a two-month trial of an air-conditioned suburban train between Chennai Central, Avadi and Arakkonam, and Chennai Metro started its Poonamallee-Vadapalani line at 6 am instead of 7 am. Timings, fares and the ticket rules for both.
The numbers
A 12-coach air-conditioned EMU began running on the Chennai Central-Avadi-Arakkonam line on the morning of Friday 23 October, DT Next reported. It runs Monday to Friday only, on a trial basis until 24 December. Officials said whether it stays will depend on passenger response and a Southern Railway review. This is the second AC suburban service in Chennai, after the Chennai Beach-Chengalpattu train that Southern Railway introduced on 19 April 2025, according to its press release of 18 April 2025.
The same day, the Poonamallee Bypass-Vadapalani stretch of Metro Phase 2, opened on 11 October, moved its first train from 7 am to 6 am after commuter feedback, as DT Next reported on 21 October. Chennai Metro’s timetable page carries a revised first-and-last-train schedule dated 23 October 2026.
The AC train’s morning timings
The trial rake works a morning loop out of Avadi. It leaves Avadi at 6.30 am as a slow train stopping at all stations and reaches Arakkonam at 7.45 am. It leaves Arakkonam at 8 am and reaches Chennai Central at 9.30 am, then leaves Central at 9.40 am and reaches Avadi at 10.25 am. Southern Railway has not posted the full trial timetable on its press release page, so check the National Train Enquiry System or station notice boards for evening runs and stops.
AC fares from Chennai Central
| To (from Chennai Central) | AC single fare |
|---|---|
| Basin Bridge, Vyasarpadi, Perambur, Villivakkam | ₹35 |
| Korattur, Pattaravakkam | ₹40 |
| Ambattur, Thirumullaivoyal, Annanur, Avadi, Hindu College, Pattabiram | ₹60 |
| Nemilichery, Thiruninravur, Veppampattu, Sevvapet Road, Putlur | ₹85 |
| Tiruvallur | ₹90 |
| Egattur | ₹185 |
| Kadambathur | ₹200 |
| Senji Panambakkam, Manavur | ₹205 |
| Tiruvallangadu, Mosur | ₹215 |
| Puliyamangalam, Arakkonam | ₹230 |
Source: Southern Railway fare schedule for the trial, as reported by DT Next, 23 October 2026
How much more an AC EMU ticket costs than a non-AC first class EMU ticket on most slabs, according to Southern Railway (June 2025).
How AC suburban tickets work
Southern Railway set AC EMU fares a little above first class. Its June 2025 press release said AC fares are ₹5 to ₹10 more than non-AC first class fares, match Metro fares on the 12 to 15 km slab and match AC bus fares on the 26 to 40 km slab. Tickets can be booked on the UTS mobile app, and season tickets are available for regular AC commuters. That release put average daily AC riders on the Beach-Chengalpattu line at 2,800 in June 2025, up from 1,488 in its first month.
Ordinary second class and first class season tickets are not valid on the AC train. Passengers need a separate AC ticket, bought at station counters or on the app, DT Next reported. On the opening day, holders of ordinary tickets were allowed to travel at no extra charge; AC fares apply from Monday 26 October.
It’s often said your monthly suburban pass covers the new AC local.
The record shows It does not. Regular season tickets for ordinary suburban trains are not accepted on the AC EMU; you need an AC ticket or an AC season ticket (DT Next; Southern Railway).
The Metro’s new hours on the Porur line
The 15 km line has 11 elevated stations between Poonamallee Bypass and Vadapalani, including Porur. From 23 October trains run from 6 am, with the last trains leaving both ends at 9 pm, DT Next reported. On weekdays and Saturdays trains run every 10 minutes from 8 to 11 am and 5 to 8 pm, and every 15 minutes at other times. On Sundays and public holidays the service is every 15 minutes all day.
Fares on the new line follow the Metro’s distance-based fare table, last updated on 9 October 2026, which also lists a 20 per cent discounted fare for eligible ticket types, according to the CMRL fare table page. The 24-hour CMRL helpline is 1860-425-1515.
What this means for you
- Travelling to Tiruvallur or Arakkonam on weekday mornings? The AC train leaves Arakkonam at 8 am and reaches Central at 9.30 am.
- Do not board the AC train on an ordinary season ticket. Buy an AC ticket at the counter or on the UTS app.
- If you use the Porur line early, the first trains now leave at 6 am; the last still leave at 9 pm.
- Off-peak Metro gaps are 15 minutes on this line, so plan for the wait outside the 8 to 11 am and 5 to 8 pm windows.
What to watch
24 December 2026
The AC EMU trial on the Central-Avadi-Arakkonam line ends; Southern Railway will decide whether to make it permanent.
Pending
A full published timetable for the trial and any change to the stops, after commuters in Avadi asked for more halts.
Checked against official sources on 29 October 2026. This is a developing story; confirm the latest on the linked official pages.
Sources
- Chennai Division introduces first air-conditioned EMU service between Chennai Beach and Chengalpattu, Press Release PUB/MAS/2025/04/08, Southern Railway, 18 April 2025
- Chennai Division’s AC EMU services witness strong growth in patronage, Press Release PUB/MAS/2025/06/16, Southern Railway, 23 June 2025
- Fare table, Chennai Metro Rail Limited
- Time table (first and last train timings, Phase 1 and Phase 2), Chennai Metro Rail Limited
- Chennai Central-Arakkonam AC EMU service launched on trial basis, DT Next, 23 October 2026
- Poonamallee-Vadapalani Metro line to start services at 6 am from October 23, DT Next, 21 October 2026
