In the 54-km phase-I and phase-I extension network, a train is available every six minutes from Wimco Nagar to Chennai airport and every 12 minutes from Chennai Central to St. Thomas Mount.
| Photo Credit: GANESAN V
In a significant development, Chennai Metro Rail has marginally improved the frequency of trains on a high-demand stretch and added additional trips during peak hours after two years.
In the 54-km phase-I and phase-I extension network with two corridors, a train is available every six minutes from Wimco Nagar to Chennai airport (corridor 1) during peak hours on weekdays.
For the stretches from Chennai Central to St. Thomas Mount (corridor 2) and Chennai Central to Chennai airport via Koyambedu (inter-corridor service), the current train frequency is 12 minutes.
Two years ago, Chennai Metro Rail identified a short loop — Washermanpet to Alandur via Guindy, a part of corridor 1 — as a high-demand route carrying hordes of working professionals and students, contributing significantly to ridership.
Consequently, it improved the frequency along this stretch, operating trains on a frequency pattern of 3-3-6 (the first train will be available in three minutes, the second in the next three minutes, and the third in the next six minutes, and so on).
According to officials of the Chennai Metro Rail Limited (CMRL), there has been a slight change in the frequency of trains on this high-demand stretch over the last few days. “From a frequency pattern of 3-3-6 (minutes), the trains are now available in the pattern of 3-3-3 (minutes). While this may be seen as a small move, this will help office-goers to a great extent during rush hour,” an official said.
30 more trips
This has resulted in the addition of another 30 trips to the Chennai Metro Rail services. “We recently received a new timetable for additional services. From operating 722 trips a day, Chennai Metro Rail now runs 752 trips a day. The train operators are clocking some additional man-hours, but it is within their permissible limits to manage this schedule,” a staff member said.
The Washermanpet-Alandur stretch is dotted with quite a few stations having high footfall, which include Chennai Central, High Court, Washermanpet, Thousand Lights, and Guindy.
Published – January 04, 2026 12:17 am IST
