Chennai Beach station, the city's suburban terminus
Chennai Beach station (code MSB), formerly Madras Beach and simply called Beach station by most locals, is a Southern Railway terminus at Parry's Corner in George Town. It is the focal point of the Chennai Suburban Railway and the northern terminus of the MRTS line. Despite the name, it is not near Marina Beach: it is named after the old High Court Beach, later absorbed into Chennai Port.
Where electric trains began
- 27 December 1930: the first 25 electric carriages arrive from England.
- 2 April 1931: the first electric service runs between Madras Beach and Tambaram, India's first electrified metre-gauge line. It opens to the public on 11 May 1931.
- 1935: a Siemens all-electric power frame takes over signalling.
- 2002: the old signal cabin is demolished during gauge-conversion remodelling.
Services today
Around 400 trips leave the station daily: about 250 on the Beach–Tambaram–Chengalpattu route, 134 on the Beach–Velachery MRTS, plus services north to Gummidipoondi and Ennore and west to Avadi, Tiruvallur and Thiruttani. Close to 100,000 people use the station each day, and a few passenger trains also call here.
Layout and access
Built on reclaimed land at the city's eastern edge, the station is bordered by Rajaji Salai on the west and Chennai Port on the east, with the main entrance opposite the General Post Office. Two footbridges link platforms 4 to 8, and the southern one continues into the port. There is about 1,500 square metres of open parking, and buses to north Chennai leave from outside. It is about 21 km from Chennai airport. Southbound trains stop at Chennai Park, opposite Chennai Central, and Egmore.
Frequently asked questions
Is Beach station near Marina Beach?
No. Marina Beach is served by MRTS stations such as Chepauk, Triplicane and Light House.
What is the code of Chennai Beach station?
MSB.
See passenger train timings on our train schedule page.