Introducing Chennai Central
Chennai Central railway station (station code MAS, from the city's former name Madras) is the main railway terminus of Chennai and the busiest station of the Southern Railway zone. It is graded NSG-1 and falls under the Chennai division. Its official name is Puratchi Thalaivar Dr. M.G. Ramachandran Central Railway Station.
As of 2023 it handled around 730,000 passengers a day, with about 200 mail and express trains and around 1,000 suburban services daily. It is also among the highest revenue-earning stations in India.
Chennai Central's history
The station opened in 1873 to relieve the older Royapuram terminus. The original building was designed by George Harding, and modifications by Robert Chisholm were completed in 1900.
- 1931: suburban lines electrified.
- 29 December 1979: main lines electrified.
- 1998: renamed Chennai Central, after Madras was renamed Chennai in 1996.
- 5 April 2019: renamed in honour of former Tamil Nadu chief minister M. G. Ramachandran.
Architecture
The red-brick building combines Gothic Revival and Romanesque Revival styles, and its tall clock tower is one of Chennai's best-known landmarks. The building has been declared a heritage structure.
Inside Chennai Central
Chennai Central has 17 platforms: 12 in the main station for long-distance trains and 5 in the Chennai Suburban Terminal (the Moore Market Complex side) for suburban services.
Links around Chennai Central
- Chennai Metro: Chennai Central metro station serves the Blue and Green lines.
- Chennai Park station: next door, for suburban services on the South and South West lines.
- Suburban rail: the Moore Market Complex terminal handles suburban services.
- Road: MTC city buses, taxis and app cabs.
Getting around Central
- Chennai has two big termini: Chennai Central (MAS) and Chennai Egmore (MS). Many trains to southern Tamil Nadu start from Egmore, so check your ticket.
- Long-distance and suburban platforms are in separate buildings; follow the signs for the main station if you have a reserved ticket.
- The clock tower is the landmark for the main long-distance concourse; live running status shows whether your train has reached the platform yet.