Chennai Park station, Central's suburban neighbour
Chennai Park station (code MPK), usually just called Park station, is a stop on the Chennai Beach–Chengalpattu section of the Chennai Suburban Railway, run by the Southern Railway. It sits on Poonamallee High Road in Park Town, directly across from Chennai Central, and about 3 km from the Chennai Beach terminus.
On Chennai's first suburban line
- 1928–1931: track for the Beach–Tambaram suburban section is laid, finishing in March 1931.
- 11 May 1931: suburban services open between Beach and Tambaram.
- 15 November 1931: the section is electrified, with metre-gauge EMUs running on 1.5 kV DC.
- 15 January 1967: the line switches to 25 kV AC traction.
A very busy commuter stop
Park station serves both the South and South West lines of the suburban network on three tracks. As of 2012 it handled about 440,000 passengers a day, a large share of them changing to and from long-distance trains at Central or the city's bus and metro links. Parking is available, and the station is one of 73 in Tamil Nadu picked for the Amrit Bharat Station Scheme upgrade.
Getting between Park and Central
If you arrive at Chennai Central on an express and want a suburban train south towards Egmore, Guindy or Tambaram, cross the road to Park station rather than going to Central's own suburban terminal, which serves the northern and western routes. Trains also continue to Chennai Egmore, one stop away.
Frequently asked questions
Is Chennai Park station the same as Chennai Central?
No. Park (MPK) is a separate suburban station directly opposite Chennai Central (MAS).
Which lines stop at Chennai Park station?
The South and South West lines of the Chennai Suburban Railway, between Beach, Tambaram and beyond.
When did Park station open?
It lies on the Beach–Tambaram section, opened to suburban services on 11 May 1931.
Check long-distance trains from Central on our train schedule page.