Three empty coaches of EMU derail near Chennai, traffic affected

CHENNAI: Services of a few express trains, including Chennai - Mysuru Vande Bharat express and several EMUs on Chennai - Arakkonam section were affected Tuesday morning after an empty EMU from Avadi car shed derailed on its way to the main line at Avadi railway station.

Around 5.40hrs Tuesday, the last three bogies of an empty EMU rake derailed at Avadi railway station while it was being shunted from Avadi EMU car shed to the main line.

The derailment blocked the suburban UP line towards Chennai Central besides disrupting the express main line owing to a glitch in the OHE (Overhead Electric Traction) cable.

According to an official statement issued by the Chennai Railway Division, about five EMU trains bound for Chennai Central were delayed due to the derailment. Express trains from Chennai Central including Vande Bharat (Chennai - Mysore), Shatabdhi (Chennai - Mysore) & Kovai Express (Chennai - Coimbatore) were regulated near Ambattur railway station. Also, three express trains originating from Chennai Central, Saptagiri Express, Brindavan Express & Double Decker Express were rescheduled.

A team of senior railway officials led by Divisional Railway Manager reached the spot where Restoration works were in full swing.

While traffic has been restored on the main line and regulated/delayed express trains have commenced journey, EMU services have also been diverted on the fast line since morning.

The suburban line restoration works are in progress and traffic will be restored in a few hours, the statement added.