CMRL Starts Testing Direct Services Between Koyambedu & Airport

Following an approval from the Commissioner of Metro Rail Safety (CMRS), the Chennai Metro Rail Ltd. on Tuesday started testing services utilizing its rake interchange ramps located at the Alandur interchange station. The CMRL hasn’t indicated how long the tests or ‘live trials’ with passengers onboard will last, but while they continue, users will be able to travel between Koyambedu station and the Airport station without needing to switch lines at Alandur.

The CMRL is able to run these unique services thanks to two 400 meter ramps at Alandur which are one of the most interesting features among all Indian Metro systems. Similar rake interchange facilities are located in Bangalore and Hyderabad, but their operators haven’t announced any plans to utilize them for running commercial services. Read more about them here: Rake Interchange Links at 3 Indian Metro Systems

As per a CMRL official:

The trials will last for a while and we will check how many passengers are using the direct service to get to the airport. We will take a call depending on the usage

Operational lines of Chennai’s Metro – view Chennai Metro Phase 1 map & info

Chennai Metro’s rake interchange ramps at Alandur – See: Chennai Metro Map

Recent satellite imagery:

The CMRL will monitor the service’s patronage over the coming days and then take a call on whether to continue or suspend it. With high fares already leading to few passengers on the network, I don’t expect it to be a big hit.

For more updates, check out the Chennai section of The Metro Rail Guy!

– TMRG