CHENNAI: Southern Railway will introduce its second air-conditioned electric multiple unit (AC EMU) service in the suburban network here on Oct 23, with trial operations in the Chennai Central–Arakkonam section until Dec 24. The services will operate from Monday to Friday, excluding weekends.Three pairs of services will run on the Chennai Central–Avadi, Chennai Central–Arakkonam and Avadi–Arakkonam routes. The move follows the response to the first AC EMU service introduced between Chennai Beach and Chengalpet in April 2025.The new services will use 12-coach trains manufactured by the Integral Coach Factory in Chennai, with a carrying capacity of around 5,000 passengers. The trains will have fully air-conditioned coaches, automatic sliding doors, stainless steel seats, wide windows, GPS-based LED displays and CCTV surveillance.The trains will also have an emergency passenger talk-back system and regenerative braking technology, which can save up to 35% of electrical energy.
