Avadi railway station (station code: AVD[3]) is an NSG–2 categoryIndian railway station inChennai railway division ofSouthern Railway zone.[3] It is one of the major railway terminals of theChennai Central–Arakkonam section of theChennai Suburban Railway Network. It serves the neighbourhood ofAvadi, a suburb ofChennai located 23 km west of the city centre. It is situated at Tirumalairajapuram locality of Avadi, with an elevation of 26.85 m abovesea level. According to a railway release in 2008, there are plans to develop Avadi station as a coaching terminal (satellite terminal) forChennai Central railway station, on the lines ofTambaram station being developed as a terminal forEgmore railway station.[4] Later in 2023, the plan of making Perambur as 4th railway terminal was considered but not finalised. But, there are repeated requests from commuters to make Avadi as railway terminal.[5]
The first lines in the station were electrified on 29 November 1979, with the electrification of the Chennai Central–Tiruvallur section. The EMU car shed lines at Avadi were electrified on 1 February 1980. Additional lines at the station were electrified on 2 October 1986, with the electrification of theVillivakkam–Avadi section.[1]
The electrification preliminaries, such as poles, were observed on the railway lines passing through Avadi Railway Station as early as 1977. The first broad-gauge electric EMUs were first introduced on the Madras Central–Gummidipoondi section by 1979 and in the next phase on the Madras Central–Tiruvallur section around 1980. From around 1971 to 1980, there these beastly WP steam locomotives that were hauling the Suburban trains going up to Tiruvallur and Gumidipoondi. The WDS category shuttle diesel were seen pulling thePattabiram Military Siding trains going up toE Depot in the Avadi Air Force Station Cantonment Area. It helped identifying the trains. As for the express trains passing through Avadi, those were diesel electrics. In the late 1960s and early 1970s, it was probably theBaldwin Class WP steam locos that were hauling trains such asDadar Express andBombay Mail fromKalyan, taking over the duties from the mighty WCM DC Electrics operating on theBombay–Kalyan route.[citation needed]
The station has six tracks, including two loop lines, and has four platforms. The first platform is aside platform housing the station's entrance and the ticket counter, and the second and third are part of anisland platform. The fourth platform borders the northern end of the station and is the longest of all the platforms. The platforms are connected by means of afootbridge.
As of 2013, the station handles about 40,000 passengers a day.[2]
| G | North Entrance Street level | Exit/Entrance & ticket counter |
| P | FOB,Side platform |P4 –Express Lines | |
| Platform 4 | Towards →MGR Chennai Central | |
| Platform 3 | Towards ←Arakkonam Junction /Jolarpettai Junction | |
| FOB,Island platform |P2 Doors will open on the left |P3 –Express Lines | ||
| Platform 2 | Towards →Chennai Central MMCnext station isAnnanur | |
| Platform 1 | Towards ←Arakkonam Junctionnext station isHindu College | |
| FOB,Side platform |P1 Doors will open on the left | ||
| G | South Entrance Street level | Exit/Entrance & ticket counter |
Avadi is one of the 73 stations in Tamil Nadu to be named for upgradation underAmrit Bharat Station Scheme of Indian Railways.[6] It is also in the Chennai Suburban Railway network that are being developed as Adarsh stations.[7]
A metro rail connectivity from Pattabiram to Koyambedu byRed line corridor ofChennai Metro, connecting this railway station and Avadi bus terminus, is approved byGovernment of Tamil Nadu, with land acquisition near railway station underway.[8]
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