Tiruvallur freight train fire: Southern Railway completes track restoration work

The Southern Railway, during a night long restoration work on Sunday (July 13, 2025), restored both the up and down tracks which were affected after a fire accident and derailment of freight wagons near Tiruvallur. Earlier in the day, a wagon carrying fuel from Harbour to Wallajah siding, caught fire resulting in 12 wagons being damaged and derailment of six wagons. 

The fire accident resulted in several mail and express train services from Chennai being suspended; and termination and diversion of incoming trains. Suburban train services on the west section towards Tiruvallur and Arakkonam were completely stopped with shuttle services operated from Avadi to Moore Market complex (MMC) suburban railway station. 

M. Senthamil Selvan, Chief Public Relations Officer of Southern Railway, said as announced earlier, the tracks were made fit for operation and the Dr. MGR Chennai Central-Thiruvananthapuram (12695) express train was operated on the down line at 10 p.m. on Sunday and the upline was restored and Yercaud Express (22650) from Erode to Chennai was received. 

On Monday (July 14) morning, the Southern Railway also decided to operate suburban electrical multiple unit (EMU) trains between MMC and Tiruvallur and Arakkonam as specials at 30-minute intervals. 

Mr. Selvan said the suburban trains were operated taking into consideration the huge office-going population from Arakkonam and Tiruvallur, while maintaining normal EMU services from Avadi to MMC.