Chennai Central Train Day: Arrival and Departure Tips

The station in brief

Chennai Central, officially named Puratchi Thalaivar Dr M.G. Ramachandran Central Railway Station since 2019, is on Poonamallee High Road in Periamet. Wikipedia says its main entrance is on that road and the eastern side opens on Wall Tax Road. It has 17 bay platforms: 12 at the main terminal and 5 at the suburban terminus, and platforms 1 to 11 are about 600 metres long and take trains of up to 24 coaches.

That length matters. Check your coach position on the platform before you arrive, because walking the wrong end can add several minutes.

The station is an old landmark, built in 1873 by architect George Harding and modified by Robert Chisholm by 1900, according to Wikipedia. It is one of the best-known buildings in the city, though crowds at the entrance can be dense.

How far from the hotel

Chennai Central is about 12 to 15 minutes from Hotel Royal King. That is a normal-traffic guide. For a morning or evening train, add margin for peak traffic. A sensible habit is to leave for an outbound train at least an hour before departure, and more with heavy luggage or young children, since the station is large and the walk to a distant platform can be long.

For an arrival, ask the hotel's front desk to give you a rough check-in note: standard check-in is at 1 PM and check-out at 11 AM, and early arrivals depend on availability.

On arrival, a cab to Royapettah is usually the simplest. Walk out to the designated pick-up area, and avoid touts. Keep your luggage in sight, and check that the driver has the correct address: No. 9, Perumal Mudali Road, behind Woodlands Theatre, Royapettah. If your train is late, let the hotel know, so that the front desk is expecting you.

Metro and suburban links

Chennai Central metro station sits in front of the railway station and is an interchange for the Blue and Green lines. Wikipedia says the Blue Line station opened on 10 February 2019. Government Estate, which serves Chepauk and Triplicane, is a stop away on the Blue Line, and Thousand Lights, which serves Royapettah, follows after LIC. The metro avoids road traffic, but with big bags a cab is easier.

The suburban network has separate terminals: Moore Market Complex serves the north, west and related lines, and Chennai Park serves the south and south-west lines. Park Town is the adjacent MRTS station. Check which station your journey needs.

Wikipedia notes that Chennai Central was renamed in 1998 and again in 2019. People still call it Chennai Central or simply Central. When you book an app cab, use the station's common name and choose the correct pick-up gate shown on the app, because the station has more than one entrance.

Parking and facilities

Wikipedia lists parking for about 1,000 two-wheelers and 1,000 four-wheelers, plus a premium lot for 80 cars. There are drinking water points, toilets, licensed porters, battery-operated vehicles and a medical care centre opened in 2013. If you are driving, the hotel's free parking is a better place to leave your car for a multi-day trip than the station.

The suburban terminal near the station is also where local trains to places such as Tiruvallur and Arakkonam start. Do not confuse these with the long-distance trains at the main terminal. Check your ticket for the station name and platform before you leave the hotel.

Tips for a smooth day

Book the cab in advance or use a trusted app. Agree the fare before you start, or use a meter. Keep your ticket details on your phone and a screenshot of your coach position. Keep valuables close and use licensed porters. Carry water and snacks, since trains can run late.

If you have time between your hotel check-out at 11 AM and an evening train, ask the front desk whether they can hold your luggage. That depends on the hotel, so ask first, as it is not promised.

If you arrive in the middle of the night, a taxi is the best choice, since the metro and buses may not run through the night. The hotel's front desk is open 24 hours, so you can check in whenever you arrive, subject to room availability. For early morning trains, arrange your cab the evening before.

Rooms and rates

For a night before or after a train, the Single Deluxe is Rs 1,600, the Double Deluxe Rs 2,000, the Triple Bed Room Rs 2,800 and the Quadruple Room Rs 3,600 per night. Every room has air conditioning and free Wi-Fi, and the lift serves all floors. Message or call Hotel Royal King on +91 73973 96612 with your dates and number of guests. Rates are per room, per night, so please reconfirm the current rate and taxes when you book.