Chennai Central (MAS) — Station Guide and Facilities

Chennai Central — station code MAS, now officially Puratchi Thalaivar Dr. M.G. Ramachandran Central — is the primary long-distance terminus for Chennai. The red-brick Neo-Gothic building is one of the oldest railway stations in South India, dating back to 1873. It handles most of the major services heading north, west, and to other parts of Tamil Nadu.

If you're arriving in Chennai by train from another state, chances are this is where you'll end up.

Station Layout

Chennai Central has 17 platforms. The main building faces the General Hospital area and Park Town. The rear exit leads toward the Washermanpet side.

Platform Range	Typical Services
1–4	Shatabdi, Rajdhani, premium trains
5–9	Long-distance (Coromandel, GT Express, Navjeevan)
10–13	Intercity trains, some long-distance
14–17	Suburban and short-distance services

The main entrance on EVR Periyar Salai leads directly to the booking counters, waiting areas, and platforms 1–9. There's a secondary entrance on the Basin Bridge Road side that's closer to platforms 10–17.

Getting To and From Chennai Central

Metro

Chennai Central Metro Station (Blue Line) is connected via an underground walkway. Follow the "Metro" signs from the main concourse — it's about a 3-minute walk. From the metro, you can reach Chennai Airport, T. Nagar, and other key locations without dealing with auto-rickshaws.

Suburban Rail

Chennai Central is a stop on the Chennai suburban rail network. Trains to Beach, Tambaram, and Chengalpattu run from platforms 14–17. If you're heading to Velachery, take a suburban to Mambalam and change there — or just use the metro.

Auto-Rickshaw

The prepaid auto stand is outside the main entrance on the right side. Do NOT take random autos that approach you inside the station — they'll overcharge.

Typical prepaid auto fares:

• Chennai Central to Egmore Station: ₹50–70


• Chennai Central to T. Nagar: ₹120–150


• Chennai Central to Marina Beach: ₹80–100


• Chennai Central to Airport: ₹350–450

Taxi/Cab

Ola and Uber pickup is designated at the Basin Bridge Road side. Kaali-manju (yellow-black) taxis are available at the prepaid stand but are being phased out in favor of app cabs.

Chennai Central vs Chennai Egmore

This causes more confusion than anything else about Chennai trains. Here's the rule of thumb:

• Chennai Central (MAS): Trains going to other states — Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Hyderabad, Kerala, Karnataka
• Chennai Egmore (MS): Trains going within Tamil Nadu — Madurai, Trichy, Rameswaram, Coimbatore (some services)

The two stations are 3 km apart. A prepaid auto between them costs ₹50–70 and takes 15 minutes. The metro doesn't directly connect them yet, but you can take Blue Line from Central to Egmore in about 10 minutes.

Always check your station code: MAS = Central, MS = Egmore.

Facilities

Waiting Rooms

• General waiting hall: Ground floor near platform 1. Open to all. Gets crowded.
• AC waiting room: First floor near platform 1. Valid same-day ticket required. Has phone charging points.
• Upper-class waiting room: First floor, separate section for 2AC/1AC. Quieter, cleaner.
• IRCTC lounge: Near the food court area. ₹150 entry. AC, WiFi, snacks.

Food

The food court on the mezzanine level has South Indian options — idli, dosa, vada, and meals (rice thali) for ₹60–100. There's also a Rajdhani outlet for North Indian food.

On platform 1, the Annapoorna stall does excellent filter coffee for ₹15. The station is in Tamil Nadu, so filter coffee here is far better than anything you'll find at North Indian stations.

Outside the station, Ratna Cafe on Triplicane High Road (10 minutes by auto) is legendary for its sambar and ghee pongal if you have time to spare.

WiFi

RailWire WiFi is available. Connect, verify with phone OTP, get 30 minutes free. Coverage is reasonable across platforms 1–12. Suburban platforms are weaker.

ATMs

Indian Bank and SBI ATMs are inside the station near the main entrance. ICICI and HDFC ATMs are outside on EVR Periyar Salai.

Medical

First aid center is on platform 1. Government General Hospital is literally across the road from the main entrance — about 200 meters.

Navigation Tips

Tip 1: Arrive early for Rajdhani and Shatabdi. These trains board from the front of platform 1 or 2, and the walk from the entrance is long. Give yourself 20 minutes. Tip 2: The main entrance gets jammed in the mornings. If you're heading to platforms 10+, use the Basin Bridge Road entrance instead. Tip 3: Coach position charts are displayed on yellow boards at each platform entrance. Check them — Chennai Central platforms are long, and walking to the wrong end with luggage is painful in the Chennai heat. Tip 4: Summer (April–June) temperatures at Chennai Central are extreme. The platforms are semi-covered but still hot. Carry water and stay hydrated. The AC waiting room is worth using even if it means sitting there for an hour. Tip 5: Use IndianRail.app to track your train's live status. Platform assignments can shift, and Chennai Central trains sometimes run late due to signals on approach.

Cloak Room

Near platform 1, ground floor. Open 5 AM–11 PM. ₹30 per bag for the first 24 hours. Ticket required, bags scanned. Useful if you want to explore George Town or the Fort St. George area before your evening train.

Nearby Landmarks

• George Town: Walking distance — old Chennai's commercial heart
• Fort St. George: 1.5 km, the oldest British fort in India
• Government Museum (Egmore): 3 km, ₹50 auto
• Marina Beach: 3 km east, ₹80 auto
• Kapaleeshwarar Temple (Mylapore): 6 km, ₹120 auto

Quick Reference

Info	Details
Station Code	MAS
Total Platforms	17
Metro Connection	Chennai Central (Blue Line)
Suburban Rail	Platforms 14–17
WiFi	RailWire (free)
Cloak Room	Platform 1, 5 AM–11 PM

Chennai Central is a well-run station by Indian standards. The South Indian efficiency shows — trains here tend to depart on time more often than their North Indian counterparts. Just make sure you're at the right Chennai station, and you're golden.