Chennai Metro’s Yellow Line between Poonamallee Bypass and Vadapalani will begin services at 6 am from October 23, two weeks earlier than its current 7 am start, after Chennai Metro Rail Limited (CMRL) received feedback from commuters.
The revised timetable will apply in both directions along the 15-km Phase II Corridor 4 stretch, which has 11 elevated Metro stations. Services will run from 6 am to 9 pm, with the last train departing from both Poonamallee Bypass and Vadapalani terminals at 9 pm.
CMRL said the change is intended to improve passenger convenience and support early-morning travel between the two terminals. The earlier start is expected to assist passengers travelling to workplaces, educational institutions and other destinations before the previous service commencement time.
On weekdays and Saturdays, trains will run every 10 minutes during the morning peak period from 8 am to 11 am and the evening peak period from 5 pm to 8 pm. During non-peak hours, services will operate at 15-minute intervals.
The non-peak periods under the revised schedule will be from 6 am to 8 am, 11 am to 5 pm and 8 pm to 9 pm. This means commuters using the first two hours of service will have a train every 15 minutes before the weekday morning frequency increases at 8 am.
On Sundays and public holidays, CMRL will not operate a separate peak-hour schedule. Trains will run at 15-minute intervals throughout the day, from 6 am to 9 pm.
The change comes as the newly opened corridor continues to settle into regular passenger operations. By extending the beginning of the service day, CMRL is responding to a practical operational requirement: passengers travelling from the western suburban areas towards Vadapalani will have an additional hour of Metro access for early journeys.
The revised operating hours will also apply to passengers travelling in the opposite direction, from Vadapalani towards Poonamallee Bypass. CMRL has not announced any change to the stated 9 pm closing time for either terminal.
The new schedule will take effect on October 23, when the first trains on the Yellow Line are scheduled to depart at 6 am from both Poonamallee Bypass and Vadapalani.
