**Summary:**
This document addresses Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 1744, raised on July 30, 2025, regarding the short-termination of Train No. 16160, the Mangaluru Central-Chennai Express, at Tambaram instead of its scheduled destination, Chennai Egmore. The question specifically highlights the inconvenience caused to passengers, including students, women with children, and the elderly, due to the early morning arrival and lack of onward travel options.
The Minister of Railways, Information Broadcasting and Electronics Information Technology, Shri Ashwini Vaishnaw, responded that the short-termination is temporary and due to ongoing infrastructure work at Chennai Egmore station, including station development, capacity enhancement, and passenger amenity improvements. While Train No. 16160 is currently operating between Tambaram and Mangaluru Central, connecting services are available in both directions between Chennai and Tambaram for passengers using this train. The response does not explicitly address the rationale for allowing other trains, such as the Pearl City Express and Pandian Express, to proceed to Chennai Egmore during the same period, nor does it provide a specific timeline for the restoration of Train No. 16160's normal service to Chennai Egmore.
Key Entities Referenced
Ministry of Railways: The Indian government ministry responsible for the country's railway system.
Lok Sabha: The lower house of the Parliament of India.
MS. S Jothimani: Member of Parliament who raised the question about the short-termination of the train.
Train No. 16160 MAQChennai Express: An express train that was short-terminated at Tambaram instead of Chennai Egmore.
Tambaram: A city in Tamil Nadu, India, where the train was short-terminated.
Chennai Egmore: A railway station in Chennai, Tamil Nadu, the scheduled destination of the train.
Pearl City Express: A train mentioned in comparison to the short-terminated train.
Pandian Express: A train mentioned in comparison to the short-terminated train.
SHRI Ashwini Vaishnaw: Minister of Railways, Information Broadcasting and Electronics Information Technology.
Chennai Egmore-Mangaluru Central Express: The train service (Train Nos. 16159/16160) temporarily operated between Tambaram and Mangaluru Central due to station redevelopment work.
Mangaluru Central: A railway station in Mangaluru, Karnataka; the other terminal station for train numbers 16159/16160
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1744
TO BE ANSWERED ON 30.07.2025
SHORT-TERMINATION OF EXPRESS TRAIN
1744. MS. S JOTHIMANI:
Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:
(a) whether the Government is aware that Train No. 16160 MAQ–Chennai
Express was recently short-terminated at Tambaram instead of its scheduled
destination, Chennai Egmore, around 3:00 a.m., causing significant
inconvenience to passengers;
(b) if so, whether the Government has taken cognizance of the hardships
faced by students, women with children and elderly passengers who were
left without adequate onward travel options at such an odd hour;
(c) the reasons for the short-termination of the train i.e track congestion,
maintenance work or other operational constraints;
(d) the rationale behind allowing other trains such as the Pearl City Express
and Pandian Express to proceed to Chennai Egmore around the same time
while halting MAQ–Chennai Express at Tambaram; and
(e) whether normal service of Train No. 16160 to Chennai Egmore will be
restored and if so, the expected timeline?
ANSWER
MINISTER OF RAILWAYS, INFORMATION & BROADCASTING AND
ELECTRONICS & INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
(SHRI ASHWINI VAISHNAW)
(a) to (e) To facilitate infrastructure works such as station development,
capacity enhancement, development of passenger amenities etc.,
sometimes trains are required to be diverted/ cancelled /short terminated or
truncated.
Accordingly, 16159/16160 Chennai Egmore-Mangaluru Central Express is
temporarily being operated between Tambaram and Mangaluru Central to
facilitate the ongoing station redevelopment work of Chennai Egmore
station. However, connecting services are available, in both directions,
between Chennai and Tambaram for the passengers availing the services of
16159/16160 Chennai Egmore - Mangaluru Central Express.
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