If you have ever tried to catch a train out of Chennai during rush hour, you know exactly how stressful it can be. Last week, I took Train No. 20605 Chendur Express down to Sirkazhi, and things didn’t exactly go according to my original plan.
From a last-minute boarding point scramble to some incredibly useful Tatkal lessons I learned the hard way, here is what my journey looked like and what you need to know if you’re planning a similar trip.
The Last-Minute Scramble: Changing My Boarding Point On the Move
My ticket was originally booked out of Chennai Egmore, with the train scheduled to leave at precisely 4:00 PM. Traffic had other plans. As the clock ticked down, I realized there was absolutely no way I was going to make it to Egmore on time.
Instead of panicking and throwing away the ticket, I used a quick workaround that many passengers completely forget about: I changed my boarding point to Tambaram while I was physically on my way there.
You can do this easily via the IRCTC app (or the RailOne app):
- Go to My Bookings and open your active ticket.
- Tap the three dots and look for “Change Boarding Point.”
- Select your new station from the list and confirm.
Why this is critical: If you miss your train at your original station and just show up at a later stop without updating the app, the TTE (Ticket Examiner) can legally mark your seat as vacant and reallocate it to RAC or waitlisted passengers. Just remember: you can only change your boarding point once, so make sure you can actually reach the new station!
I managed to reach Tambaram station just 10 minutes before the train pulled in. The Chendur Express arrived right on time at 4:27 PM on Platform No. 7.
A Quick Guide to Tambaram Station Entrances
If you are boarding or getting off at Tambaram, picking the right exit will save you a massive headache:
- The Front Entrance (Bus Stand Side): This connects directly to the main Tambaram bus terminus. The railways recently built a dedicated pathway that takes you straight from the platforms to the road outside. It’s perfect if you plan to jump on an MTC bus immediately.
- The Back Entrance (East Tambaram/Selaiyur Side): If you are booking an Ola, Uber, or looking for a local auto, use this side. It leads to the Tambaram–Selaiyur road. It requires way less walking than the front exit, and you can get from the platform to the street in under a minute.
What It’s Really Like Inside the Sleeper Coach
I traveled in the regular Sleeper class for this journey. Overall, the coach condition was decent. The charging points at my bay were fully operational, and the toilets were kept reasonably clean throughout the evening.
You definitely won’t go hungry on this route. Local vendors were constantly walking down the aisles selling hot tea, samosas, and snacks. Around 6:00 PM, the catering staff came around taking dinner orders, and the food was delivered right to our berths by 8:00 PM.
We hit a bit of delay closer to our destination and ended up reaching Sirkazhi about 15 minutes late.
Arriving at Sirkazhi & Navigating the Crowds
When I stepped off the train, Sirkazhi station was undergoing a major renovation. To make matters worse, it was raining quite heavily, which left several sections of the platform pretty muddy. Keep an eye out for construction materials if you are traveling through here soon.
Because the following day was a special festival occasion for Lord Murugan, the unreserved coaches were absolutely packed to the brim. People were packed tightly near the doors and coach steps. In fact, the crowd was so intense that many unreserved passengers spilled over into the reserved sleeper coaches, sitting near the toilet bays. Fortunately, they didn’t try to move into the AC coaches.
My Secret to Booking Tatkal (And a Costly Mistake to Avoid)
Because this train connects major hubs like Thanjavur, Trichy, Madurai, and Tirunelveli, it is always in high demand. It leaves Egmore in the evening and hits these major cities by early morning, making it a favorite for weekend travelers.
I managed to grab our tickets through Tatkal. My biggest time-saving hack is using the IRCTC Master List. Before the Tatkal window opens at 11:00 AM, go to your profile and save all your family members’ details. When the clock strikes 11, you just click “Add Existing” instead of typing everything out manually.
I booked tickets for four of us and paid a total of ₹1,777.
Learn from my mistake: When you are rushing through the Tatkal screens, it is easy to misclick. I saved my child’s name in the master list but forgot to check the “Without Berth” option during the high-speed checkout. Because of that split-second oversight, I ended up paying the full adult ticket price for a separate berth. Slow down for just a second on that passenger selection screen!
Also, keep in mind that confirmed Tatkal tickets are non-refundable upon cancellation unless the train is delayed by more than three hours or canceled entirely by the railways.
The Verdict
For a budget-friendly journey down south, the Chendur Express sleeper coach is a perfectly fine option if you manage to get a confirmed seat. However, if you are traveling during major festivals or local auspicious days, avoid unreserved travel at all costs. Stick to reserved sleeper or AC classes to keep your sanity intact!
