Chennai Metro Starting Time – Route, Stations, Fare, and Daily Schedule

By vishal - Nov 26, 2025, 13:12 IST

Introduction

Metro will be seen to be the most convenient mode of transportation in the entire city of Chennai. It links important districts, wastage of time on the road is minimized, and an air-conditioned and safe mode of transport is being offered to lakhs of daily commuters.

When you are going to work, school, or the airport, you can just know the Chennai Metro starting time so as to be more organized and save time. We will examine the schedule of Chennai Metro, the timetable of the first train, routes, and the schedule of the last train.

Chennai Metro Starting Time

All the major stations of the Chennai Metro will begin at 5:00 AM daily. The first train leaves at 5:00 AM, and the service is provided until 11:00 PM. The Blue Line and the Green Line are both on this schedule, with slight differences depending on station and direction of the journey.

The point is as follows: morning trains are usually not that busy, which is why they can suit those who use trains to go to work or visit airports.

Chennai Metro Timings – Blue Line and Green Line

The Metro Blue Line and the Green Line have served the northern, southern, and western regions of the city. The initial and final times is quite similar, and the times and frequencies of trains might be different.

Chennai Metro Blue Line Timings

  • Via: Wimco Nagar, Chennai International Airport.
  • First Train: 5:00 AM (in either way)
  • Last Train: 11:00 PM
  • Period: Every 5 -7 minutes during rush periods.

Chennai Metro Green Line Timings

Stopping point: St. Thomas Mount – Puratchi Thalaivar Dr. M.G. Ramachandran Central Metro.

  • First Train: 5:00 AM (in either way)
  • Last Train: 11:00 PM
  • Frequency: The frequency should be every 6 to 8 minutes during the peak time.

The metro trains are timely and consistent, hence it is one of the best modes of transport in Chennai.

Chennai Metro First and Last Train Schedule

The following table displays the first and last Metro train time of the major stations in Chennai in case you are planning to travel.

Station

First Train

Last Train

Line

Wimco Nagar

5:00 AM

11:00 PM

Blue Line

Chennai Central

5:05 AM

10:55 PM

Green Line

Egmore Metro

5:10 AM

10:50 PM

Blue Line

Vadapalani

5:00 AM

11:00 PM

Green Line

Airport Metro

5:00 AM

11:00 PM

Blue Line

St. Thomas Mount

5:00 AM

10:55 PM

Green Line

This schedule can slightly alter on weekends or during public holidays, and thus it is advisable to be at the station at least 10 minutes before the schedule.

Chennai Metro Route Map Overview

The Chennai Metro line reaches two major corridors, and these routes have various interchanges to allow easy connectivity.

  • Blue Line (Corridor 1): Airport to Wimco Nagar (32 km, 26 stations)
  • Green Line (Corridor 2): St. Thomas Mount to Central Metro (22 km, 17 stations)

These two lines also intersect at important crossings such as Alandur and Central Metro hence the passengers find it easy to alternate lines.

These are routes that serve the major destinations like Teynampet, Nandanam, Guindy, Koyambedu, and Egmore.

Chennai Metro Waiting Time and Frequency

Waiting time of trains in the metro is determined depending on the time of day.

  • Peak Hours (8 AM to 11 AM, 5 PM to 8 PM) Within this category, the trains operate every 5 minutes.
  • Non-Peak Hours – The trains come in 7-10 minutes.
  • Sundays and Public Holidays – Frequency can be 8 to 12 frequent.

That is why you can count on fast arrivals and minimum waiting time in case you schedule your trip during the rush hour.

Chennai Metro Fare Details

The Chennai Metro is cheap and varies in accordance with the distance covered.

The structure of the fare is in brief as follows:

Distance (km)

Fare (₹)

0 – 2 km

₹10

2 – 5 km

₹20

5 – 12 km

₹30

12 – 20 km

₹40

Above 20 km

₹50

You can also make a payment in the form of tokens, smart cards, or digital payments such as NCMC cards and QR tickets. Frequent passengers like Metro Travel Cards are offered discounts and speedy access.

Chennai Metro Sunday and Holiday Timings

Trains can also run in longer intervals since the Chennai Metro starting time on Sunday also happens to be 5:00 AM. Nevertheless, the final train departs not later than 11:00 PM at each of the terminal stations.

Timings may be momentary during festivals or maintenance work. Advertisements are normally placed beforehand on the notice boards stations and official apps.

Chennai Metro Airport Service

The fact that the system is directly linked to Chennai International Airport is one of the greatest pros of the metro system.

There is Blue Line that links Airport Metro Station with such locations as Guindy, Nandanam, Egmore, and Central. Airport Metro trains begin operation at 5:00 AM and end operations at 11:00 PM at the latest.

This is the route that passengers in airports would use, as it is the fastest and safest method as opposed to road transport.

Chennai Metro Smart Card and Traveling Tips

The metro has Smart Cards and Mobile Ticketing to make your life easier.

Here are a few travel tips:

  • Filling up your Smart Card online or at counters so that you can avoid queues.

  • Take QR Tickets on one-way travel through the Chennai Metro app.

  • Always have a little change with you to use as tokens, just in case you are not carrying a card.

  • You should not be in a hurry during the time of rush hour when carrying your luggage.

  • Reliable first Metro train Chennai Metro station time is the first thing to consider when going on an early morning trip.

Chennai Metro Future Extension Plans

The Chennai Metro Phase 2 project is going on to increase the network to other regions such as Porur, Poonamallee, Madhavaram, and Sholinganallur. This will entail completion of more than 118 km of new routes accommodating three large corridors. This translates to increased convenience, quick travel, and connectivity among people who reside in the suburbs.

Why Knowing Chennai Metro Starting Time Matters

The Chennai Metro starting time would mean that you will not miss early morning trains, particularly when you are going to work, college, or a flight. One should always be there at least 15 minutes so that there is time to plan, because gates might shut down just before one takes off. In the case of commuters, it is time and energy-saving as one can monitor the first and last trains.

Conclusion

Both the Blue Line and the Green Line have a starting time of 5:00 AM at Chennai Metro which concludes with the final trains arriving by 11:00 PM. It has the best way to travel around Chennai, it has punctual service, clean stations and fast travelling. The Chennai Metro will be rapid, safe and cheap enough to everyone, regardless of whether they are going to the airport or the city centre.

Chennai Metro Starting Time FAQs

The Chennai Metro starts around 5:00 AM every day, with slight variations depending on the route and station

The last train usually runs till 11:00 PM, but it can vary on weekends or during maintenance schedules

The Chennai Metro currently operates two main lines – Blue Line and Green Line – connecting major city routes and landmarks