Royapuram railway station facts for kids

The Royapuram railway station is a very old and important train station located in Royapuram, a part of Chennai, Tamil Nadu. It's a key stop on the Chennai Suburban Railway network, connecting Chennai Beach to Arakkonam. This station is special because it's one of the oldest railway stations in India that is still working today. It was also the very first railway station in South India.

A Look Back: Royapuram's Railway History

The first train journey in South India began right here at Royapuram railway station in June 1856. This was a huge step forward for travel and trade in the region. For many years, the station was also the main office, or headquarters, for the Madras and Southern Mahratta Railway. This lasted until 1922, when the headquarters moved to Egmore.

You might wonder why Royapuram is called the oldest station. While there were older stations in Mumbai (Bombay) and Thane, their original buildings are no longer standing. Because of this, Royapuram station holds the title of the oldest railway station in the entire Indian subcontinent that still uses its original structure.

Royapuram Station: How Big Is It?

The Royapuram railway station is also very large! It has a lot of space, covering about 246,000 square meters. This makes it the second biggest railway station in India when it comes to available space. Only the Howrah station in Kolkata is larger.

Images for kids

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  The original structure around 1870

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  Ruins of the original buildings at the station

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  Loco shed at the Royapuram railway station

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  A small temple at the station, with the heritage buildings in the background

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  Arched road over-bridge near the western end of the station

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  A view of the arched over-bridge looking west