Chennai: After 73-years of "sterling" service, an emotional farewell was given to the metre gauge electric multiple unit train, which chugged off from Chennai Egmore station on its last trip to Suburban Tambaram today (Jul 1, 2004).

The train was flagged off by Union Minister of State for Railways R Velu today.

The train, pressed into service by the then Governor of Madras Presidency Sir Frederick Stanley on April 2, 1931 is being discontinued in view of the gauge conversion work, which also began today. The entire section is 25-kms long.

Speaking on the occasion Velu, said that when Sir Stanley flagged off the first train in 1931, it was considered as a historic moment. Flagging off the last train was equally historic as the train served innumerable commuters. Many a commuter used the occasion to get themselves photographed in front of the train. He said it was nostalgic for him also as he had used the service during his student days.

Velu said the broad gauge conversion, which is expected to be completed within four months time, would double the passenger carrying capacity from the present four lakh per day to eight lakh.

Additional General Manager, Southern Railway K K Pande, said the Rs 520 crore gauge conversion work was being carried out on a cost sharing basis with Tamil Nadu Government. Conversion was also being taken up on the Thanjavur-Thiruvarur and Madurai-Manamadurai sections also from today, he said.