Train services were hit for about five hours on the Chennai-Jolarpet section after a goods train derailed between Kavanur and Latheri near Katpadi at 1.20 am on Monday.
Several express trains, mostly those heading towards Chennai from Jolarpet and beyond, were stopped midway.
The Chennai-bound Nilgiris Express from Mettupalayam, Cheran Express from Coimbatore, Allapuzha Express, Yercaud Express from Erode and another express train from Bangalore, were among the trains that were delayed by more than four hours because of the derailment.
Railway teams swung into action and restored train services on the Jolarpet-Chennai line five hours later around 6.30 am. Services on the Chennai-Jolarpet line were not affected much as the derailment largely obstructed the line in the opposite direction.
Several passengers at Wallajah Road station, annoyed over the delay in the arrival of trains, squatted on the tracks this morning. They dispersed once the officials informed them about the derailment and restoration of services.
Monday’s derailment is the second in a fortnight. Train services were disrupted for nearly eight hours on the Chennai-Tiruvallur stretch because of a similar derailment of a goods train near Athipattu late last month.