Arakkonam Junction railway station (station code: AJJ) is a major railway junction located in the town of Arakkonam in the Ranipet district of Tamil Nadu, India. It is one of the important junctions on the Chennai–Bangalore main line and serves as a significant point for the divergence of the line towards Renigunta and Katpadi. The station is administered by the Chennai division of the Southern Railway zone of Indian Railways.
| Station name | Arakkonam Junction |
|---|---|
| Station code | AJJ |
| Location | Arakkonam, Ranipet district, Tamil Nadu |
| Country | India |
| Owner | Indian Railways |
| Operator | Southern Railway |
| Division | Chennai |
| Lines | Chennai–Bangalore line; Arakkonam–Renigunta line |
| Electrification | Yes |
Arakkonam developed historically as a railway town, with its growth closely tied to the establishment of the junction. The town lies roughly 70 kilometres west of Chennai (Madras) and grew around railway workshops, loco sheds, and staff colonies. The presence of the Arakkonam Electric Loco Shed, one of the major electric locomotive sheds operated by Southern Railway, gives the station added operational significance.
The Madras Railway Company opened the line from Madras (now Chennai) westwards in the mid-19th century, and Arakkonam emerged as a junction when the branch towards Renigunta and the line continuing to Jolarpettai and Bangalore came into use. After Indian independence and the regrouping of the Indian railways in 1951, the station came under the newly formed Southern Railway zone. The Chennai–Bangalore route through Arakkonam was electrified in stages, making the station a key point on one of the busiest electrified corridors in southern India.
The station has multiple platforms handling long-distance express trains, passenger services, and suburban EMU services from Chennai. Arakkonam is the western terminus for several MRTS/suburban services originating at Chennai Beach and Chennai Central, making it a vital node in the Chennai suburban railway network. Facilities at the station include waiting halls, retiring rooms, computerised reservation, foot overbridges, and basic passenger amenities.
Arakkonam is well connected by road to Chennai, Vellore, Kanchipuram, and Tiruttani. The Indian Naval Air Station INS Rajali, one of the largest naval air stations in Asia, is located nearby, and Arakkonam Junction serves as the closest major railhead for it.