Thadam - Chennai Trains

The Story Behind Thadam

What’s in a Name?

Thadam (தடம்) is a Tamil word meaning “track” or “path” — a fitting name for an app that helps you navigate Chennai’s suburban railway network.

The Inspiration

This app draws inspiration from the classic 1990s railway station boards that many Chennai commuters remember fondly. The nostalgic blackboard aesthetic with chalk-style text brings back memories of simpler times while providing modern functionality.

Thadam has been completely rebuilt from the ground up using SwiftUI, replacing an older Objective-C version that served commuters for years. The new version offers a beautiful, intuitive interface designed for today’s iOS devices.

Download on App Store →

Features

🗺️ Interactive Network Map

Tube-style map of Chennai’s entire suburban rail network
Filter by route (MRTS, Beach-Tambaram, and more)
See all stations and connections at a glance
Beautiful visual design inspired by transit maps worldwide

⏱️ Next Train Countdown

Real-time countdown to the next train departure
See exactly how much time you have — no more rushing unnecessarily
Works for both directions on any route

📅 Complete Timetables

Full train schedules for all suburban routes
Switch between weekday and Sunday schedules with a tap
View all departures from any station

📍 Find Nearest Station

Use your location to instantly find the closest station
Perfect when you’re in an unfamiliar part of the city
Privacy-first: location is never stored or shared

Export beautiful timetable images
Share with friends and family
Perfect for group trips or helping someone catch their train

📱 Works Offline

All schedules stored on your device
No internet needed to check train timings
Works perfectly in underground stations or areas with poor connectivity

🔒 Privacy First

No account required
No personal data collected
Your location is only used to find nearby stations and is never stored

App Experience

Network Map

Explore Chennai’s entire suburban rail network on a beautiful tube-style map. Filter by route and find connections at a glance.

Station List

Browse all stations on any route. Each station shows the next train departure with a countdown timer.

Timetable View

View complete train schedules for any station. Switch between weekday and Sunday schedules easily.

Next Train Countdown

See exactly when the next train arrives. Real-time countdown helps you plan your journey perfectly.

Settings

Customize your experience and access privacy policy, about information, and more.

Routes Covered

Thadam covers all major Chennai suburban railway routes:

MRTS (Beach - Velachery)
Beach - Tambaram (via Mambalam)
Tambaram - Chengalpattu
Beach - Tiruttani (via Perambur)
Beach - Sullurpeta

Technical Excellence

Built with SwiftUI for a native Apple experience
Optimized for iOS 17.0 and later
Offline-first architecture — all data stored locally
TelemetryDeck for privacy-focused analytics (no personal data)
Regular updates based on user feedback

Privacy & Analytics

We respect your privacy while ensuring app quality:

TelemetryDeck for minimal, privacy-focused analytics
No personal data collection
Location used only for nearest station feature, never stored
GDPR and DPDP Act compliant by design

Download