The Great Southern of India Railway Company was established with its headquarters in England in 1853.

The company operated a suburban electric train service for Madras city from May 1931 onwards.

By the end of 1877 the company owned 97 steam locomotives, 366 coaches and 1643 goods wagons.

[4] By 1936, the rolling stock had increased to 557 locomotives, 27 railcars, 1610 coaches and 9779 freight wagons.

[6][7] The railway lines were converted to 1,676 mm (5 ft 6 in) broad gauge in the 1990s[citation needed].