In a significant development for railway connectivity in the State of Andhra Pradesh, the Vande Bharat Express train will soon be operational between Vijayawada and Chennai.
This new service, set to be virtually launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on 7 July, will be available for passengers starting from 8 July. The introduction of this train will greatly enhance travel between these two prominent cities.
The Vande Bharat Express will travel to Chennai via Gudur, Renigunta, and Katpadi, and will return by the same route. The inter-city train journey between Vijayawada and Chennai is expected to take approximately six and a half hours. This efficient route will provide a convenient and time-saving option for travellers.
It is worth mentioning that Vande Bharat trains are already operating successfully between Visakhapatnam and Secunderabad, as well as between Secunderabad and Tirupati in the State. These services have been well-received by passengers, according to railway officials. The addition of the Vijayawada-Chennai route is expected to further enhance the popularity and convenience of the Vande Bharat Express trains.
Vijayawada Division Railway officials have requested South Central Railway officials to route the new train through the Renigunta junction, reports The New Indian Express. This will be advantageous for passengers travelling between Vijayawada and Tirupati, especially during peak times. The introduction of the Vande Bharat Express will help accommodate the increased number of passengers.
According to the Indian Railways, 24 states/UTs are now being covered which include Andhra Pradesh, Assam, Bihar, Chandigarh, Chhattisgarh, Delhi, Goa, Gujarat, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir, Jharkhand, Karnataka, Kerala, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Odisha, Punjab, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, Telangana, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, and West Bengal.
Vande Bharat Express Train marks the advent of the semi-high-speed train set, which revolutionised the notion of rail travel experience with state-of-the-art passenger amenities and reduced travel time.