South India gets its second ‘Vande Bharat’ train, which would run from Secunderabad to Visakhapatnam.
The South Central Railway (SCR) has announced the first generation of ‘Vande Bharat’ trains as the government prepares to build the ‘Next Gachibowli’ towards the ‘Hyderabad-Vijayawada’ highway. Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched the first service between Chennai and Mysuru. A train of this type will run between Secunderabad and Vijayawada. This train would run from Secunderabad to Vijayawada before being extended to Visakhapatnam. This route will cut travel time down to eight hours, whereas other trains typically take 12-14 hours.
This announcement was made by G Kishan Reddy, the Union Minister for Tourism, Culture, and Development of the Northeast Region. There were several senior officials present during the announcement, including General Manager Arun Kumar Jain and Divisional Railway Manager Abhay Kumar Gupta.
Vande Bharat features are as follows:
- The coach’s chassis is 23 meters in length, and the train’s frame is entirely made of stainless steel. Over 80% of the components utilised in the production are indigenous. While the train has a top speed of 160 kmph, it is expected to travel at a speed of 130 kmph on the Secunderabad-Vijayawada track via Kazipet.
- The Vande Bharat train will accommodate a total of 1,128 passengers. Automatic doors, a GPS-based audio-visual passenger information system, free Wi-Fi for all passengers onboard, and comfortable seating are among its features. It also has bio-vacuum restrooms and rotational seats that can be adjusted to face the direction of travel.
- The Union Minister for Tourism revealed that he approached the Railway Ministry to see if it was possible to extend the service all the way to Tirupati. But, in the meantime, the train will run up to Vijayawada and Vishakapatnam.
- It is believed that in the next three years, Hyderabad could become one of the major hubs for the 400 new-generation Vande Bharat Express trains, which will connect most major and medium-sized cities.
What’s happening at the Secunderabad Railway Station?
The government has other plans for the Secunderabad station beside the Vande Bharat train. The station will be renovated in three stages, with final designs being developed. The first phase is expected to take 16 months to complete, the second phase about 28 months, and the third phase about 36 months. In order to ensure the station’s sustainability and the smooth operation of travel, the development work is being planned in three stages. There will be 26 advanced lifts, 32 escalators, two travelators, flashing dashboards, CCTV cameras, WiFi, and other amenities in the new structure. This modernization will cost nearly Rs 719 crores, and once completed, it will be capable of accommodating the requirements of passengers for the next four decades. Also, to segregate the incoming and outgoing traffic at the station, a massive parking facility will be set up for vehicles and TSRTC buses.
The launch date…
The commencement schedule of the Vande Bharat train will be announced once all of the work is completed. However, it is expected to take off in early 2023.