HIGHLIGHTS

Ø  It covers a distance of 700 km between Secundrabad- Visakhapatnam  in 8.30 hours, will save three hours of travel time compared to other trains on the route with 16 Coaches comprising Executive class chair car and Chair car having stoppages at Rajahmundry, Vijayawada, Khammam and Warangal 

Ø  World-class passenger amenities:   automatic doors, a GPS-based audio-visual passenger information system, onboard hotspot Wi-Fi for entertainment purposes, and comfortable seating. The train will run for Six days in Week (Except Sundays)

Ø  The train No. 20833 Visakhapatnam-Secunderabad Vandebharat express will leave Visakhapatnam at 05.45hrs and will reach Secunderabad on the same day at 14.15hrs.

Ø  In the return direction train No. 20834 Secunderabad-Visakhapatnam Vandebharat express will leave Secunderabad at 15.00hrs and will reach Visakhapatnam at 23.30hrs on the same day.

"It's like a plane," exclaimed a schoolgirl as she walked through the spotless, modern-looking compartment along with her schoolmates out for a joy ride on the inaugural run of the Vande Bharat Express train between Secundrabad and Visakhapatnam, which was virtually flagged off by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the auspicious day of Sankranti festival here on Sunday. It’s India’s eighth and South India’s second Vande Bharat Express train. 

More than 350 students from Kendriya Vidhyalaya Visakhapatnam are invited to board the train to know about the special inbuilt features.  The blue-and-white train, which covers a distance of 700 km in 8.30 hours, will save three hours of travel time compared to other trains on the route, officials said. It will have four stoppages at Rajahmundry, Vijayawada, Khammam, and Warangal. The state-of-the-art train has 16 coaches comprising Executive class chair car and Chair care. 

Dhananjay, a Class VI student of Kendriya Vidyalaya, and Venusri of Class VIII were visibly happy to be part of the first run of the train. Swetha, a class V student, also on the train, excitedly said "it feels marvelous to ride this train". The train has an aerodynamically designed engine whose nose does compare loosely with a jet-liner's nose. While the spanking new chair cars give the look of an airline interior. 

There are reclining seats in all classes and rotating seats in Executive AC Chair Car coaches. For, safe, secure, and convenient journeys, the coaches are equipped with the installation of CCTV cameras. Only passengers with confirmed tickets will be allowed to board the train.

Speaking to Hello Vizag exclusively on board Vande Bharat Express Divisional Railway Manager Anup Kumar Satpathy said the train is equipped with many advanced state-of-the-art safety features including an indigenously developed Train Collision Avoidance System (KAVACH), which will help prevent accidents on rail tracks like collisions of trains.

It has automatic doors, a GPS-based audio-visual passenger information system, onboard Wi-Fi for entertainment purposes, a fully air-conditioned passenger compartment with a vestibule arrangement, and comfortable seating with retractable footsteps. 

Also, it has a GPS-based Public Address and Passenger Information System (PAPIS) consisting of in-coach displays, speakers, side destination boards, etc, luggage racks with reading lamps, direct lighting (for passengers), and diffused lighting (for luggage racks), continuous LED light fixtures, modular pantry equipment and GPS antenna in all coaches, Mobile/laptop charging sockets in the passenger seats, CCTVs and Emergency talk back units with networking system in all coaches. Its exterior employs an aerodynamic design intended to reduce air resistance at high speeds.

Commenting on the speed of the Vande Bharat Express Anup Kumar Satpathy said “the rake was designed with a speed limit of 180 km, but the speed of the train has been capped at 130 km due to the track conditions. It has quick acceleration 0 kmph to 100 kmph speed in just 52 seconds as compared to 55 seconds taken by the bullet train. 

He also said that the train will certainly enhance the bond between the two states and will get a good response from all corners. As per the rising demand and due patronage of the passengers for the Vande Bharat express, more rakes will be added in the future in the tourist circuit. He also thanked Chief Minister Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy for connecting both the states of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana by having hectic confabulations with the Railway ministry to start the inaugural run.

Elaborate arrangements were made for the entire team of officials, students, staff, and media persons who went to receive the train.  Sweets, chocolates, and biscuits were distributed among the public, and souvenir passes were given to the students, and media personnel as a sweet memory of the maiden journey in Vande Bharat. 

On the sidelines of the inauguration of the Vande  Bharat Express, the Waltair division organized a drawing, painting, and essay competition among the children of Kendriya Vidyalaya, Waltair on various topics like World class Stations, Vande Bharat Exp, Safe journey and Cleanliness on trains and stations. Prizes were distributed to students who were the winners of essay writing & drawing/painting competitions held on Vande Bharat express. 

Political leaders cutting the party lines, who appeared no less excited, said that with the semi-high speed Vande Bharat service, a new era in connectivity will usher in both the Telugu states for ease of travel and a big leap forward for boosting tourism.

In the new design of Vande Bharat Express, a photo-catalytic ultraviolet air purification system is installed in the Roof-Mounted Package Unit (RMPU) for air purification. It has a driver cabin at each end, allowing for faster turnaround at terminating stations. These trains have reclining seats in all classes while the Executive Coaches have the added feature of 180-degree rotating seats. Charging points for the mobile phone are attached below the seat.  

For the common man, it will not only boost tourism in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana but also reinforce economic, social, and cultural bonds in the region. With modern passenger amenities, the Vande Bharat Express is likely to be preferred both by regular passengers, industry executives, and tourists for faster connectivity with a world-class travel experience between both the Telugu states.