Coaches in Sec’bad – Vizag – Sec’bad Vande Bharat to be increased from 8 to 16 from January 13

The number of coaches in Secunderabad – Visakhapatnam – Secunderabad Vande Bharat Express will be increased from Jnauary 13. File
| Photo Credit: SPECIAL ARRANGEMENTS

South Central Railway (SCR) has announced that the Secunderabad – Visakhapatnam – Secunderabad Vande Bharat Express will now run with enhanced passenger carrying capacity, from eight coaches (530 passenger capacity) to 16 coaches (1,128 ) effective from January 13.

Train Nos. 20707 / 20708 Secunderabad – Visakhapatnam – Secunderabad Vande Bharat Express, which began operations from March 12, 2024, has been operating with more than 145% and 159% patronage, respectively.

The new composition will have 14 chair cars with 1,024 capacity (instead of earlier seven with a capacity of 478) and two executive class with 104 capacity (instead of earlier one coach with a capacity of 52).

Additional coaches

An official spokesperson stated in a press release that 15 trains have been augmented with additional coaches for Sankranti. Five additional counters and enquiry counters have been opened at major stations.

Monitoring cells are being operated round-the-clock at divisional commercial control and senior officers, including RPF, are posted during peak hours to handle the heavy crowd.

Section commercial inspectors or ticket checking staff in coordination with RPF staff are available near trains prone to heavy rush to regulate the smooth entry of passengers into general coaches and restrict entry of unauthorised passengers into reserved coaches, the release added.