PM Modi flags off Secunderabad-Tirupati Vande Bharat Express

HYDERABAD: Prime Minister Narendra Modi flagged off the Vande Bharat Express to Tirupati from the Secunderabad railway station here on Saturday. Of the 13 such trains, this is the second Vande Bharat Express between the two Telugu speaking states within a span of three months, after the one to Visakhapatnam.

Modi was received by railway minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, tourism minister G. Kishan Reddy, Governor Dr Tamilisai Soundarajan and state minister Talasani Srinivas Yadav.

Vaishnaw presented the Prime Minister a Cheriyal painting, an art form of Telangana, which depicted of Bathukamma, state’s floral festival.

Commercial services of the train will start on Sunday. The Tirupati Vande Bharat Express will cover the distance in eight-and-a-half hours. It leaves Secunderabad at 6 am and halts at Nalgonda, Guntur, Ongole and Nellore (in both directions) and reaches Tirupati at 2.30 p.m. The return journey starts at 3.15 pm from Tirupati and reaches Secunderabad at 11.45 pm. There will be no services on Tuesday.

The AC chair car fare, including catering, from Secunderabad to Tirupati is Rs. 1,680 and the executive class fare Rs. 3,080. On the return journey, the AC chair car fare is Rs. 1,625 and executive class Rs. 3,030.

The train consists of seven AC chair car coaches and one executive AC chair car coach for a total seating capacity of 530 passengers. This train is manufactured with indigenous technology and is equipped with modern features and enhanced comforts. The train has automatic sliding doors, provided with reclining seats in all classes and rotating seats in executive class.

Emergency alarm button and emergency talk back units for exigent situations. CCTV cameras have been placed in all coaches for safe and secure travel.