The much-anticipated Vande Bharat Express between Nagpur and Secunderabad will commence operations on September 15, after a delay attributed to a shortage of coaches. The train, which is one of nine Vande Bharat trains announced last year, will be inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi from New Delhi.
The launch event at Nagpur Railway Station is expected to be attended by Central Railway General Manager Dharamveer Meena and other senior officials.
The new service will operate daily except Tuesdays. The Vande Bharat Express will cover the 578 km distance between Nagpur and Secunderabad in approximately 7 hours and 15 minutes, significantly faster than the 8-hour journey by traditional Mail/Express trains. According to the Railway Board’s timetable, the train will depart from Nagpur at 5:00 AM and reach Secunderabad at 12:15 PM. It will make stops at Sevagram (5:48/5:50 AM), Chandrapur (7:18/7:20 AM), Ballarshah (7:35/7:40 AM), Ramagundam (9:08/9:10 AM), and Kazipet (10:04/10:06 AM). On the return trip, the train will leave Secunderabad at 1:00 PM and arrive in Nagpur at 8:20 PM.
This new service will be the second Vande Bharat train originating from Nagpur, following the Nagpur-Bilaspur route. The Nagpur-Secunderabad Vande Bharat will feature 16 coaches, with primary maintenance performed at the Ajni Car Shed. The train will undergo weekly maintenance, which will temporarily halt its service for one day. Basic maintenance will be conducted at platform level after each arrival.
The Bilaspur Vande Bharat previously operated with 16 coaches but now runs with 8 chair cars following a study of passenger occupancy. The success of the Nagpur-Secunderabad Vande Bharat will depend on its ability to attract sufficient passengers, given the presence of another train on the same route that offers sleeper accommodations. The newly introduced Vande Bharat will be equipped with chair cars.