The Secunderabad–Visakhapatnam Vande Bharat Express, launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on March 12, 2024, is set to operate with enhanced passenger capacity starting January 13, 2025.
Doubling Capacity to Meet Soaring Demand
The train, which originally ran with 8 coaches accommodating 530 passengers, will now feature 16 coaches, doubling its capacity to 1,128 passengers.
Train No. 20707/20708, covering the Secunderabad–Visakhapatnam route, has witnessed remarkable demand since its inception. During April to December 2024, the Secunderabad–Visakhapatnam service operated at over 145% patronage, while the Visakhapatnam–Secunderabad service exceeded 159%. In response to this overwhelming demand, the train’s composition is being revised to include 14 Chair Cars (1,024 seats) and 2 Executive Class coaches (104 seats), compared to the previous setup of 7 Chair Cars (478 seats) and 1 Executive Class coach (52 seats).
South Central Railways General Manager Arun Kumar Jain emphasized the significance of the upgrade. “The doubling of the train’s capacity will allow more passengers to benefit from Vande Bharat’s high-speed services. This timely enhancement will also enable more people to travel home comfortably during the Sankranti festival,” he stated.