Visakhapatnam needs more trains, longer rakes: DRUCC tells railway

Chalasani Gandhi, representing the railway users body, has made a formal request to South Coast Railway authorities to expand services from Visakhapatnam ahead of the busy festival period. The appeal focuses on augmenting passenger capacity through longer train compositions and introducing new services on critical routes.

Gandhi has specifically sought the operation of 24-coach rakes to accommodate the anticipated surge in passenger traffic during festival months. The request also includes a proposal for overnight express services connecting Visakhapatnam to major South Indian metros including Chennai, Bengaluru, Hyderabad and Kolkata, aimed at providing convenient travel options for commuters and business travellers.

The DRUCC member has additionally highlighted the need for enhanced frequency on branch lines serving the Ichchapuram and Rajamahendravaram sections, which handle significant regional traffic but currently operate limited services. These corridors connect important towns and industrial areas that would benefit from improved rail connectivity.

The South Coast Railway division oversees rail operations in coastal Andhra Pradesh and has been working to upgrade infrastructure and services. Railway officials typically review such representations from users' committees to assess operational feasibility and passenger demand patterns before implementing service changes.