Vijayawada-Chennai Vande Bharat Express train to be launched on July 7: Check routes, stoppages and other details

The Vijayawada-Chennai Vande Bharat Express train is expected to be flagged off by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on a virtual mode on July 7 and it will be available for the public from July 8.  

This will mark Tamil Nadu's third Vande Bharat train. In Andhra Pradesh, currently  Vande Bharat trains are already operational between Visakhapatnam and Secunderabad and between Secunderabad and Tirupati.  

Indian Railways launched south India's first Vande Bharat Express train on the Chennai-Bengaluru-Mysure route in November last year. PM Modi flagged off the fifth rake of Vande Bharat Express at the Krantiveera Sangolli Railway station in Bengaluru.

The Secunderabad-Vizag Vande Bharat Express was launched in January 2023. The train has reduced the travel time for a distance of around 700km between Secunderabad and Vizag to just 8 hours, which was taking 12 hours earlier.

With the latest tranche of train launches in June, Vande Bharat Express trains now run in all states in the country that have fully electrified their railway lines. All rail-electrified states now have at least one pair of Vande Bharat trains, according to Indian Railways.

Vijayawada-Chennai Vande Bharat train route and stoppages

The Vijayawada-Chennai route is set to see a significant reduction in travel time with the introduction of the new Vande Bharat Express. The train is expected to complete the distance of nearly 500 kms in just six and a half hours.  

The Vande Bharat Express train leaving from Vijayawada will have stoppages at Gudur, Renigunta, and Katpadi before reaching Chennai. The return journey is also via the same route.

Vande Bharat trains, formerly known as Train 18, has been designed and built entirely in India by the Integral Coach Factory located in Chennai. It is a shining example of the "Make in India'' initiative and marks a significant milestone in India's transportation landscape. With a top speed of 180 km/h, this train is currently the fastest in India.