Train journeys between Hyderabad and Vijayawada, known for testing passenger patience, are poised for a dramatic transformation. The South Central Railway (SCR) has unveiled a major plan to upgrade tracks along the crucial Golden Diagonal (GD) corridor to support speeds of up to 160 kmph. This ambitious move could slash the current travel time to under three hours, making rail travel a swift, near-flight-time dash.
A Semi High-Speed First for South India
If approved by the central government, this semi high-speed corridor will be the first-of-its-kind in South India. Currently, such elevated speed operations are limited to select routes in North India, like Delhi-Agra and Delhi-Meerut. Railway officials have indicated that once the proposal gets the green light, the upgraded infrastructure could be ready within two years.
The speed enhancement aims to reduce the journey time from the present four to five hours taken by most superfast express trains to approximately three hours. Key stretches identified for this transformative upgrade include Secunderabad-Kazipet, Kazipet-Vijayawada, Duvvada-Vijayawada, and Vijayawada-Gudur. These corridors already host premium services like the Vande Bharat trains, which will be primary beneficiaries of the faster tracks.
Detailed Proposal Awaits Centre's Nod
SCR authorities have confirmed that a detailed proposal has been submitted to the Centre, seeking permission to upgrade high-density routes from the current 130 kmph limit to 160 kmph. A senior SCR official stated, "Works are being taken up on the Golden Quadrilateral (GQ), GD, and other high-density routes to enhance speeds from the existing 130 kmph to 160 kmph, particularly on corridors that already operate premium services such as Vande Bharat and Duronto express trains."
This plan represents a significant leap forward. During 2022-23, SCR had upgraded several routes to permit 130 kmph operations, which currently cover about 28% (1,834 km) of its 6,560 route kilometers. The new vision is even more expansive, aiming to push the envelope by upgrading around 2,500 km of crucial stretches to handle 160 kmph speeds.
Making Trains Competitive with Air Travel
The upgrade is strategically timed to make trains a more compelling option for inter-city travel. Frequent flyers on the Hyderabad-Vijayawada route point out that air travel, considering door-to-door time, already takes nearly three hours. This includes travel to the airport, flight time, and the journey from Vijayawada airport to the city.
K Vishwanath Rao, a regular traveller, highlighted the current rail scenario: "In comparison, Vande Bharat and Duronto trains take around four hours from Secunderabad, while other express services take close to five hours." With the proposed upgrade, rail travel time is expected to drop to around three hours, effectively making it a faster and more convenient option for journeys within a 350-km radius.
The senior SCR official explained the broader impact: "Upgrading tracks to higher speeds would not only reduce journey times but also help operate more trains efficiently. Our zone has several GD and GQ sections. Earlier, it took nearly two years to upgrade tracks from 110 kmph to 130 kmph. It could take around two years for upgrading the tracks to 160 kmph, once the works are grounded."
This infrastructure push is expected to shave off at least an hour from existing rail travel times across key corridors, revolutionizing connectivity and boosting economic activity in the region.
