Archive · 29 Sep 2026
Railway Ministry Approves Machilipatnam–Kurnool Train, Kavach Safety Expansion
The Railway Ministry approved a new train between Machilipatnam and Kurnool City.
The train will travel through Vijayawada in Andhra Pradesh.
It will cover 499 kilometres and run three times a week in each direction.
The train will stop at 12 stations along the way.
The forward journey will start in the afternoon and arrive the next morning.
The return journey will leave Kurnool City in the morning and reach Machilipatnam at 21:35.
Officials did not announce when the service will begin.
The Ministry also approved a safety system called Kavach 4.0 for part of Varanasi Division.
The Railway Ministry approved a new tri-weekly Machilipatnam–Kurnool City Express via Vijayawada.
The 499-kilometre train will leave Machilipatnam at 16:55 and reach Kurnool City at 05:45 the next day.
The service will operate from Machilipatnam on Mondays, Wednesdays and Saturdays, with return journeys on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sundays.
The train will make commercial stops at 12 stations, including Gudivada, Vijayawada, Nandyal and Dhone.
The Ministry also approved Kavach 4.0 coverage for 614.75 route kilometres in Varanasi Division at a cost of ₹223 crore.
- Who
- The Railway Ministry approved the train and the Kavach 4.0 project, involving South Coast Railway and North Eastern Railway divisions.
- What
- A new tri-weekly Machilipatnam–Kurnool City Express was approved, along with Kavach 4.0 coverage for 614.75 route kilometres.
- When
- The approval was reported on September 28; no commencement date was announced for the train.
- Where
- The train will run between Machilipatnam and Kurnool City via Vijayawada in Andhra Pradesh. The Kavach project will cover Varanasi Division.
- Why
- The train will provide additional rail connectivity between coastal and central Andhra Pradesh, while Kavach 4.0 is intended to strengthen train-operation safety.
- Train route
- Machilipatnam–Kurnool City via Vijayawada
- Distance
- 499 kilometres
- Forward schedule
- Departs Machilipatnam at 16:55 and arrives at Kurnool City at 05:45 the next day on Mondays, Wednesdays and Saturdays
- Return schedule
- Departs Kurnool City at 09:30 and arrives at Machilipatnam at 21:35 on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sundays
- Intermediate stations
- Gudivada, Vijayawada, Narasaraopet, Vinukonda, Donakonda, Markapur Road, Cumbum, Giddalur, Diguvametta, Nandyal, Betamcherla and Dhone
- Kavach coverage
- 614.75 route kilometres in Varanasi Division of North Eastern Railway
- Kavach cost
- ₹223 crore
