New Vande Bharat Between Chennai And Coastal Andhra Pradesh Begins: Details

Indian Railways is expanding its Vande Bharat Express services in the Southern region. The Narasapur–Chennai Vande Bharat Express train was launched today, December 15. The route connects Narasapur in Andhra Pradesh to Chennai, Tamil Nadu. The return service from Chennai to Narasapur will start from December 17, reported The Indian Express.

New Vande Bharat Route

The Southern Railway zone has announced that the existing Dr MGR Chennai Central–Vijayawada Vande Bharat Express will now be extended to Narasapur. Starting today, Train No. 20678 will operate from Narasapur to Chennai six days a week, excluding Tuesdays.

This semi-high-speed train will cover a distance of 655 kilometres in approximately 8 hours and 55 minutes. The train will benefit daily commuters, business travellers and tourists alike with its faster journey. Scheduled stops on the route include Renigunta Junction, Nellore, Ongole, Tenali Junction, Vijayawada Junction, Gudivada Junction and Bhimavaram Town.

Also Read: Sambhar Festival 2025: Why This Rajasthan Event Is Attracting Tourists This December

New Vande Bharat Timings

According to the timetable, the Chennai-bound train will depart Narasapur at 2:50 pm and reach Dr MGR Chennai Central at 11:45 pm. In the opposite direction, the train will leave Chennai at 5:30 am and reach Narasapur by 2:10 pm.

New Vande Bharat Prices

Passengers can enjoy a premium travel experience with modern amenities and faster journeys at fares of Rs 1,635 for AC Chair Car and Rs 3,030 for Executive Chair Car. The train has a total seating capacity of 530 passengers.

The Vande Bharat Express' first service was introduced in February 2019. Developed by Indian Railways, the semi-high-speed trains come equipped with state-of-the-art features such as automatic doors, reclining seats, GPS-based systems and onboard Wi-Fi.

Also Read: These 6 Countries Are So Small You Can Cover Them On Foot In Just One Day

According to Jagran Josh, Indian Railways has launched 150 Vande Bharat Express trains as of November 2025. This vast network has significantly reduced travel time for millions of passengers. Each 16-coach train costs approximately Rs 115 crore to build.