EAST COAST RAILWAY ANNOUNCES SPECIAL TRAINS TO MANAGE EXTRA RUSH DURING PONGAL SEASON The train No. 08525 Visakhapatnam- Araku Special Express train will leave Visakhapatnam at 08:40hrs from 30.12.2025 to 18.01.2026 which will reach Simhachalam 08:55hrs and departure 08:57hrs; Kottavalasa Arrival 09:10hrs departure 09:12hrs; Shrungavarapukota Arrival 09:35hrs departure 09:37; Boraguhalu at 11:10hrs and departure 11:12hrs and which will reach Araku at 12:30hrs. In return direction the train No. 08526 Araku - Visakhapatnam Special Express train will leave Araku at 14:00hrs from 30.12.2025 to 18.01.2026 which will reach Borraguhalu at 14:53hrs and departure 14:55hrs; Shrungavarapukota at 16:00hrs and departure at 16:02hrs; Kottavalasa at 17:00hrs departure 17:02hrs; Simhachalam at 17:20hrs and departure at 17:22hrs; and which will reach Visakhapatnam at 18:00hrs. Composition: 2AC - 01, 3AC - 01, Sleeper Class-10, General Second-Class Coaches - 03, Second Class cum Luggage Break Van (Divyangjan friendly) - 02. VISAKHAPATNAM – SHALIMAR - VISAKHAPATNAM (08507/08508) The train No.08507 Visakhapatnam - Shalimar Special train Express will leave Visakhapatnam at 11:20hrs on every Tuesdays from 06.01.2026 to 24.02.2026 which will reach Shalimar on the next day at 03:00hrs (Total 08 Trips). In return direction the train No.08507 Shalimar - Visakhapatnam Special Express will leave Shalimar at 05:00hrs on every Wednesdays from 07.01.2026 to 25.02.2026 which will reach Visakhapatnam at 20:50 Hrs (Total 08 Trips). Stoppages: Simhachalam, Vizianagaram, Chipurupalli, Srikakulam Road, Palasa, Brahmapur, Balugaon, Khurda Road, Bhubaneswar, Cuttack, Jajpur-Keonjhar Road, Bhadrak, Balasore, Kharagpur, Santragachi between Visakhapatnam and Shalimar Composition: This special train will have 2nd AC - 01, 3AC - 03, Sleeper -09, General Second Class - 04, Second Class cum Luggage/ Divyangjan coaches - 01, Motor Car - 01. SPECIAL TRAIN BETWEEN VISAKHAPATNAM - CHARLAPALLI - VISAKHAPATNAM 08511/08512 (Total 04 TRIPS) The train No.08511 Visakhapatnam - Charlapalli Special Express will leave Visakhapatnam at 17.30hrs on every Saturdays and Mondays from 10.01.2026 to 19.01.2026 which will reach Duvvada on the same day at 18.03hrs and departure at 18.05hrs and will reach Charlapalli on the next day at 08.15hrs. In return Direction the train No. 08512 Charlapalli - Visakhapatnam Special Express will leave Charlapalli at 15.30hrs on every Sundays and Tuesdays from 11.01.2026 to 20.01.2026 which will reach Duvvada on the next days at 05.48hrs and departure at 05.50hrs and will reach Charlapalli at 07.00hrs. Stoppages: Duvvada, Anakapalli, Samalkot, Anaparthi, Rajahmundry, Eluru, Vijayawada, Krishna Canel, Guntur, Miryalaguda and Nalgonda Junction between Visakhapatnam-Charlapall-Visakhapatnam. Coach Composition: 2AC - 01, 3AC - 05, Sleeper Class - 13, General Second class – 02 and Second class cum luggage/ Disabled coaches - 02. People are requested to make use of these special train services

EXTENSION OF WEEKLY SPECIAL TRAINS TO CLEAR PONGAL FESTIVE RUSH To provide a more comfortable journey and manage the extra rush during the upcoming Pongal festive season, Indian Railways has announced the extension of several weekly special trains. The details of the extended services are as follows: VISAKHAPATNAM - TIRUPATI - VISAKHAPATNAM WEEKLY SPECIAL TRAINS (08583 / 08584) Train No. 08583 (Visakhapatnam to Tirupati) This weekly special will depart Visakhapatnam every Monday at 19:10 hrs from 05.01.2026 to 23.02.2026, reaching Tirupati at 09:15 hrs the next day (Total: 08 trips). Train No. 08584 (Tirupati to Visakhapatnam) This weekly special will leave Tirupati every Tuesday at 21:50 hrs from 06.01.2026 to 24.02.2026, arriving in Visakhapatnam at 12:30 hrs the following Wednesday (Total: 08 trips). Stoppages: Duvvada, Anakapalle, Yelamanchali, Annavaram, Samalkot, Rajahmundry, Nidadavolu, Tanuku, Bhimavaram, Akividu, Kaikalur, Gudivada, Vijayawada, Tenali, Chirala, Ongole, Nellore, Gudur, Srikalahasti, and Renigunta.

SHORT TERMINATION OF COACHING TRAINS DUE TO SAFETY MODERNIZATION WORKS In light of ongoing safety-related modernization works and a traffic cum power block on the KK line of Waltair Division, the following coaching trains will experience short termination and short origination at Araku: Train No. 58501 -Visakhapatnam to Kirandul Passenger: This train, departing from Visakhapatnam on 23.12.2025, 27.12.2025, 03.01.2026, and 05.01.2026, will be short-terminated at Araku. Train No. 58502 - Kirandul to Visakhapatnam Passenger: This train will originate from Araku instead of Kirandul on 23.12.2025, 27.12.2025, 03.01.2026, and 05.01.2026. Passengers are requested to take note of these changes and plan their travel accordingly. The inconvenience caused is deeply regretted.

INDIAN RAILWAYS TO RUN SPECIAL TRAINS BETWEEN SECUNDERABAD AND SRIKAKULAM ROAD TO CLEAR SANKRANTI RUSH To ensure a comfortable journey for passengers and to manage the heavy rush during the Sankranti festival season, Indian Railways has announced the operation of several special trains between Secunderabad, Srikakulam Road and Vikarabad. A total of eight special services will be operated between Secunderabad and Srikakulam Road under Train Nos. 07288/07289, 07290/07291 and 07292/07293 on various dates in January 2026. In addition, one special service will run between Vikarabad and Srikakulam Road under Train Nos. 07294/07295. The special trains from Secunderabad will depart at 19:00 hrs on the notified dates and reach Srikakulam Road at 12:30 hrs the next day, after a brief halt at Duvvada. The return services from Srikakulam Road will depart at 15:30 hrs and reach Secunderabad at 08:10 hrs the following day. These trains will halt at important stations including Charlapalli, Kazipet, Warangal, Khammam, Eluru, Rajahmundry, Samalkot, Annavaram, Tuni, Anakapalli, Duvvada, Vizianagaram and Chipurupalli, among others. The Vikarabad special will also stop at Secunderabad en route. The rakes will comprise a mix of AC, Sleeper and General Second Class coaches, along with luggage-cum-brake vans, ensuring adequate accommodation across all travel classes to meet passenger demand during the festive period. Passengers are advised to make use of these special services to plan their Sankranti travel conveniently.

SPECIAL TRAINS BETWEEN VISAKHAPATNAM AND HYDERABAD DURING SANKRANTI FESTIVAL SEASON Dr. Kasapu V. V. V. Satyanarayana, Advocate, Supreme Court of India, and Member, Department of Policy Research, Bharatiya Janata Party, Andhra Pradesh, has submitted a representation to the Railway authorities seeking the operation of additional special trains between Visakhapatnam and Hyderabad in view of the heavy passenger rush during the Bhogi, Makara Sankranti, and Kanuma festivals. Highlighting the cultural and religious importance of these festivals for the Telugu community, he pointed out that a large number of passengers, including students, employees, farmers, and migrant workers, travel between Visakhapatnam and Hyderabad to celebrate with their families. He noted that most trains on this route are currently running with “Regret” status and that waiting lists have exceeded maximum limits, indicating exceptionally high demand. He urged the Railways to introduce more special services in both directions and, if required, divert or temporarily allocate rakes from other divisions or zones to meet the surge in travel demand. The request also suggested operating festival special trains for several days before and after the festivals, augmenting existing trains with additional coaches, issuing advance travel notifications through various platforms, and enhancing ticketing and enquiry facilities at Visakhapatnam Railway Station. The representation called for urgent action to ensure passenger convenience, effective crowd management, and smooth travel during the festive season.