Railways approves Machilipatnam-Kurnool service via Vijayawada, minister says

The Railway Ministry has approved a new train service between Machilipatnam and Kurnool City via Vijayawada, Andhra Pradesh Industries and Commerce Minister T.G. Bharath Gupta said on Tuesday. Bharath thanked Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw for approving the service after considering his request.

He said the connection would improve transport facilities for people in Kurnool and provide direct rail access to Vijayawada and Machilipatnam. The minister said the approval was conveyed through a letter from Vaishnaw. The Railway Ministry had announced a new service between Kurnool City and Vijayawada on Monday, according to the report.

Bharath said he had written to the Union Railway Minister on April 2, 2025, and July 16, 2026, seeking additional rail services for Kurnool. He described the approval as a response to that request and expressed gratitude for the Union government’s support to Andhra Pradesh. The supplied report did not state the train’s number, timetable, frequency, stopping points or the date on which passenger operations would begin.

It also did not give details about fares, coaches or the operational arrangements for the Machilipatnam–Kurnool route. The planned connection would pass through Vijayawada, linking Kurnool City with the coastal city of Machilipatnam as well as the major rail point identified in the announcement. Bharath said the service would improve connectivity, but the report did not include an assessment of expected passenger numbers or travel-time changes.

The approval is therefore the latest confirmed step in the proposed connection. Further operational information will be required before passengers can determine when and how they will be able to use the service.