The railways have recently resumed operation of glass-domed Vistadome coaches between Visakhapatnam and Araku. The service resumed operation after a gap of nine months following the COVID-19 induced curbs from March 22.
As per the latest reports, the train service resumed from December 18, and the coach comes equipped with 40 seats. AK Tripathi, Senior Divisional Commercial Manager, Waltair division, said that they have decided to provide additional stoppages at stations like Borra Caves, and augmentation of the Araku train with Vistadome coach to facilitate a comfortable and memorable journey for those taking this train for a ride.
As per the rescheduling timetable, the train 08514 Visakhapatnam-Araku-Kirandul special express will leave Visakhapatnam at 6:45 AM daily till January 20, which will reach Araku at around 11 AM. Further, the return journey will be traversed by train 08513 Kirandul-Araku-Visakhapatnam special express, which will leave Araku at 4 PM daily till January 21, and reach Visakhapatnam at 8:20 PM. Reportedly, a new sleeper class will also be attached apart from the Vistadome coach, for the convenience of the passengers.
As per the reports, these trains take halts at Kothavalasa, Simhachalam, Srungavarapukota, Araku, Borra Guhalu, Koraput, Jeypore, Jagdalpur, Dilimili, Kotpar Road, Kakkalur, Dantewada, Bacheli between Visakhapatnam and Kirandul. However, it must be noted that Srungavarapukota, Borraguhalu, Kotpar Road, Dilimili, and Kakkalur are the additional stoppages.