Vijayawada Junction, Vijayawada Express!

Vijayawada Express
Aug 15
4 min read

Updated: Aug 19

Vijayawada Junction Railway Station (BZA) is one of the largest junctions in Indian Railways, categorised as a Non-Suburban Grade-1 (NSG-1) station in the Vijayawada railway division. Situated at the junction of Howrah–Chennai and New Delhi–Chennai main lines, it is the fourth busiest railway station in the country after Howrah Junction, Kanpur Central and New Delhi. The station serves about 1.40 lakh passengers, over 190 express and 170 freight trains daily. It is one of the major railway junctions of the Indian Railways and is a nationally significant halt. In September 2023, it was awarded a Platinum Rating Certificate for its Environmental projects from IGBC ( Indian Green Building Council)

History

The Vijayawada city junction railway station was constructed in 1888 when the Southern Mahratta Railway's main eastward route was connected to other lines going through Vijayawada. In 1889, the Nizam's Guaranteed State Railway constructed a line between Secunderabad railway station and Vijayawada to extend the railway to Vijayawada; the station subsequently became a junction of three lines from different directions.

On 1 November 1899, the broad-gauge line was constructed between Vijayawada and Chennai, making rail journey between Chennai, Mumbai, Howrah, New Delhi and Hyderabad possible. In the following decades, the Vijayawada railway station was developed into a junction until the nationalisation of all the independent railways in India occurred; following nationalisation, Indian Railways was formed under the Ministry of Railways in 1950 by the Government of India. The Vijayawada railway station, as the headquarters of Vijayawada Division, was assigned to the Southern Railway. In 1966, a new zone, South Central Railway, was formed, with Secunderabad as its headquarters; Vijayawada Division and Vijayawada Junction were merged with the new railway.

In 1969, the Golconda Express was introduced between Vijayawada and Secunderabad as the express steam-hauled train, with an average speed of 58 km/h. As of 2012, the Vijayawada railway station is one of the busiest railway stations in India.

Infrastructure

Vijayawada station has a standard layout and 10 platforms. All the tracks in the station are broad gauge and electrified. Trains have perfect traction inside the station. The seventh platform of the station is the largest of all. Vijayawada station is a junction station for two main lines: the Howrah–Chennai and the New Delhi–Chennai main lines.

In FY 2009, the Indian Railways Company board allocated ₹3.5 crore for improvements to the transport hub. A central aspect of the improvements was an "Integrated Security Scheme" which included constructing a compound wall around the station premises and reducing the number of entrances as a precaution against terrorism. SCR recently installed Automatic Ticket Vending Machines (ATVM) at Vijayawada Junction. The engineering department officials recently completed a circuit lighting area near the station's main entrance. A 490 metre long and 20 feet wide foot over bridge is constructed connecting platforms 1 to 10, which will help passengers to walk less. The cost of the project is estimated to be two crores.

The Vijayawada Junction also houses a Diesel Loco Shed with the WDM-2 Locomotive and DEMU Shed with 2 Pit lines, which have a 10- 9 DEMU Coaches Capacity. Also, BZA have an Electric Loco Shed with the WAG-7, WAM-4(now scrapped or withdrawn), WAG-5, WAP-4, WAP-7 locos. The Vijayawada station was now arranged with a new Route Relay Interlocking system, which returns trains' fast and punctual movement into the city junction. Vijayawada Coaching Depot has five pit lines for primary maintenance of trains originating from here.

Vijayawada Express

(17329) The SSS Hubli Vijayawada Express train runs between SSS Hubli Jn (UBL) and Vijayawada Jn (BZA). It leaves SSS Hubli Jn at 19:30 hours and reaches BZA station at 12:35 on the 2nd day of departure. And covers a total distance of 694 km. The average speed of the SSS Hubballi Vijayawada Express is 40.62 Kmph. The train also has return services with train No. 17330, which departs from BZA at 13:45 hours and arrives at UBL at 06:55 hours.

The SSS Hubballi Vijayawada Express (17329) passes through 42 popular railway stations to reach Vijayawada Jn (BZA). The entire train journey takes 17h 50m in total. The train offers travellers multiple class coaches to select train seats/berths. The classes are CLASS - Sleeper(SL), Third AC(3A), Second AC(2A).

Important Milestones

Construction of Railway Bridge on River Krishna (for M.G.) 17.03.1893
Construction of Railway Bridge on River Krishna (for B.G.) 15.07.1897
Rail-route, Rajahmundry - Waltair 15.07.1893
Track from Bezwada – Kovvur 02.12.1893
Bridge on the River Pennar 1898
Rail-route from Bezwada to Madras 1899
Rail bridge on the river Godavari, 16.08.1900
Train Service from Madras to Bezwada to Howrah 16.08.1900
M.G. track from Bezwada to Machilipatam, 1907
Train service from Bezwada to Delhi at 1930
Bezwada District became part of the Southern Railway on 14.04.1951
Bezwada Division was created as part of the Southern Railway on 16.05.1956
It became part of the South-Central Railway on 02.10.1966
MG trains were run from the East Coast to the West Coast from Machilipatam Port to Marmagoa Harbour, before 1961
The MG Section of Bezwada Division extended from Tadepalli to Guntakal (excluding) and from Guntur to Macherla, 16.06.1977
Vijayawada Division has become Unigauge with the conversion of Entire MG track into BG track 12.02.1994
Rail-Cum-Road Bridge on the river Godavari (2.984 km) 16.08.1974
New Godavari Bridge 12.03.1997