Hyderabad/UNI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday flagged off the inaugural Vande Bharat Express to be operated between Secunderabad and Tirupati at Secunderabad Railway Station.

Modi interacted with some school students onboard the Vande Bharat train.

Telangana Governor Dr Tamilisai Soundararajan, Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, Union Tourism Minister G Kishan Reddy, Top officials from SCR and others were present at the inaugural function on platform Ten.

This is the second Vande Bharat Express to run between the two Telugu States of Telangana and Andhra Pradesh.

The first train from Secunderabad to Visakhapatnam was flagged off virtually by the PM on January 15.

The regular services of the train will start on Sunday from Tirupati and on Monday from Secunderabad, for which the bookings have been started from Friday.

The train will run 6 days a week, except on Tuesday.

Train Number 20702 Tirupati - Secunderabad Vande Bharat Express will start from Tirupati at 15.15 hrs and reaches Secunderabad at 23.45 hrs.

Train number 20701 Secunderabad – Tirupati will start from Secunderabad at 06.00 hrs and reaches Tirupati at 14.30 hrs. In between, the train stops at Nalgonda, Guntur, Ongole and Nellore stations in both directions.

The train consists of 7 AC Chair Car Coaches and one Executive AC Chair Car Coach with the total seating capacity of 530 passengers.

It will provide the fastest travelling facility between these two stations and has exclusive fully AC reserved sitting accommodation.

This train serves the needs of the public travelling on urgent needs like official tours, business purpose and short duration trips apart from people travelling on pilgrimage.

The train is manufactured with pure indigenous technology equipped with modern features and enhanced comforts. It has automatic sliding doors, provided with Reclining seats in all classes and rotating seats in Executive class.

Emergency alarm buttons and emergency talk back units have been provided through which passengers can talk with crew in case of exigent situations.

CCTV cameras are equipped in all coaches for safe and secure travel. It provides safe, convenient and comfortable day journey travel for the people travelling to pilgrim destination Tirupati and back. It is the fastest travelling option when compared with other modes of transport as well as other express trains.