Rayalaseema Express Chugs Towards 50 With Memories Aboard

The train was introduced on the Hyderabad–Tirupati route on October 2, 1977, and provided an important link between Rayalaseema, Hyderabad and Tirupati at a time when long-distance railway services were limited.

The service was among the important trains introduced around the 1977 Railway Budget to improve long-distance connectivity. Parliamentary records from 1978 also referred to it as the Tirupati–Hyderabad Rayalaseema Express.

Initially operating between Hyderabad Deccan (Nampally) and Tirupati, the train became an important means of travel for people from Rayalaseema heading to Hyderabad for jobs, education, business and medical treatment, besides providing connectivity to Tirupati.

S. Jayaramireddy, a retired irrigation department employee of the erstwhile Andhra Pradesh government, recalled travelling on the train in the early 1980s while he was working in Hyderabad.

“I used to travel on this train to Kadapa, my native place. In those days, there were not many options for long-distance travel. The train was very useful and the journeys remain memorable even today,” he said.

Many people from Rayalaseema were working in Hyderabad and depended on the service to travel home, he said.

“We used to eagerly wait for the journey back home. The train became part of our daily lives and family memories,” he said.

Over the years, changes in the railway network, gauge conversion and the development of new routes brought changes to the service. The train that once ran between Hyderabad and Tirupati now operates between Nizamabad and Tirupati.

The service was extended to Nizamabad from November 1, 2017. It was also given Superfast status and allotted train numbers 12793 and 12794.

The present service starts from Nizamabad and travels through Telangana, Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh before reaching Tirupati, covering around 893 km.

Despite the changes, it continues to connect several important towns and areas in Rayalaseema. Students travelling for higher education, employees commuting for work, traders travelling for business and patients seeking treatment have all benefited from the service. Its connectivity to Tirupati has also made it an important option for pilgrims visiting the temple town.

South Central Railway Retired Senior Divisional Manager S. Prahlad said completing nearly five decades was a major achievement for the service. “It is a great thing for a train service to continue for nearly 50 years. The Rayalaseema Express has created a long chapter in railway history and remained connected with generations of passengers,” he said.

For many passengers, the Rayalaseema Express carries memories of first jobs, college admissions, family visits, medical trips and pilgrimages. Over nearly five decades, it has carried millions of passengers while witnessing major changes in the region and the railway system.

As the train moves towards completing its golden milestone in 2027, the Rayalaseema Express remains a familiar railway link for generations of passengers. For the people of Rayalaseema, it is not merely a railway service, but a cherished part of their travel memories.