East Coast Railway (ECoR) has announced the operation of special trains between Visakhapatnam and Araku and Visakhapatnam and Shalimar to clear festive rush for Pongal, according to Senior Divisional Commercial Manager K. Pavan Kumar.
Train No. 08525 Visakhapatnam-Araku Special Express train, will leave Visakhapatnam at 8.40 a.m. from December 30 to January 18 to reach Simhachalam 8.55 a.m. and depart 8:57 a.m.; Kottavalasa arrival 9.10 a.m. departure 9.12 a.m.; Shrungavarapukota arrival 9.35 a.m. departure 9.37 a.m.; Boraguhalu at 11:10 a.m. and departure at 11.12 a.m. to reach Araku at 12:30 p.m.
In the return direction, 08526 Araku–Visakhapatnam Special Express train will leave Araku at 2 p.m. from December 30 to January 18 to reach Borraguhalu at 2.53 p.m. and depart at 2:55 p.m; Shrungavarapukota at 4 p.m. and departure at 4, 02p.m.; Kottavalasa at 5 p.m. and departure 5. 02 p.m.; Simhachalam at 5.20 p.m. and departure at 5.22 p.m.; to reach Visakhapatnam at 6 p.m.
Composition: 2AC – 1, 3AC – 1, Sleeper Class-10, General Second-Class Coaches – 3, Second Class-cum-Luggage Break Van (Divyangjan friendly)– 2.
Similarly, special trains will be operated to Shalimar from January 6.
Train no.08507 Visakhapatnam—Shalimar Special train Express will leave Visakhapatnam at 11.20 a.m. on Tuesdays from January 6 to February 24 to reach Shalimar on the next day at 3 a.m. (total 8 trips).
In the return direction 08508 Shalimar—Visakhapatnam Special Express will leave Shalimar at 5 a.m. on Wednesdays from January 7 to February 25 and will reach Visakhapatnam at 8. 50 p.m. (total 08 trips).
Stoppages: Simhachalam, Vizianagaram, Chipurupalli, Srikakulam Road, Palasa, Brahmapur, Balugaon, Khurda Road, Bhubaneswar, Cuttack, Jajpur-Keonjhar Road, Bhadrak, Balasore, Kharagpur and Santragachi
Composition: This special train will have 2AC – 1, 3AC-3, Sleeper-9, General Second Class-4, Second Class cum Luggage/ Divyangjan coaches – 1, Motor Car – 1.
Published – December 29, 2025 08:23 pm IST
