Hyderabad-Vijayawada in 3hrs? South Central Railway plans 160 kmph Golden Diagonal corridor upgrade; rail to rival air travel

HYDERABAD: A journey that now tests the patience of train travellers between Hyderabad and Vijayawada could soon become a swift, near-flight time dash. South Central Railway (SCR) is planning a major upgrade of tracks along the Golden Diagonal (GD) corridor to support speeds of up to 160 kmph, potentially cutting travel time to under three hours.

If cleared, the semi high-speed corridor — currently operational only on select routes such as Delhi-Agra and Delhi-Meerut — will be the first-of-its-kind in South India. Railway officials expect the upgraded infrastructure to be ready within two years of the proposal receiving approval.