The Tirupati–Sainagar Shirdi Express is a new weekly pilgrimage train that links Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Karnataka and Maharashtra, improving rail connectivity between Tirupati and Shirdi and supporting tourism and regional development.

This is reported by the railway transport news portal Railway Supply.

Tirupati–Sainagar Shirdi Express connects four states
Photo: PIB

Tirupati–Sainagar Shirdi Express: new pilgrimage train connecting four states

Union Minister of State for Railways and Jal Shakti Shri V. Somanna flagged off the Tirupati–Sainagar Shirdi Express via video conference from Rail Bhawan in New Delhi, as noted in a Ministry of Railways press release. By bringing together Tirupati and Shirdi, two of India’s most visited spiritual centres, the service strengthens pilgrimage links between southern and western India and places four states on a single, continuous route.

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Shri Somanna called the launch an important day for devotees in Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Karnataka and Maharashtra. He stressed that Indian Railways is not only a transport system but also a unifying force that connects regions, cultures and communities, continuing to function as the lifeline of the nation.

Direct connectivity between Tirupati and Shirdi

With this service, Indian Railways has introduced the first direct train from the coastal belt of Andhra Pradesh to Shirdi. This direct connectivity between Tirupati and Shirdi allows devotees travelling between the Tirumala–Tirupati temple complex and the Sai Baba shrine to plan a single, uninterrupted journey.

This section highlights key Tirupati Sainagar Shirdi Express train details. The train operates once a week, takes roughly 30 hours in each direction and stops at 31 important stations. Among them are Nellore, Guntur, Secunderabad, Bidar and Manmad, giving the route broad coverage and improving rail connectivity across Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Karnataka and Maharashtra. The service also calls at Parli Vaijnath, an important pilgrimage centre dedicated to Lord Shiva, further reinforcing religious tourism along the corridor, according to a South Central Railway announcement on the new weekly service.

According to Shri Somanna, the direct link is intended not only to ease journeys for pilgrims but also to offer passengers from all four states a safe, comfortable and hassle-free interstate rail option.

Boost to pilgrimage tourism and regional development

The Tirupati–Sainagar Shirdi Express is expected to give a strong boost to pilgrimage tourism and religious travel. As more devotees move along this route, commercial activity, hospitality services and local businesses are likely to gain, with new employment opportunities emerging in towns and cities served by the train.

The Minister underlined that improved rail connectivity along this corridor supports both tourism and wider regional development. Rural and semi-urban areas near the line are expected to benefit from better access to markets and services. In this way, the weekly express helps make travel easier not only for devotees but also for traders and daily commuters who depend on reliable interstate transport.

Indian Railways infrastructure projects in Andhra Pradesh

Shri Somanna also drew attention to the scale of ongoing Indian Railways infrastructure projects in Andhra Pradesh. He recalled that the average annual rail budget for Andhra Pradesh and Telangana in 2009–2014 was just Rs. 886 crore. For the financial year 2025–26, that allocation has risen sharply to Rs. 9,417 crore, an elevenfold increase that reflects stronger investment in the region.

Across the state, more than Rs. 93,000 crore worth of railway projects are currently under way. Since 2014, Andhra Pradesh has added 1,580 km of new railway track and achieved 100% electrification of its network. The state now hosts 73 modern Amrit Stations developed with a total investment of Rs. 3,125 crore, further improving station facilities for passengers.

Among the notable upgrades, the Minister listed the construction of 800 new flyovers and bridges, installation of 110 lifts and 40 escalators, deployment of 16 Vande Bharat trains (8 pairs) and the introduction of 6 Amrit Bharat trains (3 pairs). Taken together, these Indian Railways projects in Andhra Pradesh are designed to offer faster, safer and more efficient travel for passengers using both regional services and long-distance trains such as the Tirupati–Sainagar Shirdi Express.

Tirupati rail infrastructure and Amrit Station redevelopment

Tirupati’s role as a major pilgrimage hub is being reinforced by several strategic projects. The Tirupati Amrit Station redevelopment, with an investment of Rs. 312 crore, is intended to modernise the station and improve the overall experience for lakhs of devotees arriving by rail.

Several line projects around Tirupati are also in progress. The Tirupati–Pakala–Katpadi doubling project covers 105 km with a budget of Rs. 1,215 crore, a capacity upgrade for the corridor that Railway Supply examines in more detail in its article “Tirupati–Pakala–Katpadi Railway Line doubles with $15.9M boost”. The Gudur–Renigunta third line spans 83 km at a cost of Rs. 875 crore. The Nadikudi–Srikalahasti new line, 310 km in length and valued at Rs. 5,900 crore, is intended to open a new rail corridor, while the Vijayawada–Gudur third line, 287 km long with a budget of Rs. 6,235 crore, will add capacity on a busy stretch. The Yerpedu–Pudi bypass line, 25 km in length with an investment of Rs. 490 crore, is expected to ease congestion near Tirupati.

These large-scale schemes are aimed at cutting travel times, decongesting saturated sections and boosting overall rail capacity in a region that serves millions of pilgrims, further supporting regional development and commercial activity.

Dignitaries at the flag-off ceremony

The virtual flag-off of the Tirupati–Sainagar Shirdi Express brought together several dignitaries from Andhra Pradesh, underscoring cooperation between the central and state governments on transport infrastructure.

Shri B. C. Janardhan Reddy Garu, Minister for Roads & Buildings, Infrastructure & Investments, Government of Andhra Pradesh, joined as Guest of Honour. Also present were Dr. Maddila Gurumoorthy Garu, Member of Parliament, Tirupati; Shri B. Kalyana Chakravarthy Garu, Member of the Legislative Council; Shri A. Sreenivasulu Garu, Member of the Legislative Assembly, Tirupati; and Shri Bhanu Prakash Reddy Garu, TTD Board Member. Their participation highlighted broad political and institutional backing for the new pilgrimage train connecting four states.

Key benefits of the Tirupati–Sainagar Shirdi Express

In summary, the Tirupati–Sainagar Shirdi Express offers several clear advantages:

  • Direct connectivity between Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Karnataka and Maharashtra;
  • The first direct train from coastal Andhra Pradesh to Shirdi;
  • A boost to pilgrimage tourism and religious travel along the corridor;
  • Enhanced regional development and commercial activity;
  • Improved ease of travel for lakhs of devotees;
  • Better interstate mobility with a safe and comfortable journey.

By combining a new pilgrimage train connecting four states with substantial Indian Railways infrastructure projects in Andhra Pradesh and Tirupati, the launch of the Tirupati–Sainagar Shirdi Express marks an important step in strengthening India’s pilgrimage network and deepening interstate rail connectivity.

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