Railways Boost Connectivity with More Frequent Ahmedabad‑Hyderabad Special Trains

When the festive season rolled around earlier this year, the railway board rolled out a handful of special trains linking Ahmedabad and Hyderabad – a route that has traditionally seen a surge of travelers heading for family reunions, business trips and pilgrimage. Those trains were, at first, scheduled to run once a week, a modest offering that quickly proved too thin for the crowd.

Fast‑forward a few weeks, and the railways have now tweaked the timetable. The periodicity of the special services has been extended – essentially, the trains will now run twice a week instead of just once. The change takes effect from the 15th of August and will remain in place until the end of the year, giving holiday‑makers a bit more breathing room.

"We have been closely monitoring the booking patterns," said a senior official from the Western Railway zone. "The occupancy on the Ahmedabad‑Hyderabad specials was consistently above 90 per cent, and many passengers were forced to look for alternative, often pricier, options. Adding another run per week is a practical response to that clear demand."

For the average traveller, the news is welcome. The new schedule slots the extra train on Tuesdays and Fridays, complementing the existing Monday service. That means a larger window for those who prefer to travel mid‑week or need to return home before the weekend rush.

Each of the special trains still carries a mix of AC Chair Car, AC 3‑Tier and Sleeper coaches, with fares mirroring regular express rates – no premium surcharge, just the usual ticket price. The railways have also promised that the added run will not compromise on punctuality; the same crew and locomotive pools will be rotated to keep the service smooth.

Travelers can now book tickets through the standard IRCTC portal, and the system is already showing a dip in the waiting‑list numbers for the newly added slots. As one frequent commuter from Gujarat put it, "It’s a relief. The previous weekly train was always packed, and you had to plan months ahead. Now I can be a little more flexible."

While the extension is a short‑term measure, railway officials hinted that if the demand stays robust, they might look at making the service a permanent fixture on the Ahmedabad‑Hyderabad corridor. For now, the added frequency is a pragmatic step to keep the holiday traffic moving without too many hiccups.