Tourists take in the view from the rear observation deck of a Vistadome coach on the way to Araku. File
| Photo Credit: K.R. Deepak
The South Coast Railway (SCoR) on Monday (October 12, 2026) announced that an additional Vistadome coach would be attached temporarily to Train No. 58501 Visakhapatnam-Kirandul Passenger, popularly known as the Araku train, to cater to heavy holiday traffic through the Eastern Ghats. The glass-domed coach will be attached to the service from October 13 to 20, 2026, to accommodate the rush of travellers during the Dasara festival season.
Railway officials said the route, which winds through forests, deep valleys and 84 tunnels and past the waterfalls of the Borra Caves and Araku Valley region, was a major draw for tourists and locals alike. The extra Vistadome coach is expected to clear waiting lists and allow more holidaymakers to enjoy views along the Kothavalasa-Kirandul (KK) line. Passengers have been asked to use the service and plan their journeys in advance.
Built for sightseeing, the LHB-based Vistadome tourist coaches have a glass roof with electrically controlled anti-glare screens and extra-large side windows for wide-angle viewing. They have 44 pushback reclining seats that rotate up to 180 degrees to face the direction of travel or the landscape.
An observation lounge with wide windows at the rear of the coach gives a view of the tracks, bridges and surrounding hills. Other amenities include automatic sliding doors, GPS-based Public Address and Passenger Information Systems (PAPIS), Wi-Fi entertainment, LED lighting, mini-pantries with microwave ovens and coffee makers, CCTV surveillance, bio-toilets, fire detection systems and Braille signage for visually impaired passengers.
Published – October 12, 2026 01:23 pm IST
