Andhra Pradesh Express

The Andhra Pradesh Express (Telugu: ఆంధ్ర ప్రదేశ్ ఎక్స్‌ప్రెస్, Hindi: आन्ध्र प्रदेश एक्सप्रेस) is a superfast South Central Railway train which connects the Andhra Pradesh state capital Hyderabad and the country's capital city New Delhi. It operates daily, taking 27 hours to cover the distance while passing through the states of Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan and Haryana.

As per the numbering of the Indian Railways, this train has been at present numbered 12723 for the Hyderabad - New Delhi run, and 12724 for the New Delhi - Hyderabad run. The train was first started by Madhu Dandavate in 1976.

Originally covering the distance in a shade under 23 hrs in 1978, the passage of time has seen the running time being increased. When this train was introduced many of the important sections were single-line territory, almost 300 km in a total of 1670 km. The signalling in 1978 was semaphore. When introduced, the 14-coach train was pulled by a 2600 HP ALCO derived diesel locomotive - WDM2 nomenclature for Indian Railways. In 1981 the capacity was increased to 21 coaches with a double head of 2 ALCO (WDM2) derived locomotives with 5200 HP. This double-headed power pulled the train up and down the hilly sections (with 1:63 gradient) between ITARSI and NAGPUR - a distance of 300 km. The train originally had a fully equipped pantry car.

Today the train with 24 coaches (including 7 AC coaches) is pulled by electric locomotives (WAP 1 / WAP4 or even WAP-7) throughout the double line electrified section with modern concrete sleepers. The signalling is electronic and the drivers use radios to maintain communication with controllers, but the running time continues to increase. As of 26 April 2010, the train is pulled by WAP7 from LALLAGUDA SHED throughout the journey. The other trains going through the Northern Plains have been allocated WAP5 and WAP7 locomotives - traversing through not so hilly regions, but this train going mostly through 1:100 gradients. Since its commissioning in 1978 to early 1990s there were just five stops in its journey - Jhansi, Bhopal, Nagpur, Balharshah and Kazipet, but several intermediate stops have since been added; the present run time is more than 27 hours.