All Lines Operational After Andhra Train Crash; 3 Trains Cancelled, 2 Rescheduled For Today

Bhubaneswar: All three lines affected by the train accident between Alamanda and Kantakapalli in Andhra Pradesh are now fit for train operations, the East Coast Railway (ECoR) informed on Tuesday.

The middle line became fit for train operations at 11.29 pm last night after track and OHE works. The first train on the middle line passed the affected area at 12.55 am. “Earlier, the first coaching train passed in up line at 2.36 pm and in down Line, the first goods train passed at 2.25 pm yesterday,” it said.

Train services on the Chennai-Howrah route was disrupted for more than 18 hours after Visakhapatnam-Ragada passenger hit Visakhapatnam-Palasa Passenger travelling on the same route in Andhra Pradesh’s Vizianagaram district on Sunday evening, leading to derailment of a few coaches and death of 13, including three railway employees.

More than 50 trains faced cancellation and several other trains were diverted following the accident.

Over 1000 workers, staff, and supervisors from various departments, heavy-duty cranes and excavators were pressed into service for the restoration of train services on the mainline of Visakhapatnam-Howrah. Local administration and the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) teams joined the efforts.

The ECoR also informed that rescheduling of 2 trains and cancellation of three on Tuesday.

18463 Bhubaneswar -Bangalore Prashanti Exp from Bhubaneswar today (31.10.2023) will leave at 10 am instead of 5.30 am

12898 Bhubaneswar -Pondicherry Express from Bhubaneswar today (31.10.2023) will leave at 4 pm instead of 12.10 pm

12703 Howrah -Secunderabad Falaknuma Express, 12245 Howrah -Bangalore Express & 18045 Shalimar -Hyderabad East Coastal Express from Howrah/Shalimar, today (31.10.2023) will remain cancelled.

This is due to the of train accident between Vizianagaram & Kottavalasa railway section of Howrah-Chennai main line, it added.