Bhubaneswar: Railway Minister Suresh Prabhakar Prabhu on Saturday flagged off the extension of Rourkela-Jammu-Tawi-Rourkela Express up to Sambalpur through videoconferencing from Rail Bhawan in New Delhi.
On the inaugural run, the train chugged as a special train from Sambalpur railway station towards Jammu Tawi around 11 am. However, the regular service in the extended portion will commence from August 13.
The 18109 Sambalpur-Jammu Tawi Link express will leave Sambalpur at 7.45 am everyday and reach Jammu Tawi at 2.10 pm the following day. The onward journey from Tawi will start at 2.25 pm and the train reach Sambalpur at 5.45 pm on third day.
On the extended portion, the train will have stoppages at Jharsuguda, Bamra and Rajgangpur between Sambalpur and Rourkela. The timings and stoppages for this train between Rourkela and Jammu Tawi will remain unchanged.
The Union Minister also inaugurated free Wi-Fi services at Palasa station in Andhra Pradesh.