Extension of train brings relief to Bengaluru-bound passengers

October 03, 2017 01:19 am | Updated 01:19 am IST

The extension of 06579/80 Yesvantapur-Visakhapatnam-Yesvantapur weekly special Express, operated by the South Western Railway (SWR), though belated, came as a great relief for thousands of rail users from Visakhapatnam, employed in the ‘Silicon Valley of India’.

A report on ‘need for extension of the train’ appeared in The Hindu on Sept 29, last day of the 06579. Extension was announced by SWR on the same day.

The special train was launched by SWR, based on representations received from Telugus living in Bengaluru in January 2015. Rail users are, however, worried on the naming of the weekly special as Pooja/Diwali Special train from Oct 6 to Nov 26 for only eight trips.

They were also sceptical of extension of the train as train no. 08301/02 Sambalpur-Banawadi (Bengaluru) weekly special, operated by the East Coast Railway (ECoR), has been extended till December 28.

The rail users seek regularisation of this train as it is the only originating train from Visakhapatnam to Bengaluru.

The last minute change of platform of Ratnchal Express at Duvvada Railway Station has caused confusion and hardship to passengers, especially senior citizens, returning to their native places after Dasara, on Sunday.

The passengers awaited the arrival of the Ratnachal Express on PF-1 at Duvvada as usual on Sunday. The scheduled time of the train at Duvvada was 1.10 p.m. Passengers were worried as a goods train was parked on PF-1 and no announcement on clearing of the track or change of platform for Ratnachal was made by the railway authorities.

Maturi Srinivasa Rao, president of the Duvvada Railway User’s Association, who was travelling with his family members, went to the enquiry counter and checked with the staff there. He was told that the platform would be cleared and Ratnachal would be taken on PF-1 as usual.

A few minutes before the arrival of the train, an announcement was made on the public address system that Ratnachal would arrive on PF-4. The passengers had to carry luggage up and down the stairs as there was no ramp type FOB connecting PF-1 to PF-4.

South Central Railway (SCR) operating special trains from Kakinada to Secunderabad and Tirupati and E Co R not running special trains, based on demand, is an indication of ‘lack of coordination’ between the two railway zones, says Duvvada Railway User’s Association secretary K. Eswar.

B. Madhu Gopal

0 / 0
Sign in to unlock member-only benefits!
  • Access 10 free stories every month
  • Save stories to read later
  • Access to comment on every story
  • Sign-up/manage your newsletter subscriptions with a single click
  • Get notified by email for early access to discounts & offers on our products
Sign in

Comments

Comments have to be in English, and in full sentences. They cannot be abusive or personal. Please abide by our community guidelines for posting your comments.

We have migrated to a new commenting platform. If you are already a registered user of The Hindu and logged in, you may continue to engage with our articles. If you do not have an account please register and login to post comments. Users can access their older comments by logging into their accounts on Vuukle.