Train services hit on Chennai-Howrah line as goods train derails in AP

There were no injuries or casualties in the incident, but tracks were damaged leading to stalling of six trains on either side, the East Coast Railway Officials said.

The movement of trains between Visakhapatnam and Kolkata was badly hit following derailment of a goods train on the Chennai-Howrah main line near Cheepurupalli in Vizianagaram District of Andhra Pradesh on Monday.

There were no inuries or casualties in the incident, but tracks were damaged leading to stalling of six trains on either side, the East Coast Railway Officials said.

Eight bogies of the vacant goods train derailed leading to suspension of train movement on the route. The goods train, which was on its way from Visakhapatnam to Khurda Road, derailed at about 11:15 a.m. between Chepurapalli and Garividi villages, the official said.

The railway tracks were damaged in the incident, leading to suspension of the movement of six trains, including Howrah-Chennai Mail, Shalimar-Trivandrum Express and Bhubaneswar-Visakhapatnam Intercity Express.

Officials from Visakhapatnam Division of the East Coast Railway reached the spot and are supervising the track restoration work. The restoration effort is likely to last four to five hours, the officials said.

The reason behind the derailment is yet to be ascertained.

Due to derailment of the goods train the following trains are being cancelled, short terminated, and diverted:

Short terminated trains :

Train No 18411 Bhubaneswar-Visakhapatnam Intercity express leaving Bhubaneswar on 21.12.2015 is short terminated at Srikakulam Road and will be run as 18412 Visakhapatnam-Bhubaneswar intercity from Srikakulam Road.

Train No 58525 Palasa-Visakhapatnam passenger leaving Palasa on 21.12.2015 is short terminated at Srikakulam Road.

Train No 58505 Gunupur-Visakhapatnam Passenger leaving Gunupur on 21.12.2015 is short terminated at Naupada.

Cancellation of trains:

The train No 67293 Palasa-Visakhapatnam MEMU leaving Palasa on 21.12.2015 is cancelled;

The train No. 67296 Visakhapatnam-Rajahmundry MEMU leaving Visakhapatnam on 21.12.2015 is cancelled;

Diversion of trains:

The Train No. 18495 Rameswaram-Bhubaneswar Express reaching Bhubaneswar on 21.12.2015 is diverted to run via Rayagada, Titlagarh, Angul, and Bhubaneswar.

Train No. 12840 Chennai Central-Howrah Mail express passing Visakhapatnam on 21.12.2015 is diverted to run via Rayagada, Titlagarh, Sambalpur, Jharsuguda and Kharagpur.

(With inputs from PTI)