VIJAYAWADA:The double-decker superfast train between Kachiguda and Guntur chugged into Vijayawada railway station on Monday with the South Central Railway (SCR) extending its run up to Vijayawada. This once-a-week service will enable the Vijayawada-bound passengers to enjoy the journey in the fully air-conditioned double-decker coaches of the superfast express train. As many as 375 passengers arrived by the train from Kachiguda on its inaugural run.
This double-decker train, the first ever such train to be run by the SCR, was introduced a year back and its run was limited to Guntur from Kachiguda, but now it has been extended up to Vijayawada, albeit once a week - every Monday.
The train (No. 02118) left the Kachiguda railway station at 6.45 am and reached Vijayawada railway station by 1.10 pm. People can experience luxurious travelling at Rs 510 with pushback seats and foldable planks that are provided for each seat to enable the passengers to work or keep their plates while having their food.
“The train comprises 10 air-conditioned compartments, with each of them having a seating capacity of 120 -- 70 on the upper deck and 50 on the lower deck. We conducted a three-month trial run of this train before launching it and rectified the identified problems. The SCR is providing the facility of advance booking for the seats in this train. This train will travels to Vijayawada from Kachiguda via Malkajgiri, Bhuvanagiri, Janagam, Kazipet, Warangal, Mahaboobabad, Dornakal, Madhira and Khammam,” said M Venkat Rao, Chief Ticket Inspector and In-charge of the Vijayawada Railway Station.
He said that the new train was equipped with the latest safety features, including a unique Very Early Smoke/Fire Detection with Alarm System, and also green toilets for the convenience of the passengers.
However, the passengers who have travelled on the first day in this train are dissatisfied with the services being provided at the double-decker train. “There is lack of cleanliness in the train, especially in the toilets. Though they claimed them as green toilets, but the working is not good.
Even the seating arrangement and the legroom was also not convenient,” said C Maruti Krishna, an employee from Hyderabad.
Spl Train Between Vizag, Tirupati on May 14
Vijayawada: The South Central Railway will run two special trains between Tirupati, Vishakhapatnam and Vijayawada to clear the extra rush of passengers on May 14 and 15, according to a press release here on Monday. The Visakhapatnam to Tirupati special train will depart at 11 pm on May 14 from Tirupati and reach Visakhapatnam at 9 am on May 15. The train will consist of one AC two-tier, eight sleeper class coaches, two general second class coaches and two second class luggage cum brake vans. Another special train will run between Vishakhapatnam and Vijayawada on May 15.