Title - TRAINS STOP IN THEIR TRACKS

Inadequate power supply to traction lines under the jurisdiction of the South Central Railway has hit movement of trains.

On Sunday, 12 passenger and four express trains were cancelled and would remain cancelled on Monday too. These apart, four passenger trains were partially cancelled and two express trains diverted.

Power supply to the Vijayawada Division fell short after the Vidyut JAC launched its indefinite strike from 6 a.m. on Sunday, protesting against the Union Cabinet’s nod for creation of Telangana.

The traction lines run on 33 KV power.

Due to shortage of power, the SCR had to cancel passenger trains on the Vijayawada- Renigunta-Chennai and Vijayawada – Kazipet lines. Among the express trains cancelled were: Train No. 12712 Chennai Central-Vijayawada Pinakini Express scheduled to depart Chennai on Sunday at 2.05 p.m.; Train No. 12711 Vijayawada-Chennai Central Jan Shatabdi Express scheduled to depart Vijayawada on Monday at 6 a.m.; Train No. 12078 Vijayawada-Chennai Central Jan Shatabdi Express scheduled to depart Vijayawada at 2.50 p.m. on Sunday; and Train No. 12077 Chennai Central-Vijayawada Jan Shatabdi Express scheduled to depart Chennai Central at 7 a.m. on Monday. The trains diverted were: Train No. 12764 Tirupati-Secunderabad Padmavathi Express scheduled to depart Tirupati at 5 p.m. on Sunday was diverted to run via Renigunta, Gooty, Dhone, and Kacheguda, and Train No. 12733 Tirupati-Secunderabad Narayanadri Express scheduled to depart Tirupati at 6.25 p.m. on Sunday was diverted to run on the same route.These apart, in the early hours of Sunday, two trains — Duronto Express and Garib Rath — were stranded on the tracks for about 40 minutes due to sudden disruption in power supply.

SCR Senior Public Relations Officer F.R. Michael told The Hindu that in the worst scenario, some electric engines would be replaced by diesel engines to run the show.

About 15 diesel locomotives and a good quantity of diesel had been kept ready by the SCR.

Mr. Michael said about 10 to 12 goods trains had been parked in the looplines to give priority to passenger movement.

In the worst case scenario, some electric engines will be replaced by diesel engines to run the show. In all, 15 diesel locomotives and a good quantity of diesel have been kept ready

F.R. Michael

SCR Senior Public

Relations Officer

Helpline numbers

SCR releases the following helpline numbers in case

of emergency:

Vijayawada: 0866- 2576796 (10 lines); Cell: 9701373073

Nellore: 0861- 2345888 or 2345864

Ongole: 08592- 280202 or 280203

Rajahmundry: 0833- 2420541 or 2420543