Uday double-decker express likely to chug off in a month

At long last, the double-decker express ‘Uday’, which was proposed between Visakhapatnam and Vijayawada in early 2016, is likely to see the light of the day in about a month.

The coaches of the new train are seen at the coaching complex in the city. Though the rake for this train was sanctioned long ago, the introduction of this train was unduly delayed, reportedly due to the apathy of the officials concerned.

Meanwhile, it’s learnt that staff members are still undergoing training in the maintenance of the double-decker coaches. The officials concerned are said to be treading cautiously in view of the recent backlash from passengers on social media, on poor maintenance of the 22415-16 Visakhaptnam-New Delhi-Visakhapatnam AP AC Express.

The AP AC Express is the first originating train from Visakhapatnam, which was provided with LHB coaches. Before the introduction of this train, nearly four years ago, the then Divisional Railway Manager Chandralekha Mukherjee, had said that training of the technical staff for the maintenance of these coaches could be provided at short notice.

It’s learnt that the existing staff, at the coaching complex, will require barely a couple of weeks to equip themselves with the maintenance of the German-technology LHB coaches. But, official apathy was said to have resulted in the situation.

On completion of the training, the double-decker train would undergo trial operations for a week.

The LHB coach double-decker AC train would have 120 seats in each coach. The train should start from Visakhapatnam at 5.45 a.m. and reach Vijayawada at 11.15 a.m. In the return direction, it will leave Vijayawada at 5.45 p.m. and arrive in Visakhapatnam at 11.15 p.m.

“The East Coast Railway (ECoR) agreed to run a double-decker train between Visakhapatnam and Vijayawada,” BJP leader Kambhampati Haribabu said in early 2016, when he was Visakhapatnam MP.

Uday (Utkrisht Double Decker Air Conditioned Yatri) Express trains are specially designed air-conditioned chair car trains of Indian Railways. These express trains are primarily allocated on the busier routes to increase the carrying capacity. Wifi facility, striking interiors, cushioned seating, and display screens are a few of the attractions of UDAY Express. The first service of the train was flagged off between Coimbatore Junction and Bangalore in June 2018. The Express consists of nine double-decker coaches and two power cars.

This train will have six halts between Visakhapatnam Junction and Vijayawada Junction, covering the 350 km distance in 5 hours and 30 minutes. It has stoppages at Duvvada, Anakapalle, Tuni, Samarlakota, Rajamahendravaram, and Eluru.

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