Vijayawada-Visakhapatnam UDAY Express to start from 27 August
Amaravati: The much-awaited double ducker train which was promised by Railway Minister three and a half years ago is finally getting on the track.
The luxury train service (Utkrisht Double Decker Air Conditioned Yatri ) UDAY Express between Vijayawada and Visakhapatnam with train no 22701/702 will start its operations for the passengers from 27th August.
With the increase of passengers between Visakha and Vijayawada, the demand for the double-decker train between the two cities began four years ago.
In this context, then Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu has announced this train in the Railway Budget 2016. However, for some reasons, it was getting delayed since then.
The Uday train bogies were made at the Jalandhar coach factory in Punjab. The coaches were brought to Visakhapatnam via Rayagada on the 15th of last month. All necessary tests were conducted along with the trial run in Visakha.
After successfully completing all tests, the Railway officials have given green signal to bring this UDAY Express on the track.
The train service will be inaugurated by Union Railway Minister (MoS) Suresh Channabasappa in Visakhapatnam on 26 August. After which, the passengers will be allowed from Vijayawada on 27 August. The reservation facility is available for this train.
The departure time of Visakhapatnam-Vijayawada Uday Express (22701) from Visakhapatnam is 05:45 am, and it will reach Vijayawada at 11:15 am. On its return journey, train number 22702 will leave Vijayawada at 5:30 pm and arrive Visakhapatnam at 10:55 pm.
The train will play five days a week - Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday with halts at Duvvada, Anakapalle, Tuni, Samarlakota, Rajamahendravaram, and Eluru.
Uday Express would consist of nine double-decker coaches with the seating capacity of 120 seats per coach. 50 on the upper deck, 48 on the bottom, and 22 on the end of the bogie. The Express will provide passengers with amenities like Wi-Fi, LCD Screens, dedicated dining area, smoke detection alarm system, modular bio-toilets, etc.