The Railway Board has given its nod to running of train no. 22415/16 Visakhapatnam-New Delhi A.P. AC Express with revised timings.

Long-pending demand

The train, which otherwise leaves Visakahapatnam station at 8.35 a.m. and reaches New Delhi at 7.05 p.m. will now depart Visakhapatnam at 10 p.m. to reach New Delhi at 6.35 a.m. In the return journey, 22416 New Delhi – Visakhapatnam AP AC Express would leave New Delhi station at 5.05 a.m. instead of 5.50 p.m. and arrive in Visakhapatnam station at 7.40 p.m. in stead of 6.25 a.m.

There has been a demand for convenient timings for this train, since its introduction in August 2015. Right from the day its launch, people’s representatives have been demanding increase in the speed and reduce the halts to bring down the running time.

Passengers’ woes

They have also been voicing concern about the inappropriate timings of the train, saying that it is forcing passengers to spend a night and two days on the train and making a night halt at a hotel, which is pinching their pockets.

They wanted the timings to be fixed in such a way that the train reached Delhi early in the morning. Former Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu had also agreed to consider the demand, but the change could not be made during his tenure. Equipped with German technology LHB coaches, the train is designed to travel at a high speed. Yet, it is taking 35 hours 15 minutes with an average speed of 59 km per hour.