No Shirdi Express from tomorrow

The Visakhapatnam – Shirdi Sai Nagar Weekly Express will no longer run from the coming Thursday and contrary to the assurances given by the Railway Board from time to time to our MPs, the popular train may not be revived for the next few months. The last run of the train was on December 29.The Visakhapatnam – Shirdi, which was introduced as a special train twice a week, was converted into a weekly last year to facilitate running of the Bhubaneswar – Shirdi Special once a week. Normally, special trains are regularised after a six-month trial period, depending on their patronage. It may be recalled that despite the overwhelming patronage, the train was withdrawn after a successful two-year run on June 29 last year. It was restored after a lot of efforts by our MPs but once again as a weekly special train.It's learnt that the South Central Railway authorities are citing operational problems for revival of the Visakhapatnam – Shirdi Special.“We have proposed the conversion of the Visakhapatnam – Shirdi Special into a bi-weekly regular Express and sent the recommendation to the East Coast Railway Headquarters in Bhubaneswar. The issue would be discussed at the All India Railway Time Table Committee meeting to be held in Secunderabad from Thursday,” DRM N. Kashinath said on Tuesday.