SAMATA EXPRESS SERVICES CANCELLED ON SELECT DATES IN APRIL Due to ongoing infrastructure work at Gondia station under the Nagpur division of South East Central Railway, involving dismantling of the washable apron and conversion of Line No. 5 into a ballasted track, certain services of the Samata Express have been cancelled. Train No. 12807 Visakhapatnam-Hazrat Nizamuddin Samata Express departing from Visakhapatnam will remain cancelled on April 5, 7, 8, 9, 11, 12, 14, 15, 16, 18, 19, 21, 22, and 23, 2026. Similarly, in the return direction, Train No. 12808 Hazrat Nizamuddin-Visakhapatnam Samata Express departing from Hazrat Nizamuddin will be cancelled on April 7, 9, 10, 11, 13, 14, 16, 17, 18, 20, 21, 23, 24, and 25, 2026. Passengers are advised to take note of these changes and plan their journeys accordingly. The inconvenience caused due to these cancellations is sincerely regretted.

INDIAN RAILWAYS ANNOUNCES SPECIAL TRAINS TO MANAGE SUMMER RUSH Visakhapatnam-Shalimar Weekly Special (08508/08507) The Visakhapatnam-Shalimar weekly special will depart from Visakhapatnam every Tuesday at 11:20 hrs from April 7 to June 30, 2026, reaching Shalimar at 03:00 hrs the following day. The return service will leave Shalimar every Wednesday at 05:00 hrs from April 8 to July 1, 2026, arriving in Visakhapatnam at 20:50 hrs. The train will halt at key stations including Simhachalam, Vizianagaram, Srikakulam Road, Brahmapur, Bhubaneswar, Cuttack, Bhadrak, Kharagpur, and Santragachi. It will consist of AC, sleeper, general, and luggage-cum-divyangjan coaches. Sambalpur-Erode Weekly Special (08311/08312) Running between April 1 and May 29, 2026, this weekly service will depart Sambalpur on Wednesdays and Erode on Fridays, completing a total of nine trips in each direction. The train will pass through major stations such as Vizianagaram, Vijayawada, Nellore, Katpadi, Salem, and others. The composition includes AC, sleeper, general, pantry, and luggage coaches. Bhubaneswar-Yesvantpur Weekly Special (02811/02812) This service will operate from April 4 to June 29, 2026, with departures from Bhubaneswar on Saturdays and from Yesvantpur on Mondays, totaling 13 trips in each direction. Key stoppages include Khurda Road, Vizianagaram, Vijayawada, Guntur, Nandyal, Dharmavaram, and Yelahanka. The train will mainly consist of 3-tier AC coaches along with generator cars. Yesvantpur-Katihar Weekly Special (06571/06572) Operating from April 7 to July 17, 2026, this weekly train will run 15 trips in each direction. It will depart Yesvantpur on Tuesdays and Katihar on Fridays. The route covers major stations such as Vijayawada, Rajahmundry, Bhubaneswar, Cuttack, Kharagpur, Malda Town, and others. The train will include AC, sleeper, general, and luggage coaches. SMV Bengaluru-Malda Town Special (06565/06566) To further ease passenger load, a special service between SMV Bengaluru and Malda Town will run from April to July 2026. The train will depart Bengaluru on Sundays and Malda Town on Wednesdays. Important stoppages include Duvvada, Vizianagaram, Brahmapur, Bhubaneswar, Cuttack, and Bhadrak. The train will have a mix of AC, sleeper, and general coaches.