initial run(24 March 2010) 2749/50::
Train was launched on 24 March 2010 with numbered 2749/50. En-routed the train with halts at Rajahmundry, Tanuku, Bhimavaram, Akividu, Gudivada, Vijayawada, Kazipet,Secunderabad,Vikarabad, Wadi, Solapur and Pune in both the directions(refer source 1).
Train number changes(12749/50)::
Train number became 12749/50 due to IR changes (the train numbering system 4 digits to 5 digits).
Train number change 22819/22820 (1st October 2012)
12749/12750 Visakhapatnam-LTT-Visakhapatnam Express was re-numbered as 22819/22820 Visakhapatnam-LTT-Visakhapatnam Express with effect from 1st October 2012 an official note released on 30-05-2012 (refer source 2).
Increasing the Frequency:(Made statement in budget sessions)
Sh. Pawan Kumar Bansal introduced the Railway Budget, 2013-14 26th February 2013 and announced the train frquency incresed from 2 days in a week to daily . "22819/22820 Visakhapatnam – Lokmanya Tilak (T) Express 2 to 7 days". An official note was release on 04-06-2013 from ECOR (refer) increase the frequency and made train as a Experss. (refer source3)
Train number change 18519 (10th September, 2013)
An official note(04-06-2013) released from ECOR about downgrading the train SF to Express and same released from SCR on 25-07-2013(ref source 4).
Clone of konark
S.V. Iyer, the RTI applicant, wrote in his grievance to the Railway Board about the timing of the train(18519/18520) (ref souce5)
ECoR contention
The ECoR replied that the Konark Express is over-crowded throughout the year and occupancy of the train is more than 130 per cent in all classes. There has been a demand to run a clone express following 11020/11019, which could not materialise due to maintenance problem at Bhubaneswar. Hence, it has been decided to start a train trailing the Konark Express from Visakhapatnam and it is the only convenient timing to increase the frequency of LTT-Visakhapatnam S/F from bi-weekly to daily(ref souce 5).
source 1(Initial Run):
1.1.
click here 1.2
inauguration video 1.3.
click here 1.4.
inauguration source 2(Renumbering 12749 to 22819):
press note published in ECOR website .
2.1
click here Press not published in SCR website
2.2
click here source 3 (Incresing the Fequency Railway budget).
click here click herewebsite of ECOR
click here source 4(Renumbering 22819 to 18519 )
4.1
click here 4.2
click here 4.3
click here 4.4
click here source 5 : ECoR reduces Vizag-LTT express to a clone ( clone of Konark)
5.1
click here5.2
click here