East Coast Railway(ECoR) sources said the empty goods train was the first train to run on the up line badly damaged in the accident . The Goods train ran on the same track on which the Coromandel Express was running before it entered into the loop line and had a head-on collision into a stationary goods train.
A coal-laden goods train from Vizag port also started its journey towards Rourkela Steel plant at around 10.40 pm on Sunday after completion of the restoration work on a war footing by over 1000 workers.
The goods train ran on the same track where a deadly accident involving two superfast express and a Goods train took place on Friday night.
Railway Minister Aswani Vaishnaw, who personally supervised the restoration work, tweeted, "Down-line restoration complete. First train movement in the section.”
The UP line which was also badly damaged in the accident was restored a few hours after the restoration of the Down line, railway sources said.
Meanwhile, the Howrah- Puri Vande Bharat Express crossed the track this morning and the passengers in the train were witness to the heart-wrenching scene of the completely mangled coaches lying on both sides of the tracks at the devastating accident site while travelling in the train.
