Hyderabad, Oct 12 (IANS): The railways have cancelled 56 trains in coastal Andhra Pradesh and Odisha in view of cyclonic storm Phailin which is set to hit the east coast Saturday evening.

The East Coast Railway and South Central Railway have cancelled trains between Howrah and Visakhapatnam and have diverted trains between Howrah and Chennai.

All trains in the north coastal Andhra districts of Srikakulam, Vizianagaram and Visakhapatnam have been cancelled as a precautionary measure.

Some long distance trains have either been diverted or cancelled.

The trains which were cancelled include the Tirupati-Puri Express, Secunderabad-Bhubaneswar Visakha Express, Rajahmundry-Visakhapatnam, Visakhapatnam-Vizianagaram, Vizianagaram -Visakhapatnam, Visakhapatnam-Palasa, Palasa-Visakhapatnam and Visakhapatnam-Rajahmundry passenger.

The Mumbai-Bhubaneswar Express was partially cancelled between Rajahmundry and Bhubaneswar. The Bhubaneswar-Mumbai Konark Express was partially cancelled between Bhubaneswar and Samalkot. The Bhubaneswar-Secunderabad Visakha Express, which was scheduled to leave Bhubaneswar Saturday morning, was partially cancelled between Bhubaneswar and Vizianagaram.

South Central Railway has set up helpline numbers at Secunderabad (040-27700868) and Hyderabad (040-23200865) railway stations to provide information to passengers regarding movement of trains.

Helplines were also set up at Vijayawada (0866-2575038), Rajahmundry (0883-2420541, 2420543), Kazipet (0870-2548660), Warangal (0870-2426232), Khammam (08742-256025), Tuni (08854-252172), Anakapalle (08924-221698), Guntur (0863-2222014, 09701379072), Nandyal (07702772080), Nalgonda (08682-224392, 09701379077), Narsaraopeta (08647-223131, 09701379075), Markapur (08596-222028, 09701379079), Giddalur (08405-242003), Sattanapalle (08641-232255), Piduguralla (08649-252255), Nadikude (08649-257625, 09701379078) and Manchiryal (08736-250081)railway stations.