August 11, 2002	Sunday	Jamadi-us-Saani 1, 1423

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LAHORE, Aug 10: The Pakistan Railways opened here on Saturday computerized ticketing for its new train, Karakoram Express.

President Gen Pervez Musharraf will inaugurate in Rawalpindi on Aug 13, the Chinese-made train, that will run between Lahore and Karachi.

Comprising 10 airconditioned coaches and two power vans, the train is equipped with a public address system to inform the passengers about the next stoppage. There will be an attendant at the entrance of each coach to guide the passengers to their seat or cabins.

Each coach will comprise nine compartments having six berths each besides 16 seats in the corridor for those who want to travel without a berth.

General manager (Operations) Iqbal Samad Khan said a trial run at a speed of 135 kilometres per hour had been successfully conducted between Pad Eidan and Mehrabpur.

The railways will charge Rs1,450 fare for one-way travel by Karakoram Express between Lahore and Karachi. The fare for the same distance for Karachi Express is Rs1,175. Mr Khan argued that the extra facilities (music and public address system etc) justified the difference.

A railway spokesman, meanwhile, warned the passengers that voluminous luggage will not be allowed to be carried by this train.

Earlier, the railway administration had to trim edges of platforms of several stations to save the new coaches from being scratched.

The officials concerned had reportedly failed to inform the Chinese firm supplying the coaches that the coaches needed to be curved from the base to provide sufficient space between the coach and the platform.

A 12-inch clearance is needed between a coach and the platform for safe travel. The Chinese coaches, however, had only four inches clearance and could be scratched even on minor sway.