LAHORE, Dec 15: The Pakistan Railways has repaired the track for Samjotha Express, which is likely to start in January 2004.

The train will consist of 10 wagons, including seven economy, one first class sleeper and the other two wagons will be reserved for luggage and parcels.

Wagon and carriage shops workers have repaired doors, seats, berths while bathroom mirrors, window panes and water taps have been replaced with the new ones.

According to railways sources, the maintenance work has been completed at a cost of Rs3.5 million.

Works manager Rahat Mirza says all arrangements have been completed and they can deliver the wagons within 24 hours. Some 725 passengers can travel in the Samjotha Express at a time, he says.

Meanwhile, the Pakistan Railways will get the first fleet of freight wagons from China in February next year. It will consist of 63 flat shape wagons, which have been prepared for container traffic, say sources.

The sources say China will provide some 1,300 freight wagons to Pakistan till 2007 and it is the first shipment in this regard.—PPI