August 27, 2006	Sunday	Sha'aban 2, 1427

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KARACHI, Aug 26: Railway traffic from Karachi, which was suspended after the collapse of the Ran Pathani bridge, was fully restored on Friday evening. Operation of trains from the Karachi station was started after a second alternative diversion was commissioned.

The Karakorum Express was the first train to pass through the up-diversion, followed by Tezgam, Karachi Express and other trains.

Till Thursday, 12 express trains were being operated from Karachi, nine from Hyderabad and two from Kotri and so was the down traffic.

Now all mail, express and passenger trains are originating from Karachi, divisional superintendent Mir Mohammad Khaskheli told APP on Saturday.

He said the railways had also made special arrangements to move out goods’ trains stranded in Karachi. He said that before the collapse of the bridge, eight freight trains were being operated from Karachi, which had come to a standstill after the incident.

Mr Khaskheli said that during the single-line working, four to five freight trains had been moved out and now with the commissioning of the second track, their frequency was being doubled.

Answering a question, he said trains from Karachi were operating as per schedule. He said delay of down trains had also been reduced considerably.

He said the Frontier Works Organisation had started construction of a new Ran Pathani bridge, which was expected to be completed in three to four months.—APP