April 17, 2007	Tuesday	Rabi-ul-Awwal 28, 1428

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RAWALPINDI, April 16: A new train between Rawalpindi and Lahore would start from April 20, Minister for Railways Sheikh Rashid Ahmed said on Monday. He was speaking at the inauguration of ‘Mianwali Express’ train at Rawalpindi Railway Station.

The minister said for 10 days, the super deluxe train would have three hours running time, and after May 1, its speed would be further reduced, making it a pride of Pakistan Railways.

Taking stock of the measures he has taken as railways minister for the expansion and improvement of rail services across the country, Sheikh Rashid Ahmed pledged to increase the number of rail passengers to 10 million by next year.

“In one year, I took the number of rail passengers to 2.5 million; my next target is 10 million, and rail services will be further expanded, made fast and reliable in such a way that bus terminals and airport lounges would give a deserted look,” the minister said.

Freight services would also be improved to increase the share from the present three per cent to 10 per cent next year, he said.

Mr Ahmed said a plan to rehabilitate 400 coaches in Carriage Factory Islamabad would shortly be approved together with projects of modernised signalling system and doubling tracks on the main line.

He said Pakistan Railways would re-write history on May 1 — the Labour Day — when all train stops, going on loss, would be closed.

“We want to take railways out of deficit and future stops will be decided on the basis of revenue generation,” he said.

Mr Ahmed also announced that effective from May 1, ‘Pakistan Express’ would become a daily train between Rawalpindi and Karachi. ‘Pakistan Express’ provides economy class and non-AC service via Faisalabad and operates four days a week: Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday.

General Manager (Operations) of Pakistan Railways, Asad Saeed, said the ‘Mianwali Express’ would run on daily basis from Rawalpindi to Kundian via Mianwali. This quick train was not available to passengers in the past. He hoped that ‘Mianwali Express’ train would play a significant role in the economic and social uplift of a number of localities falling between Rawalpindi and Kundian, and would also help increase earnings of Pakistan Railways. “It is our endeavour to create more facilities for passengers as well as increase safety standards,” he said.

Earlier, Divisional Superintendent of Pakistan Railways in Rawalpindi Hayat Malik said the ‘Mianwali Express’ train, started on public demand, would yield a profit of over Rs2 million per month.

He said platforms at Rawalpindi station had fallen short due to increase in the number and frequency of incoming and outgoing trains.