January 06, 2008	Sunday	Zilhaj 26, 1428

RAWALPINDI, Jan 5: Rail link between Rawalpindi and Karachi has been restored after a lapse of over a week, with four trains operating on Peshawar-Rawalpindi-Karachi route, a spokesman for Pakistan Railways told Dawn on Saturday.

Tezgam and Pakistan Express originate from Rawalpindi, while Awam Express and Khyber Mail run between Peshawar and Karachi via Rawalpindi.

The spokesman said Pakistan Railways was yet to decide about the fate of Buraq Express and Nishter Express, adding that the main hindrance to restoring these two trains was the availability of coaches. These trains will be restored as soon as coaches are made available, he said.

With the restoration of four trains, while two others waiting to be restored, the operation of Rawalpindi railway station has almost become normal and big rush of passengers is being witnessed, who had either been stranded or had delayed their planned journey.

The post-Liaquat Bagh tragedy period had been the worst in the history of Pakistan Railways, which lost 159 coaches and 23 locomotives during the violence that broke out in interior Sindh after December 27.

In addition, nearly 40 railway stations and the signalling system were also damaged.

The spokesman said the train service between Rawalpindi and Quetta had now become normal. After Quetta Express, Jaffer Express has also been started in addition to the Winter Special Train.

When asked whether the number of coaches with each train has been reduced after burning of a large number of coaches, the spokesman said the composition of all trains was intact, however, the colour scheme of Pakistan Express had been affected.

Pakistan Railways has planned to give Tezgam a new look, but it is certain to be delayed due to loss of coaches and the additional burden on the Carriage Factory Islamabad and the Mughalpura Workshop in Lahore for refurbishing the damaged coaches.