LAHORE, Jan 14: Minister for Railways Haji Ghulam Ahmed Bilour will inaugurate on Tuesday evening the third passenger train under public-private partnership between Punjab and Sindh capitals.

The Night Coach Express (43-Up/44-Down) would comprise one AC sleeper, two lower AC, seven economy class coaches, a dining car and a luggage van, said a Pakistan Railways official on Monday.

The Night Coach Express (43-Up)would be leaving Lahore at 6pm to reach Karachi Cantt at 12.10pm the next day after having stoppages at Faisalabad, Multan, Bahawalpur, Rohri, Nawabshah, Hyderabad and Landhi. Similarly, the Night Coach Express (44-Down) would be leaving Karachi Cantt at 6pm to reach Lahore at 12.10pm the next day after having stoppages at Hyderabad, Nawabshah, Rohri, Bahawalpur, Multan and Faisalabad.The departure time of Margalla Express (105-Up) would be rescheduled from Tuesday. Now the Rawalpindi-bound train would be departing at 6.15pm, said the official.

Pakistan Railways Additional General Manager (Traffic) Razzaq Shah and M/s Shalimar Group Managing Director Rana Rafaqat had on Dec 26 last year signed the agreement to operate the Night Coach Express between Lahore and Karachi as a joint venture under public-private partnership.

Company’s director Malik Rafiq said the Night Coach Express would be the fastest train of the country and its fares would be economical than the PR-operated trains between Lahore and Karachi. The per passenger Lahore to Karachi fare would be Rs1,200 for economy, Rs3,000 for Lower AC and Rs5,000 for AC Sleeper classes. Passengers getting their seats reserved in advance would get concession on the pattern of airlines’ tickets, he said.