LAHORE: Restoring provision of refreshment and dining during journey, Pakistan Railways on Wednesday increased fare of 5-up/6-down Greenline train that runs between Margala (Islamabad) and Karachi via Rawalpindi, Lahore, Khanewal and Sukkur.

Greenline, which had been launched in 2015 during the tenure of the then federal minister for railways Khwaja Saad Rafique, is considered to be a profit-earning non-stop VIP passenger train. Initially the train had the facility of refreshment and dining for passengers, the arrangement couldn’t continue for a long time.

However, the train continued operation without [refreshment] service later. “Actually, PR has added Rs600 or so per passenger cost of refreshment/dining etc in the total ticket price. That is why the ticket price has increased,” an official source told Dawn.

According to a press release, the new fare would be Rs6,650 (per adult passenger) and Rs3,650 (child) if the booking/reservation is made 48 hours before the departure. However, if the reservation is made within 48 hours, the fare would be Rs7,000 and Rs3,850 for adult and child passenger, respectively. From Lahore, the fare would be Rs6,200 (before 48 hours) and Rs6,500 (within 48 hours).

”If anyone gets ticket during journey, he will be charged Rs1,350 excess of the total fare,” reads the release.

Published in Dawn, April 11th, 2019