LAHORE: The Pakistan Railways on Friday announced suspension operation of 11 more up/down trains from March 25, requesting the passengers to either change their confirmed tickets to other trains or get refund the price of tickets.

Earlier on Thursday, the PR decided to temporarily halt operation of six trains from March 22.

The minister for railways Sheikh Rashid Ahmad counts a train as two by counting it up and downward operations.

“Today, we have decided to suspend operation of 22 more trains (total 11 Up/Down) from March 25, bringing the number of such trains to 34 (17 Up/Down) so far,” he said in a statement.

“Earlier on Thursday, we decided to halt operation of 12 trains (6 up/down).”

According to a notification, the trains being suspended from March 25 include: 31-Up/32-Down Jinah Express (Lahore-Karachi-Lahore); 35-Up/36-Down Sir Syed Express (Rawalpindi-Karachi-Rawalpindi); 3-Up/4-Down Bolan Mail Express (Quetta-Karachi-Quetta); 213-Up/214-Down Moinjodaro Express (Kotri-Rohri-Kotri); 129-Up/130-Down Thal Express (Rawalpindi-Multan-Rawalpindi); 335-Up/336-Down Marvi Express (Mirpur Khas-Khokharapar-Mirpur Khas); 115-Up/116-Down Musa Pak Express (Lahore-Multan-Lahore); 135-Up/135-Down Chenab Express (Sargodha-Lalamusa-Sargodha); 173-Up/174-Down Faisalabad Express (Multan-Faisalabad-Multan); 155-Up/156-Down Saman Sarkar Express (Hyderabad-Badin-Hyderabad), and 119-Up/120-Down Faisal Express (Lahore-Faisalabad-Lahore).

“After suspending operation of the trains, we will have total 100 trains (50 Up/Down) to run. However, 12 to 15 freight trains would run according to their schedule,” the minister said.

The trains will have no operation from March 22 include: 19-Up/20-Down Khushhal Khan Express, running between Peshawar-Karachi via Lahore; 23-Up/24-Down Akbar Express (Lahore-Quetta-Lahore); 29-Up/30-Down Sindh Express (Multan-Karachi-Multan); 121-Up/122-Down Ravi Express (Lahore-Shorkot-Lahore); 151-Up/152-Down Shah Latif Express (Dhabeji-Mirpur Khas-Dhabeji) and 215-Up/216-Down Rohi Express (Khanpur-Sikkar-Khanpur via Rahim Yar Khan).

According to PR Board Chairman Dr Habibur Rehman Gilani told Dawn due to virus spread fear, passenger occupancy in the aforementioned trains had declined for the last some days.

Moreover, the PR authorities have also decided to give stoppage of all up/down trains at the stations, situated nearby the main stations of mega cities of the country. The core objective behind this decision is to reduce rush of passengers in Lahore, Karachi and Rawalpindi stations to avert possible spread of the virus. “All trains would observe stoppage for two minutes at Kot Lakhpat, Cantt and Walton stations (before main Lahore station), Landhi, Drigh Road and Malir City stations (before main Karachi station) and Chaklala station (before Rawalpindi station),” the spokesperson said. She said the officers concerned have been directed to start implementation of this decision with immediate effect.

Published in Dawn, March 21st, 2020