KARACHI: The Karachi-to-Lahore Shalimar Express, which had ceased to function since Aug 27 last year when heavy rains followed by flooding had affected many Pakistan Railways’ operations, was brought back to the railway track on Monday amid much fanfare.

More upbeat news about this train, restored after a long gap of eight months and three days, is that till May 15, its fares have been slashed by 20 per cent. After that, from May 16 till May 31, the fares will still be cheaper by 10pc.

Shalimar Express, which departed from the Cantonment Railway Station at 6am sharp on Monday, had been decorated with foil strips, ribbons and balloons. It was showered with rose petals by the railway staff as it chugged out of the station.

The train comprises 19 coaches of which 11 are economy, one is a dining car, one a brake van, two are business coaches, one an air conditioned parlour coach while two are air conditioned standard coaches. It has a capacity for 1,198 passengers. The train that left Karachi on Monday had 942 passengers.

Published in Dawn, May 2nd, 2023