LAHORE, Aug 8: Work on another temporary bridge near the Ran Pathani station in Thatta district has been started to ensure smooth train service to and from Karachi. Tracks will be laid on the new makeshift bridge within six days and all upcountry traffic will be diverted to it, minimising delay of trains at Hyderabad and Karachi and reducing journey time, senior railway officers told Dawn on Tuesday.

“At the moment, there is only one pair of tracks on a temporary bridge that connects the Sindh capital with the rest of the country by train. All up and down country trains are consuming an additional 55-60 minutes and a further 20 minutes to pass the 35km alternative route,” they said.

The new tracks will connect the upcountry loop-line of the Dhabheji station with the Jungshahi Station like the existing temporary down-country route.

“There is no signal system on the alternative route between Dhabheji and Jungshahi stations. The track remains engaged until a train reaches Jungshahi from Dhabheji and vice versa, resulting in halting of trains up to Karachi and Hyderabad on the up and down routes respectively,” officials said.

Regarding suspension of freight service, a senior official said 12 trains had been allowed to operate to and from Karachi. “It means 12 up and as many down trains will pass the alternative track and if each of them keeps the route engaged for an hour on an average, then how can we operate freight trains?”

He said suspension of the freight service was causing a loss of around Rs5 million to the Pakistan Railways on a daily basis, adding: “Believe you me railway revenue had increased by a record Rs250 million during the last two months.”