ISLAMABAD, Feb 4: Federal Minister for Railways Shaikh Rashid Ahmed on Sunday urged people to avoid carelessly crossing rail track until they were sure it was safe.

He was talking to private television networks about the train accident which claimed the lives of six children.

The minister said that people, especially those living near the rail track, should realise hazards associated with crossing the track, adding that they should always make sure it was safe to cross.

Focussing on the increase in frequency of trains, Shaikh Rashid said with the launching of 13 new trains, which translated in an increase of nearly two million passengers, the gap between trains had been considerably reduced.

He said that because of high demand, ministry was planning to start more trains over the next two months. Stressing the need to increase public awareness about safety-related issues, he said that there were plans to start ‘bullet trains’.

Commenting on the need to improve railway infrastructure, he said that it was “not a big problem”, adding that there was still room for more trains, adding that the average interval between trains originating from Karachi to other cities was nearly half an hour.

The minister said that new rail track would be laid between Rawalpindi and Karachi, adding that old tracks were also being rehabilitated.—APP