PESHAWAR, May 20: The Pakistan Railways has decided to extend Quetta Express (23 up/24 down) up to Peshawar Cantonment railway station with effect from May 25, which is currently running between Quetta and Rawalpindi.

This was informed by the divisional superintendent of Peshawar, Gulraiz Hashimi, here the other day. He informed that Quetta Express will run between Peshawar Cantt and Quetta via Rawalpindi, Lahore and further on its present route.

Mr Hashimi maintained that the train would start at 5:30 hours in the morning with stoppage at Peshawar city, Nowshera Cantt. and Attock city railway stations on Peshawar division and would reach Rawalpindi at 8:30 hours.

“Now with addition of this train three express trains — Quetta Express, Abasin rail car and Awami Express — will run from Peshawar cantt railway stations at 5:30, 7:30 and 9:00 hours respectively, which suits the local passengers to reach their destinations,” he said.

He added that three trains including Lahore Passenger, Khushall Express and Khyber Mail (2 down) would run in the evening from the city, which would sufficiently cater to the needs of travelling public of the Frontier province.

The extension of Quetta Express up to Peshawar would provide a direct link between the two provinces — Balochistan and NWFP — and would redress the inconvenience of passengers of both the provinces that caused due to termination of Abasin Express train in the current timetable effective from April 2002.

Mr Hashimi said that the Pakistan Railways administration had also decided to stop the run of Chenab Express from Peshawar cantt railway station from May 25.

From that date the train would run between Lala Musa (Punjab) and Karachi.