Pakistan Railways restores train traffic after three days

Train traffic closed following derailment of a Lahore-bound goods train near Padidan station in Sindh

RAWALPINDI: Pakistan Railways on Sunday succeeded in fully restoring the train operation after a delay of three days, as both the up and down tracks have been opened for traffic that had been closed following derailment of a Lahore-bound goods train near Padidan station in Sindh.

Except for Tezgam, all trains departed to their destinations according to their schedule, Pakistan Railways Rawalpindi Divisional Superintendent Munawar Shah told Express News.

He said the railways would ensure that all trains would run on time and added in view of Eid rush, the authorities concerned have been mulling attaching more coaches to trains to accommodate more passengers.

The railway department had displayed notices on ticket counters and information window for large number of waiting passengers that all the trains would leave for their respective destinations on their schedule.

On Saturday, Minister for Railways Sheikh Rashid had admitted that the railways department had ignored rehabilitation of the track falling in the territorial jurisdiction of Sukkur division.

The division covers the main line track from Tando Adam (Sindh) to Khanpur (Punjab) and the branch line track from Sukkur to Sibi.
Friday’s accident had left 10 wagons and 20 containers of the goods train badly damaged.

Also, on April 2 a passenger train derailment near Rahim Yar Khan had badly affected the entire rail operation.

Meanwhile, preparations to launch to launch VVIP train -- Sir Syed Express -- are in full swing.

The railways department has been working round-the-clock in manufacturing of new bogies/coaches of Sir Syed Express, railways sources told Express News.

Prime Minister Imran Khan is likely to inaugurate the train on June 15.

According to the sources, Sir Syed Express will be a high speed train, with a brake van.