KARACHI: After a lapse of almost five weeks, trains have returned to railtracks in Karachi, with the resumption of the Rehman Baba Express and Khyber Mail Express that transport people between Peshawar in the country’s north and Karachi at the southern tip.
Three other trains running between Karachi and Lahore have also resumed service with a new fare: the Karakoram Express, Pak Business Express and Karachi Express.
Railway officials at the Cantt Station said that the Rehman Baba Express would depart at the schedule time of 10am while Khyber Mail would leave at 10pm.
Train services in various parts of the country were suspended as train infrastructure, including railway bridges, were either destroyed or submerged in floodwater. As floodwaters start receding, train services have started resuming.
However, train service between Karachi and Quetta remains suspended. A decision on the Awami Express and Jaffar Express is expected on Wednesday, October 5.
With the resumption, commuters are expected to return to train stations to return to train stations. But footfall at the Cantt Station remained low on Tuesday, with passengers complaning about inordinate delays.
Federal Minister of Railways Khawaja Saad Rafique said on Tuesday that revenue worth tens of millions of rupees has been lost due to the closure of railway operations.
Speaking to the media in Lahore, Rafique said that the Pakistan Railways (PR) was facing financial uncertainty due to the floods.
The minister that they would move the relevant court against over an appeal by the department seeking permmission for commercial use of railway land.
“We can recoup losses to the tune of Rs6 to Rs7 billion if we given permision,” he said, adding that the country’s top court has been approached in this regard.
