Samjhauta Express to run as per schedule: Goyal

Railway Minister Piyuah Goyal on Wednesday said that the services of the Samjhauta Express, one of the two train services between India and Pakistan, will continue as per schedule from Delhi to Attari in Punjab.

"We have not yet received any instructions from authorities so far as running of Samjhauta Express. So it will run as per the schedule," Goyal said while responding to a question if India has suspended the services of the Samjhauta Express.

His remarks came amidst reports that Pakistan has suspended its operations of the train, running from the Wagah border post to Lahore, in its territory.

A senior railway ministry official told IANS that the train, which comprises six sleeper coaches and an AC 3-tier coach, will depart at its scheduled time on Wednesday from the Indian side. However, it is mostly empty with just a little over two dozen passengers - four in the AC coach, 22 in non-AC coaches.

The train departs from the Old Delhi Railway Station at 11.10 p.m. twice a week - on Wednesday and Sunday. On its return journey from Lahore, the train arrives in India on Monday and Thursday.

--IANS

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