After remaining static for months, Pakistan Railways’ Shalimar Express is back on the track. Federal Railways Minister Ghulam Ahmad Bilour inaugurated the Shalimar Express on Friday. The re-launch of the train service was seen as a sign of the railway’s fear of being superseded by the private sector-run Pak Business Express, which started operating nearly a month ago. The newly launched Shalimar Express will leave for its first journey at 6am on Saturday (today) from the Lahore Railway Station. The Karachi-bound train will stop at six stations – including Faisalabad, Multan, Bahawalpur, Rahim Yar Khan, Rohri and Hyderabad before arriving at its destination at midnight.
Addressing the inaugural ceremony, Bilour announced salary bonuses for the railways officials who refurbished the wagons and locomotive of the Shalimar Express. He said despite experiencing difficulties, the railway officials were trying to keep as many trains as possible on the tracks. He stated that during the last three months, 25 engines had been made operational after necessary maintenance and another 16 engines were being renovated. He said these engines would join the fleet by the end of March.