Samjhauta Express services from Lahore to Wagah restored by Pakistan

In New Delhi, Railways officials announced on Saturday that the two countries have agreed to operationalise services at their ends.

By : ABP News Bureau | Updated at : 04 Mar 2019 01:04 PM (IST)

Samjhauta Express services from Lahore to Wagah restored by Pakistan Samjhauta Express services from Lahore to Wagah restored by Pakistan

File Image: Passengers arrive at Wagah Railway Station in Pakistan's Wagah border /(Photo by ARIF ALI / AFP)

The Samjhauta express carrying some 150 passengers left Lahore station for Wagah

Railways officials in New Delhi announced on Saturday that the two countries have agreed to operationalise services at their ends

Samjhauta Express was started under the Shimla Agreement that settled the 1971 war

New Delhi: Pakistan restored the Wagah-bound Samjhauta Express which facilitates commutation between Lahore and Delh, days after it was suspended due to the ongoing tensions between the two countries. The Samjhauta express carrying some 150 passengers left Lahore station for Wagah, Radio Pakistan said. The Indian train also departed from Delhi and reached the Attari station on its scheduled time. In New Delhi, Railways officials announced on Saturday that the two countries have agreed to operationalise services at their ends. India cancelled the operations on February 28, citing low number of passengers. The train departs on every Monday and Thursday from Lahore for Wagah, while on the Indian side, it operates from Delhi to Attari on every Wednesday and Sunday. Pakistani authorities suspended the train service on February 28 amidst tense bilateral ties in the aftermath of the Pulwama terror attack, stranding many passengers at the Attari station as Indian train had reached on time. The footfall of the train, which generally records an occupancy of around 70 per cent, had fallen drastically post the Pulwama attack in which 40 CRPF soldiers were killed. Initially, the train started with offering a direct run all the way from Delhi in India to Lahore in Pakistan but now the train stops at Attari border where the passengers have to change trains and board the Pakistani rake. Started on July 22, 1976, the Samjhauta Express comprises six sleeper coaches and an AC 3-tier coach. The train service was started under the Shimla Agreement that settled the 1971 war between India and Pakistan. The train departs from Lahore on Mondays and Thursdays.