Samjhauta Express to run on Thursday, Pakistan rail ministry says amid reports of cancellation

Earlier, media reports claimed that the railway desk had made announcement to stop the train and had asked passengers not to come to the station, in the wake of heightened tensions between the two countries.

FILE PIC: AFP.

New Delhi: Amid reports of cancellation of the Samjhauta Express on Thursday, Pakistan’s rail ministry has said the Wagah-bound train will depart on Thursday on its time. Earlier, media reports claimed that the railway desk had made announcement to stop the train and had asked passengers not to come to the station, in the wake of heightened tensions between the two countries. Samjhauta express is scheduled to depart from Lahore for Wagah at 7:30 am on Thursday. However, amid reports of suspension of Samjhauta express operations between Wagah to Lahore on Pakistan’s side, Indian Railways said that the train will continue to run as per schedule from Delhi to Attari in India. "The train will run as per schedule as of now," Northern Railway spokesperson Deepak Kumar told PTI about its operation on the Indian side. The biweekly train, which runs on Wednesdays and Sundays, will leave at 11:10 o'clock tonight as per schedule from the Old Delhi Railway station with 26 passengers aboard - four in AC coach, 22 in non-AC coaches. "We have not received any instructions from authorities about any change in the running of the Samjhauta Express. We will follow all instructions given to us in this regard," said Railway Minister Piyush Goyal. The train does not have any commercial stops between Delhi and Attari. Originally, the train offered a through service with one rake going all the way between the terminals - Delhi in India to Lahore in Pakistan. However, now a Pakistani rake stops at Attari at which point passengers have to change trains and board an Indian rake.