Jaipur, Feb 12: The train link from Rajasthan to Pakistan was being given final touches with the Thar Express from Jodhpur to Munabao in Barmer district holding a trial run
before its scheduled start on February 17, official sources said today.
The rail link on zero line between Munabao and Khokhrapar in Pakistan was being readied soon, the sources said.
The Thar Express would be flagged off on Friday by Union Railway Minister Laloo Prasad Yadav, they said.
For the first six months, Pakistan would run the train up to Munabao and for the next six months, India would run the train upto zero point near Munabao.
The first train would leave Jodhpur Railway Station on February 17 at 2330 hrs to reach Munabao at 0730 hrs. On February 18, this train will ferry Pakistani passengers to Jodhpur from Munabao around 1500 hrs and reach its destination around 2130 hrs.
Similarly in Pakistan, the Thar Express from Karachi would leave on February 18 and reach Meerpurkhas around 0400 hrs. After a 30-minute halt at Meerpurkhas, the train would arrive at Khokhrapar around 0830 hrs and at 0900 hrs at zero point. After security check, the train from Pakistan would arrive at Munabao around 1200 hrs.
Jodhpur Railway Station has set up a separate ticket counter for Thar Express travellers and sold some tickets in last two days, the sources said.
However, the inaugural function was yet to be finalised as the Railway Ministry working on it, they said.
Bureau Report
