India run Thar Express has its last trip on Saturday

Jaipur, Aug 12(UNI) The last trip of the India-run Thar Express crossed the international border yesterday afternoon.

For the next six months Pakistan will run the train in accordance with the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the two countries.

The peace train with 554 passengers on board left from Bhagat Ki Kothi Railway station in Jodhpur at 0555 hrs yesterday about five hours behind shedule.

A large number of passengers and luggage delayed the departure of the train, a railway source said.

Pakistan Railways would conduct the Thar Express from August 19 till February. ''From August 19 Pakistani train would come up to Munabao in India for the next six months,'' said Divisional railway manager S K Sood.

The Thar Express chugs between Jodhpur and Karachi once in a week on every Friday night from either side. Munabao in Barmer and Khokrapar Zero line in Sindh province of Pakistan are transit stations for the passengers.

According to the agreement between the two railways, Pakistani train comes upto Munabao for six months and Indian Railway runs a Link Express for carrying the passengers up to Jodhpur for the next six months. The Indian train goes upto Khokrapar Zero Line to drop the passengers from India and comes back with passengers visiting India. Pakistan's Link Express carries passengers upto Karachi.

This second rail link between the two countires was resumed in February last year after a gap of four decades.

UNI