Islamabad: Restart of train service at Margalla Railway Station hailed

[Naveed Yaseen]

Residents of the federal capital have hailed the government decision to restart Margalla Express and reopen Margalla Railway Station to facilitate them in extending reliable and comfortable travelling services.

Muhammad Ali, a student of National University of Modern Languages (NUML), said it is easier for him to reach Margalla Railway Station, adding that it would be very convenient for the students of three universities including NUML, International Islamic University and Iqra University in addition to the surrounding industrial zone.

Imran Ali, another passenger boarding for Lahore, said the government should not run the Margalla Express on a trial basis but urged that this facility should be continued. He said in the beginning, the department may suffer loss but soon after, it would start earning profit because passengers from the federal capital are taking more interest in this facility.

The business community here has also appreciated the government decision and expressed the hope that this would help accelerate their business activities in the capital.

On the other hand, the officials of Pakistan Railways are hopeful of the success of the train service, as it would be very convenient for universities students and other people of the federal capital.

Talking to APP, Station Master Muhammad Ramzan said the purpose of reopening the station is to facilitate the passengers of the capital. “On the first two days, there were no passengers to travel in the Margalla Express but now with the passage of time, the number of travellers is increasing by the day,” he said.

Muhammad Ramzan said the passengers are also looking happy on the reopening of Margalla Railway Station and are taking interest in it, adding that many passengers travel on weekends and sometimes they do not have a seat but they accommodate them. “Margalla Express will be initially run on a trial basis for three months and after that, the authorities have to decide whether it will be run on a permanent basis or otherwise,” he said and added that after three months, the authorities would look into the earnings and interest of the passengers and then decide about continuing the facility on a permanent basis.

He added that the Islamabad Transport Authority has also revised the routes of three wagons to stop at the newly reopened Margalla Railway Station. “The revision of the routes is aimed at facilitating the passengers of the federal capital as well as its adjourning areas”, Muhammad Ramzan said.

Furthermore, the facility of rent-a-car at Margalla Railway Station would also be arranged for the facilitation of the passengers. “Many other steps for the upgradation and improvement of Margalla Railway Station in terms of every possible facility for the passengers are being taken,” he said.

It is pertinent to mention here that Margalla Railway Station was established some 30 years ago and at that time, the number of passengers was very less, so the railway service was suspended. But now the city has become a hub of activities and it requires a railway service due to the expansion of business activities in the capital, he said.

The Margalla Railway Station, covering an area of 13.5 acres, was established on November 21, 1979. Due to the non-availability of passengers and small income generation, the railway station was closed down for a short period but in 1988, the service of freight trains had restored.

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