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Srinagar | Friday, Oct 10 2008

The first ever train, equipped with snow cutting type cattle guard, will run in
the Kashmir valley when Prime Minister Manmohan Singh will flag it off from
Nowgam station, about 10 km from here tomorrow.

However, the commercial run of the train, all weather dependable transport
service, will begin from Sunday between Rajwansher in the central Kashmir
district of Budgam to Anantnag in south Kashmir, a distance of 66 kms.

The distance will be covered in 1 hour and 35 minutes each side and a passenger
will have to pay Rs 15, several times less than the rate being charged by other
modes of surface transport.

Because the train is equipped with snow cutters, its run during the winter will
not be affected. In fact it will be more dependable transport service during
winter when major roads get closed due to heavy snowfall.

An official spokesman said regular service of the train will commence from
October 12. There will be 8 coach Demu Rake in the train.

Out of 15 stations, nine stations are ready while work on remaining was going on
a war footing which will help to connect south with north Kashmir.

The train will stop at Budgam, Srinagar, Pampore, Kakapora, Awantipora, Panjgam,
Bijbehara besides Rajwansher and Anantnag stations.

He said the timings of departure and arrival of the train at different stations
have been worked out in a way so that commuters do not face any inconvenience.
Endeavour has been to ensure that people are benefitted by the plying of the
service and alternate facility for transportation is available.

The train will leave Budgam at 0710 hrs and arrive at Anantnag at 0845 hrs. In
the afternoon, the train will depart from Rajwansher at 1425 hrs and reach
Anantnag at 1600 hrs.

From the Anantnag side, it will leave at 0905 hrs in the morning and arrive
Rajwansher at 1040 hrs. In the afternoon, the departure timing from Anantnag
will be 1615 hrs to reach Rajwansher at 1750 hrs.