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DR. MANMOHAN SINGH FLAGS OFF FIRST TRAIN SERVICE I 11/10/2008

Hon’ble Prime Minister of India, Dr. Manmohan Singh today dedicated the Newly
Constructed Anantnag-Srinagar-Rajwansher, the 66 km. long railway line to the
nation today.

The first train service in Kashmir Valley was flagged off from Srinagar station
by Hon’ble Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh in the august presence of His
Excellency Sh. N.N. Vohra, Hon’ble Governor of Jammu & Kashmir, Smt. Sonia
Gandhi, Hon’ble Chairperson, UPA, Sh. Lalu Prasad, Hon’ble Minister for
Railways, Prof. Saif-Ud-din Soz, Hon’ble Minister for Water Resources, Sh.
Naranbhai J. Rathwa , Hon’ble Minister of State for Railways, Dr. R. Velu,
Hon’ble Minister of State for Railways at a simple ceremony at Srinagar this
morning.

This train with special feature comprising Diesel Electrical Multiple Unit
(DEMU) coaches have designed to run on this railway line by Integral Coach
Factory Chennai. The DEMU train will be hauled by 1400 horse power (HP) Diesel
Power Car (DPC) engine. This DEMU has been provided with heating system for
quick and trouble free starting in winters. The nose cone driver’s cab is also
provided with cab heating and defogging unit to take care of the cold climatic
conditions of the valley, along with a single lookout glass to give wider view.
Snow cutting type cattle guard is provided at the driving end of Diesel Powered
Car for clearing snow from tracks during winter. This railway line will
strengthen the available transport facilities in the Kashmir Valley and will
also boost the development and prosperity of the economy.

The stations that lie in the Rajwansher-Anantnag section are: Badgam, Srinagar
Pampore, Kakapore, Awantipura, Panjgam and Bijbehra. The 2 AR
Rajwansher-Anantnag DEMU will depart from Rajwansher at 7.10 a.m. to arrive at
Anantnag at 8.45 a.m. on the same day. Similarly, 4 AR Rajwansher-Anantnag DEMU
will depart from Rajwansher at 2.25 p.m. to arrive at Anantnag at 4.00 p.m.. on
the same day. In the return direction, the 1 AR Anantnag- Rajwansher DEMU train
will depart from Anantnag at 9.05 a.m. to arrive at Rajwansher at 10.40 a.m. on
the same day. While the 3 AR train will depart from from Anantnag at 4.15 p.m.
to arrive at Rajwansher at 5.50 p.m. on the same day. The 1AR /2AR and 3AR/4AR
trains will stop at all the stations enroute. The regular service of the train
will start from 12.10.2008.

Sh. Shri Prakash, Member Traffic Railway Board &General Manager, Northern
Railway, Shri S.K.Vij Member Engineering, Railway Board along with other Railway
officials were also present on the occasion.