Train connections re-opens India-Pakistan

vistet · Dec 20th, 2003, 23:47

The Hindu reports that trains will start running between Attari and Lahore from January 15th.

Colin · Dec 21st, 2003, 02:01

Where is Attari? Somewhere close to Delhi or is it nearer to the border?

steven_ber · Dec 21st, 2003, 02:27

Atari is on the Indian side of the border between Amritsar and Lahore.

Not sure if the train timetable will be the same as it used to be, but here is the old timetable.

Train 4607 departs Amritsar at 07:00 (Mondays and Thursdays only), gets to Atari at 07:40, then after all the passport checks, departs Atari at 11:30, then gets to Lahore at 16:15.

Train 4608 departs Lahore at 08:00 (Tuesdays and Fridays only), gets to Atari at 12:30, departs Atari at 14:20 and gets to Amritsar at 15:00.

This train used to only have second class unreserved (non air-con).

I will edit this post if I hear of a changed timetable.

Colin · Dec 21st, 2003, 02:49

Thanks Steven, now all we want is 'Visa on Arrival' at Attari!
Has anyone applied for a Pakistani visa in Delhi lately? I heard last year it was getting difficult and expensive but with the new chumminess it might be easier now.
I was last in Pakistan in 1966, really liked it then (actually preferred it to India, wash your mouth out!) and would love to go back, the North sounds fascinating and I would love the opportunity to go back to Iran via Quetta, last time I went via Afghanistan but I would be a bit leery about that part of Asia right now!

vistet · Dec 21st, 2003, 06:20

Thanx, Steven - I had no idea where Attari was , either.

steven_ber · Jan 15th, 2004, 15:46

Just saw a report on the news that the train has started again.

It showed the train arriving at Attari, I noticed the carriage it showed was a Sleeper Class carriage.

steven_ber · Jan 15th, 2004, 23:45

Mystery solved...

The train showed on the TV was in fact an overnight connecting train from Delhi and not the train that was to cross the border, I should have known better than to beleive the BBC.

I read more details in a newspaper this morning and it seems the times (and days) of operation have changed, I may be wrong though, I'm just going from memory.

I will post the new information I have later. (not at home at the moment).

steven_ber · Feb 17th, 2004, 14:31

Information about this train is very hard to come by, nothing at all on the Indian Railways website.

Train 4001 departs (old) Delhi at 21:00 and gets to Atari at 04:40; this train runs on Wednesdays and Sundays only.

Train ???? almost certainly 4002 departs Atari at 22:05 and gets to Old Delhi train station at 03:35.

Sleeper class = Rs 209
Cattle Class (II) = Rs 129

The prices above are approximate only, (though should be within a few Rs of correct fare), I cant be sure of the route the train takes, or if the train has any other classes of accommodation.

I have no details at all about the Samjhauta Express; this is the train that runs between Amritsar, Atari and Lahore.

Not sure if it still starts at Amritsar (though I would guess that it does).

The train from Delhi is called either Atari link express or Samjhauta link express, I remember that from a newspaper article at the time, so it should link up with the train to Lahore, though don't be surprised if the connections are a good few hours apart.

The times for the Samjhauta Express in post 3 above, may still be correct, but will also give an indication of the time it takes to get from Atari to Lahore, the train to Lahore should only have second class un-reserved and cost less than Rs50.

Sorry I can’t be more helpful, this is the only info I could find.

Andreas · Feb 17th, 2004, 18:54

Have been trying to find info on these services, but seems to be very impossible. As you Steven I visited the Indian Railways' website without any luck. No info on train 4001 or 4002.

As long as you get to Amritsar which apparently seems to be rather easy, there should be no problems crossing the Pakistanian border and then continue to Lahore either by train or bus. Will see if I can find any other info.

Apparently there is also a bus service between New Delhi and Lahore.

Andreas

SHIMLA · Feb 18th, 2004, 00:29

Reproducing below a news item dated Dec.30,2003, from Northern Railway's website :

" New Delhi.

Dated 30-12-2003.

DELHI –ATTARI BI-WEEKLY SPECIAL TRAIN WILL RUN FROM 14.1.2004 AND ATTARI-LAHORE SAMJHOTA EXPRESS FROM 15-1-2004

Ministry of Railways has decided to restore the Delhi-Attari bi-weekly special train no. 4001/4002 to run from 14.1.2004 and the Attari-Lahore Samjhota Express Train No.4607/4608 from 15-1-2004 as per the following programme:-

The special train no. 4001 (Delhi-Attari) will depart from Delhi Jn. on every Wednesday and Sunday at 9.00 p.m. to reach Attari at 4.40 a.m. the next day of its departure. In return direction the special train no. 4002 will run from Attari station from 15.1.2004 on every Thursday and Monday at 8.05 p.m. to reach Delhi Jn. at 3.35 a.m. the next day of its departure.

The 4607Attari-Lahore Samjhota Express will depart from Attari at 1.30 p.m. on every Thursday and Monday from 15-1-2004. In the return direction the 4608 Lahore-Attari Samjhota Express will depart from Lahore at 8.00 a.m. on every Thursday and Monday from 15-1-2004 to and reach Attari at 12.30 p.m.

The Attari special Express train will have four second sleeper class , ten general second class and two brake vans coaches and the Samjhota Express will have one second sleeper, seven general second class and two luggage van coaches. "

Andreas · Feb 18th, 2004, 01:42

What would Delhi Jn stand for?

Thank you for the info given on this! I truly appreciate it and I'm certain many others do as well!

Andreas

concoran · Feb 18th, 2004, 02:12

Jn -> Junction

Andreas · Feb 18th, 2004, 02:59

Is the Delhi Junction easy to find?

Did a search on it and apparently there is a restaurant by that name too built in an old train station. Is this the one?

steven_ber · Feb 18th, 2004, 06:54

Delhi Jn refers to Old Delhi station, listed in 'Trains at a Glance' and the Indian railways website as just 'Delhi', though known locally (I think) as 'Delhi Main’, though Delhi Cantt is, of course a totally different station, as is New Delhi, easy really.

Andreas · Feb 18th, 2004, 09:37

Allright, thank you for telling me Steven! Otherwise I might have ended up at the restaurant instead.

Dec 20th, 2003, 23:47	#1
vistet Maha Guru Member Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Umeå , Sweden Posts: 2,261	Train connections re-opens India-Pakistan The Hindu reports that trains will start running between Attari and Lahore from January 15th.

Dec 21st, 2003, 02:27	#3
steven_ber Member Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: South of England. Posts: 11,569	Atari is on the Indian side of the border between Amritsar and Lahore. Not sure if the train timetable will be the same as it used to be, but here is the old timetable. Train 4607 departs Amritsar at 07:00 (Mondays and Thursdays only), gets to Atari at 07:40, then after all the passport checks, departs Atari at 11:30, then gets to Lahore at 16:15. Train 4608 departs Lahore at 08:00 (Tuesdays and Fridays only), gets to Atari at 12:30, departs Atari at 14:20 and gets to Amritsar at 15:00. This train used to only have second class unreserved (non air-con). I will edit this post if I hear of a changed timetable. Attached Thumbnails

Jan 15th, 2004, 15:46	#6
steven_ber Member Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: South of England. Posts: 11,569	Just saw a report on the news that the train has started again. It showed the train arriving at Attari, I noticed the carriage it showed was a Sleeper Class carriage. __________________ . How to get helpful replies to your transport/Itinerary questions. Train information. RAC & Waitlists explained.

Feb 18th, 2004, 00:29	#10
SHIMLA Member Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Yangon, MYANMAR Posts: 4,126	NORTHERN RAILWAY Reproducing below a news item dated Dec.30,2003, from Northern Railway's website : " New Delhi. Dated 30-12-2003. DELHI –ATTARI BI-WEEKLY SPECIAL TRAIN WILL RUN FROM 14.1.2004 AND ATTARI-LAHORE SAMJHOTA EXPRESS FROM 15-1-2004 Ministry of Railways has decided to restore the Delhi-Attari bi-weekly special train no. 4001/4002 to run from 14.1.2004 and the Attari-Lahore Samjhota Express Train No.4607/4608 from 15-1-2004 as per the following programme:- The special train no. 4001 (Delhi-Attari) will depart from Delhi Jn. on every Wednesday and Sunday at 9.00 p.m. to reach Attari at 4.40 a.m. the next day of its departure. In return direction the special train no. 4002 will run from Attari station from 15.1.2004 on every Thursday and Monday at 8.05 p.m. to reach Delhi Jn. at 3.35 a.m. the next day of its departure. The 4607Attari-Lahore Samjhota Express will depart from Attari at 1.30 p.m. on every Thursday and Monday from 15-1-2004. In the return direction the 4608 Lahore-Attari Samjhota Express will depart from Lahore at 8.00 a.m. on every Thursday and Monday from 15-1-2004 to and reach Attari at 12.30 p.m. The Attari special Express train will have four second sleeper class , ten general second class and two brake vans coaches and the Samjhota Express will have one second sleeper, seven general second class and two luggage van coaches. " __________________ Whoever said money can't buy happiness didn't know where to shop !

Feb 18th, 2004, 06:54	#14
steven_ber Member Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: South of England. Posts: 11,569	Delhi Jn refers to Old Delhi station, listed in 'Trains at a Glance' and the Indian railways website as just 'Delhi', though known locally (I think) as 'Delhi Main’, though Delhi Cantt is, of course a totally different station, as is New Delhi, easy really. Attached Thumbnails

Dec 21st, 2003, 02:01	#2
Colin Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: Pai, Mae Hong Son, Thailand Posts: 208	Where is Attari? Somewhere close to Delhi or is it nearer to the border?

Dec 21st, 2003, 02:49	#4
Colin Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: Pai, Mae Hong Son, Thailand Posts: 208	Thanks Steven, now all we want is 'Visa on Arrival' at Attari! Has anyone applied for a Pakistani visa in Delhi lately? I heard last year it was getting difficult and expensive but with the new chumminess it might be easier now. I was last in Pakistan in 1966, really liked it then (actually preferred it to India, wash your mouth out!) and would love to go back, the North sounds fascinating and I would love the opportunity to go back to Iran via Quetta, last time I went via Afghanistan but I would be a bit leery about that part of Asia right now!

Dec 21st, 2003, 06:20	#5
vistet Maha Guru Member Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Umeå , Sweden Posts: 2,261	Thanx, Steven - I had no idea where Attari was , either.

Jan 15th, 2004, 23:45	#7
steven_ber Member Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: South of England. Posts: 11,569	Mystery solved... The train showed on the TV was in fact an overnight connecting train from Delhi and not the train that was to cross the border, I should have known better than to beleive the BBC. I read more details in a newspaper this morning and it seems the times (and days) of operation have changed, I may be wrong though, I'm just going from memory. I will post the new information I have later. (not at home at the moment).

Feb 17th, 2004, 14:31	#8
steven_ber Member Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: South of England. Posts: 11,569	Information about this train is very hard to come by, nothing at all on the Indian Railways website. Train 4001 departs (old) Delhi at 21:00 and gets to Atari at 04:40; this train runs on Wednesdays and Sundays only. Train ???? almost certainly 4002 departs Atari at 22:05 and gets to Old Delhi train station at 03:35. Sleeper class = Rs 209 Cattle Class (II) = Rs 129 The prices above are approximate only, (though should be within a few Rs of correct fare), I cant be sure of the route the train takes, or if the train has any other classes of accommodation. I have no details at all about the Samjhauta Express; this is the train that runs between Amritsar, Atari and Lahore. Not sure if it still starts at Amritsar (though I would guess that it does). The train from Delhi is called either Atari link express or Samjhauta link express, I remember that from a newspaper article at the time, so it should link up with the train to Lahore, though don't be surprised if the connections are a good few hours apart. The times for the Samjhauta Express in post 3 above, may still be correct, but will also give an indication of the time it takes to get from Atari to Lahore, the train to Lahore should only have second class un-reserved and cost less than Rs50. Sorry I can’t be more helpful, this is the only info I could find.

Feb 17th, 2004, 18:54	#9
Andreas ¿Bailamos? Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Suecia Posts: 123	Have been trying to find info on these services, but seems to be very impossible. As you Steven I visited the Indian Railways' website without any luck. No info on train 4001 or 4002. As long as you get to Amritsar which apparently seems to be rather easy, there should be no problems crossing the Pakistanian border and then continue to Lahore either by train or bus. Will see if I can find any other info. Apparently there is also a bus service between New Delhi and Lahore. Andreas

Feb 18th, 2004, 01:42	#11
Andreas ¿Bailamos? Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Suecia Posts: 123	What would Delhi Jn stand for? Thank you for the info given on this! I truly appreciate it and I'm certain many others do as well! Andreas

Feb 18th, 2004, 02:12	#12
concoran Explorer Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Desert Southwest Posts: 319	Jn -> Junction

Feb 18th, 2004, 02:59	#13
Andreas ¿Bailamos? Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Suecia Posts: 123	Is the Delhi Junction easy to find? Did a search on it and apparently there is a restaurant by that name too built in an old train station. Is this the one?

Feb 18th, 2004, 09:37	#15
Andreas ¿Bailamos? Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Suecia Posts: 123	Allright, thank you for telling me Steven! Otherwise I might have ended up at the restaurant instead.

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