Srinagar: After remaining suspended for almost 11 months, the local train service in Kashmir, which runs from Baramulla to Banihal, resumed on Monday.
“A trial run of 137 km was carried out on Sunday between Baramulla and Banihal,” an official at Northern Railways said.
The service was suspended on March 19, 2020, in view of the spread of a novel coronavirus pandemic.
The resumption of train services have brought joy and relief to the people of the valley as it makes travel easy and affordable for them. “During these times when the petrol price is touching the sky, the resumption of the train is a great initiative by the authorities. Travelling by trains is always easy and economical as it brought down my travel expenses from Rs. 150 to just Rs. 30,” says Farooq Ahmad, a passenger.
“For now there will be only two trips which will begin at 9:10 am from Baramulla and at 11:25 am from Banihal,” said Saqib Yousuf, Srinagar Chief Railway Manager.
