Newly launched train leaves for Keshgarh Sahib

Neeraj Bagga

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Tribune News Service

Amritsar, March 24

Amidst raising of religious slogans of “Sat Sri Akal” by the passengers, the newly-launched Nangal-Amritsar train, connecting Takht Sri Keshgarh Sahib in Anandpur Sahib to Sri Akal Takht Sahib, Amritsar, chugged off from the local railway station here this morning.

The passengers were upbeat at the launch of this train which will link the two holy shrines of the Sikhs. They felt that it will save their time as well as money as compared to the road route.

A passenger, Darshan Singh, said it was a long-standing demand of the Sikh community to have rail connectivity between two highest temporal seats of the Sikhs.

It was only an inaugural run today and it will be a regular feature from the Baisakhi festival from next month. Earlier, its inaugural run was received warmly when it arrived at the local railway station at about 11:30 pm last night.

There were 10 coaches in the train. These include six general coaches, two luggage-cum-guard vans and an AC three-tier and an AC chair car coach. There is about 760-seating capacity in the train.

It comprises a coach of air-conditioned chair car and three-tier (AC) each along with the general class facility. The halts of the train are yet to be decided, though tentatively it will stop at Ananadpur Sahib, Kurali, Samrala, Ludhiana and Jalandhar.

The daily train will start from Nangal in the morning to reach Amritsar within six hours and return the same day, it has been learnt.

The train was being introduced to mark the 350th foundation anniversary of Anandpur Sahib. Divine Gurbani would be played in all coaches of the new train.

Meanwhile, it is learnt that efforts are being made by Akali leaders from the Anandpur Sahib region to get its stoppages at Kiratpur Sahib, Ropar and new Morinda also.

Once regular, then the train would start from Nangal and reach Amritsar at 11.30 am. On the same day, the train will reach Nangal at 9.30 pm.

The train is expected to give impetus to religious tourism and also give a thrust to economic ties in the region.

A passenger, Gurbaksh Singh, said the bus fare between Amritsar and Anandpur Sahib is Rs 170 but the train journey in the general coach would cost Rs 95. Similarly, fares of other categories are: three-tier is to cost Rs 485 and Chair Car Rs 400 per passenger.

People visiting Amritsar to pay obeisance at Harmandar Sahib will be able to visit Anandpur Sahib too, boosting religious tourism. Besides, it will provide easy access to the business community of the district to the business centres, he remarked.