India-bound Samjhauta Express engine catches fire

The engine of the Samjhauta Express, which was headed for India, caught fire in Pakistan's Lahore district Monday, police said. There were no casualties.

According to Railway police official Javed Anwar, the incident occurred near Mughalpura station.

Fire brigade personnel detached the engine from the Samjhauta Express, reported Geo News said.

The 312 passengers on board the train were safe and a substitute engine has been sent, Anwar said.

The Samjhauta Express (Attari Express) is a bi-weekly train that runs Wednesdays and Sundays - between Delhi and Attari in India and Lahore in Pakistan.

Pakistan Railways is in a bad shape, but things may well improve, according to officials.
The beleaguered Pakistan Railways may be finally on the road to revival as the government has approved various projects at a whopping cost of Rs.287 billion ($3 billion).

The railway has been in dire straits for several years now. Only 76 locomotives out of 520 are in operation for want of repair.

The number of passenger trains today is around 65-70 from the official 204. Freight services have virtually shut down.