M A I N   N E W S

16 new trains to chug into northern states this fiscal
Aarti Kapur/TNS

Chandigarh, June 28
The stage is set to connect the region with the rest of the country as the railways starts 16 new trains by the end of this financial year. The railway authorities today issued a fresh schedule for the new trains but did not give any dates for the plying of these trains.

Nine new trains will connect various cities of Punjab with Mumbai, Jammu, New Delhi and Rajasthan.

Besides, seven new trains will connect Chandigarh with Punjab, Uttarakhand, Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Karnataka and Goa.

The schedule for trains extended from Punjab to Guwahati, Uttarakhand and Jammu and Kashmir has also been finalised. Further, trains from Goa and Bangalore have been extended up to Chandigarh for better connectivity.

The authorities have also released the timetable for the extension of trains to various destinations announced by former Railway Minister Pawan Kumar Bansal during the last Union Railway Budget.

Ambala Division railway manager PK Sanghi said they had received the schedule for new trains, extension of trains, change in timing and increase in frequency, but the final date for commencing of the trains was yet to be finalised by the board.

A senior board official said the date would be decided only after evaluating the availability of coaches and engines with the department.