State Minister for Railways Ishaq Khan Khawani has said his organisation will look seriously into the possibilities of starting shuttle bus service between the Federal capital and Rawalpindi station for the benefit of rail travellers. Talking to newsmen here on Tuesday, Khakwani said if the number of seat reservations from the Federal capital was high enough to justify a shuttle bus service, then the Pakistan Railway would go-ahead with it.
In the meantime, the residents of Islamabad have urged the Railways authorities to initiate shuttle bus service between the Federal capital and Rawalpindi station for the convenience of rail commuters.
A number of persons, while talking to newsmen, noted the absence of such a service between the twin cities.
Muhammad Yousaf, a private sector employee who often travels between Lahore and Rawalpindi, appreciated the decision of Railways to start a fast non-stop train between the two cities.
While noting the reduction of journey to slightly over three hours between the two cities, he said those without their own transport, faced difficulty in reaching Rawalpindi station from Islamabad in the absence of a direct bus service.
He was of the view that the Railways could emulate the example of Daewoo bus service, which operated shuttle service between its F-B office and the main terminal in Rawalpindi on hourly basis by charging Rs 10 per passenger.
Yousaf said a large number of passengers from Islamabad, who got reserved their seats on Rawalpindi-Lahore non-stop train, would benefit if a shuttle bus service was started from the railway reservation office in Melody Market to the railway station.