More than a train

Amid the death and destruction that overtook the Samjhauta Express at Panipat on Sunday night, the images reproduced here seem to belong to a faraway time.

Amid the death and destruction that overtook the Samjhauta Express at Panipat on Sunday night, the images reproduced here seem to belong to a faraway time. But it was only a little over three years ago when the train to Pakistan renewed its journey from Delhi to Lahore on January 14, 2004 and it appeared that the relationship between two countries was being put back on track. It was a season of new beginnings. Earlier, the bus service from Delhi to Lahore had begun on July 11, 2003; Lalu Prasad Yadav regaled Pakistani audiences in August 2003; air services between India and Pakistan were re-established on January 1, 2004; and there seemed to be a breakthrough at the Saarc summit that wound up a few days before the train was flagged off.

But nothing symbolised the subcontinental thaw more than the inaugural run of the train to Pakistan, carrying ordinary men and women, many of them unaware of the political symbolism of their journey, along with their stories of estranged relatives, missed family occasions, and rishtedaari

July 22, 1976

The Samjhauta Express was launched following the Shimla Agreement and ran between Amritsar and Lahore 42 kms for a period of three years, extended from time to time

Following disturbances in Punjab in the late eighties, due to security reasons the Indian Railways decided to terminate the service at Attari, where customs and immigration clearances take place

FEBRUARY 1994

Samjhauta Express changed from a daily train to one that kept a bi-weekly schedule. Passengers could only carry two pieces of luggage. This was because of security considerations for the Indo-Pak cricket series in March

April 15, 2000

Following an agreement between the Indian Railways and Pakistan Railways, the bi-weekly Samjhauta Express earned the rare distinction of becoming a train that covered a distance of just under three kms, possibly the shortest route covered by any train in the world.

According to the agreement, passengers bound for Lahore would travel on board the Attari special train from New Delhi to the border station of Attari.

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After immigration and customs clearance at Attari they would board the Samjhauta Express and leave for Wagah

January 1, 2002

Samjhauta Express between Attari in India and Lahore in Pakistan was terminated following the terrorist attack on Parliament of India on December 13, 2001

December 23, 2003

Talks began for the resumption of the Samjhauta Express: The focus was on the safety and security of passengers in view of the persisting militancy. The concerns of contraband smuggling were addressed, as well as those of timetable and the fare structure

January 15, 2004

Services resumed. The Samjhauta Express would have one second class sleeper, several general second class and two luggage van coaches. The Attari special would have four second class sleepers, 10 general second class and two brake van coaches

February 19, 2007

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Blast near Panipat on the Samjhauta Express. The passengers were on their way from Delhi to Lahore