samjautha express a friendly train between two nations

The Samjhauta Express commonly called the 'Friendship Express', is a bi-weekly train that runs from the Indian capital New Delhi to Attari, on the border and then on to Lahore in Pakistan. The word 'Samjhauta' means, 'Accord' in both Hindi and Urdu (the national languages of India and Pakistan respectively).

It is the oldest train link between India and Pakistan since partition in 1947. The train service was first launched on 22 July 1976 and initially ran between Amritsar (India) and Lahore (Pakistan). It was a daily train when the service starts and changed to a bi-weekly schedule in 1994.

In the 31 years of its history, the bi-weekly train was discontinued only twice since it began operating from July 1976. India and Pakistan take six-month turns to run the service. The train derived its name from the historic Shimla Agreement between the two nations signed in 1972 between the then Prime Ministers Indira Gandhi and Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto of Pakistan. 

Termed as the 'Peace Train', it has been catering to the needs of common people in either country, who were separated by the partition. The train has been the vehicle of emotional reunion for millions of people with relatives living across the border. The Samjhauta Express or the Attari Express leaves Old Delhi railway station and then travels to Attari, where the Attari Express changes formally into the Samjhauta Express. After the customs and immigration clearances at Attari, the passengers start their journey to Lahore in Pakistan through the Wagah border. 

Wagah is the only Indo-Pak road crossing between Amritsar, India and Lahore, Pakistan.