JAIPUR: Series of measures were taken in the wake of last week's blasts in the Samjhauta Express, to ensure security in the Thar Express that left Jodhpur station early on Saturday. The train, linking Munabao in Rajasthan's Barmer district to Khokhrapar in Pakistan's Sindh province, on its second trip after the resumption of service after a gap of six months last week, carried more passengers than last time.

However, the security drill, especially those involved in luggage checking, looked more like at the airports, with the North Western Railway authorities introducing luggage tag to every baggage and a ban on the entry of those who came to see off passengers at the platform. The three-tier security system required passengers to declare their luggage before buying the ticket.

The security ensured that the Railway staff and the police checked the passengers for tickets and tagged luggage before allowing them to proceed on to the platform. Before letting them inside the coaches the security staff and the Custom authorities checked their visa and passport. The dog squad did the final security check before the train's departure.

"We barricaded the area. The train was brought to the platform only less than an hour before its departure at 1 a. m. unlike in the past when it used to be stationed hours before. We also decided to discontinue issuing tickets to the two unreserved bogies in the Thar Express," S.B. Gandhi, Chief Public Relations Officer, North Western Railway, said here on Saturday.

The train, with a capacity of 500, has seven bogies of which two are unreserved. After an agreement last year, India and Pakistan decided to limit the number of passengers from each side in a trip to 400. "The empty unreserved coaches will remain attached to the train for safety reasons. These bogies are next to the engine as well," Mr. Gandhi said. However, the tightened security and cumbersome checking procedures did not deter the passengers, who numbered 195 against 71 on last Saturday, from boarding the Friendship Train. The number of passengers from Pakistan is even more encouraging as 310 persons arrived this time.

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