The administration of Khyber Agency begun an initial assessment of the railway track in the tribal area today, after almost ten years, to put the British era locomotives back on track, officials said.

The Khyber Steam Safari, a tourist train which ran from Peshawar to Landikotal was shut down because of security concerns in 2007.

Khalid Mahmood, the political agent of Khyber Agency told The Express Tribune that after an initial meeting with the railway lines department a survey was initiated to check the quality of the railway track. ?It might not be possible to run the train from Peshawar to Landikotal on immediate basis? Mahmood said, ?but Peshawar to Shagai was definitely a possibility because the railway track is still intact and requires minimum maintenance? he added.

The cost to put the colonial era steam engines back on track will be around Rs200 million, said the officials. The vintage engines include steam locomotives HGS-2-8 OS manufactured by the Vulcan Foundry and Kitson and Co in Preston, United Kingdom.

A proposal was forwarded by the Sports, Culture, Tourism, Youth Affairs/Archaeology & Museums department, last year but did not materialise because of bureaucratic hurdles and the differences between the Federal and Provincial governments, officials privy to the developments maintained.