Around the same period, in 1889, the Great Indian Peninsular Railway (GIPR) introduced its own Punjab Mail, running from Mumbai Victoria Terminus (now Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus) to Lahore Junction via Peshawar.

Intriguingly, both trains shared identical numbering (05 UP / 06 DN), a reflection of the independent operations of various railway companies under the British Raj.

Meanwhile, the Howrah - Amritsar Punjab Mail was renumbered as 3005 UP / 3006 DN, retaining aspects of its original numbering.

In its return journey, the 13006 Amritsar - Howrah Mail covers the same distance at an average speed of 52 km / hr within 37 hrs 05 min.

The train carries the modern Link Hoffman Bush (LHB) coaches.