i am a regular traveler on this route !
i have not seen more than 5 passengers boarding or deboarding the train from PNP. sometimes.. this 5-6 mark is even not touched during weekend ! i usually come out and stand on the gate to check the level of patronage of shatabdis from various stations ! it is more convenient to travel by car between Delhi and Panipat as journey is short ! and there is not much difference between journey time between shatabdi and car for that reason !