Eidul Azha special: Pakistan railways announces three special trains

LAHORE: Pakistan railways announced plans to operate three special trains for Eidul Azha on Thursday.

The first special train will run between Karachi and Lahore, while the second will travel from Karachi to Peshawar via Faisalabad. The third special train is scheduled from Quetta to Rawalpindi via Lahore.

The Pakistan railways has begun preparing for the special Eidul Azha trains, with the schedule set to be announced soon.

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The Pakistan railways is headquartered in Lahore and manages over 7,800 kilometers (km) of operational track across Pakistan. It serves both freight and passengers through 488 operational stations.

The Ministry of Railways launched the Pakistan Railways Vision 2026 in 2014. The vision aims to increase its share in Pakistan’s transportation sector from 4 per cent to 20 per cent. The initiative will utilise the improvements made to the British-era railways due to the China–Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).

The 2026 vision involves building new locomotives, improving rail infrastructure, increasing average train speed, punctuality and expanding passenger services.

Besides the 2026 vision, other ongoing projects include the ambitious ML-1 railway line that will upgrade the Karachi–Peshawar line. The line goes from Karachi to Peshawar and covers a distance of 1,872 km.

The aim is to make the railway line better and safer. The railway ministry plans to put in a new system to control the trains and make sure they run safely.

Pakistan railways is also a member of the International Union of Railways. It has carried 70 million passengers in the 2018-2019 financial year alone.

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Despite its historical significance and potential, Pakistan railways, like many other public entities, is marred by challenges in terms of maintenance and modernisation.