LAHORE: The Pakistan Railways (PR) is making arrangements to launch a high-speed express passenger train from Lahore to Karachi, like the Green-Line Express train that runs between Islamabad-Karachi via Lahore, Dawn has learnt.

“Currently, the respective departments’ teams are engaged in making arrangements to launch a state-of-the-art train from Lahore to Karachi. We hope to launch the train on the pattern of Green-Line Express, by end of January, next year,” the PR’s Chief Executive Officer Amir Ali Baloch told Dawn on Friday.

When asked about any plans for running a similar train between Lahore and Quetta, keeping in view the number of passengers, Mr Baloch said it could also be done in future, subject to demand and fulfillment of various operational arrangements etc.

The CEO further revealed that two existing express trains are also being upgraded to high-service category. “For this, we have chosen Karakoram and Business Express trains. And within a short span of time, you will see upgraded version of these trains,” he said.

The Green-Line Express was launched by the PR in 2015 after the then premier inaugurated the train at Islamabad’s Margalla Railway Station. The train takes 20 hours or so to reach Karachi Cantonment station from Islamabad via Rawalpindi, Lahore, Khanewal, Bahawalpur, Sukkar/ Rohri, Hyderabad and Drigh Road.

The train has all classes including AC, AC parlour and Economy Class besides a modern dining car equipped with various high-class services.

The PR chief said the department is progressing fast in terms of earning revenue and providing services to passengers.

“All of our trains run with 90pc advance booking, earning 10pc more revenue than the calculated amount. In recent days, our Rawalpindi-bound trains passing through or originating from Lahore earned 10 to 15pc more revenue due to increase in the number of passengers because of closure of road transport due to PTI protests,” he explained. “During this [PTI agitation] period, the PR has earned Rs40m to Rs50 million revenue,” Mr Baloch said.

According to him, during the first five months of the ongoing fiscal year the PR has earned Rs33 billion from passenger and freight trains. The revenue earned through land lease and other income streams is being calculated, he added.

To a question, he said the work on the ML-1 project would be launched next year by all means.

It is pertinent to mention that the the PR’s last fiscal year’s target was Rs79 billion, but it earned Rs88 billion, that led to setting the ongoing year’s target at Rs109bn.

“Besides the routine train operation, we earn a huge revenue before and after Eidul Fitr and Eidul Azha. Likewise, we also earn a considerable revenue during winter vacations. Therefore, we hope to achieve Rs109bn target by the end of June 2025,” a source in the PR explained.

Published in Dawn, November 30th, 2024