TAXILA: The locomotive of Quetta-bound passenger train coming from Peshawar derailed near Margalla tunnel near Taxila, causing suspension of railway traffic on Rawalpindi-Peshawar section on Thursday.

No casualties were reported in the accident. According to the railway authorities, the 40 down Quetta-bound Jaffar Express, coming from Peshawar, derailed due to “technical” reasons, disrupting rail traffic and halting trains on both up and down main lines.

According to railway officials, the track was cleared for train traffic after a substitute locomotive came to rescue from Rawalpindi and tow the coaches, allowing normal operations to resume.

The railway confirmed that the schedules of many trains had been disturbed due to the accident, they added. “Senior Railways officials are investigating the incident”, railway sources said.

Soon after the incident, local police, railway police and senior officials of the Railway maintenance department quickly arrived at the scene to investigate the incident and initiate rehabilitation work.

Due to the incident, Karachi-bound Awam Express and Havlian-bound Hazara Express, besides other upcoming and downcoming train schedules, were affected. It is worth mentioning that the 14 down Karachi-bound Awam Express coming from Peshawar train derailed due to “technical” reasons at almost the same location on March 14.

This incident adds to a growing list of train derailments in Pakistan, often attributed to technical faults and infrastructure deterioration. Railway authorities highlighted the urgent need for repairs and called for a comprehensive survey of tracks nationwide to enhance passenger safety and prevent further accidents.

Published in Dawn, June 13th, 2025