TAXILA: Repeated engine failures on the remote and hilly Attock–Mari Indus railway route have left passengers in distress, exposing the deteriorating condition of locomotives deployed on this vital line.

On Friday evening, the Attock Railcar 202 Down broke down near Chhab Railway Station around 6pm, forcing passengers to wait nearly three hours until a relief engine finally arrived at 9pm.

The Thal Express later pulled the stranded railcar to Chhab. Families, women, and children were left without food or drinking water in the desolate, mountainous belt of tehsil Jand, where stations are far apart and basic facilities are absent.

This is the third breakdown in just one month. The hilly track between Attock and Mari Indus is already risky, and when the train stalls in deserted areas, it creates panic,” said Shahid Khattak, a passenger travelling with his family.

Third engine breakdown in a month exposes the deteriorating condition of locomotives deployed on vital line

Another traveller, Qasim Khan, a schoolteacher from Injra, said, “We had women with small children waiting for hours in darkness. No water, no washroom, nothing. Railways should stop putting defective engines on this route.”

A female passenger, Nayab Gull, said passengers also complained of insufficient capacity, noting that only a handful of bogies are attached to the train despite overwhelming demand.

A frustrated commuter, Amir Ali, said, “In the world, governments provide safe and cheap transportation to the people through trains, but the two or three government institutions that were left in our country were systematically destroyed.”

“On weekends, many passengers are left behind even after buying tickets. Women have to travel standing for hours. Those who cannot board are forced to hire expensive private transport,” said a group of commuters at Attock and Jand stations.

Muhammad Shafique, a local journalist, told this reporter that the Attock–Mari Indus line holds strategic importance as it connects rural Punjab with major urban centres, serving as the only affordable travel option for thousands of commuters, students, and small traders. Neglect of this route disproportionately affects remote communities that have little or no access to alternative transport.

When approached for comment, a senior Pakistan Railways official acknowledged the difficulties but defended the department’s efforts. “The hilly terrain of this section poses technical challenges, and we are facing a shortage of high-powered engines. However, relief engines are always dispatched immediately, and passengers are never abandoned. The department is actively reviewing engine allocations and exploring the addition of extra coaches to accommodate rising demand,” the official stated.

Published in Dawn, August 17th, 2025