LAHORE: As the foggy conditions continue to disrupt trains schedule for the last many days, the Pakistan Railways divisional formations have advised the drivers, assistant drivers and those responsible for safe train operation to remain vigilant and adopt all safety-related standard operating procedures to avert any accident.

On the other hand, the passengers at all major stations, especially on the main line continue to suffer due to hours-long delay in the arrival and departure of various trains and cold weather.

“The officials responsible for safe train operations across the country have been put on high alert with a a direction to ensure safety of passengers and goods in all passengers and goods/freight trains by averting any untoward event in the ongoing wave of cold weather amid massive fog causing reduction in visibility,” an official source explained while talking to Dawn on Thursday.

“The officials directed in this regard include divisional and assistant executive engineers concerned, station masters and their assistants, points-men, train examiners, drivers and their assistants, break guards, officials dealing with signaling system and police constables meant for patrolling in the trains,” the staffer requesting anonymity added.

A driver claims trains being chugged at 30 to 40km per hour speed in fog pockets

He said the officials (especially drivers/assistant drivers) have been asked to take extraordinary precautionary measures while passing through the densely fog-covered areas on way to their destinations.

Talking to this reporter, a train driver said since the entire PR operation has been put on high alert due to foggy weather, the drivers are operating trains at the speed ranging between 30 and 40km per hour while passing through such areas.

“The speed depends upon visibility. If it is low, we have no option but to decrease the speed. And if it is clear, we accelerate the train,” he added.

He said though they remain in touch with the operation staff deputed at stations through phone system, they have no contact with those appointed at the manned level crossings. “But the unmanned level crossings are very dangerous these days, as anyone suddenly comes on the track, ” he warned, requesting the officers concerned to install heavy fog lights on the locomotives for visibility during ongoing foggy weather.

“The PR has also suffered a horrible accident wherein the train collided with a police van while passing through an unmanned level crossing near Sialkot,” he said.

Meanwhile, the weather continues to disrupt the trains schedule across the railway network in the country for the last many days. On Thursday, 42-down Karakoram express departed late from Lahore to Karachi. Karachi express (15-down) also departed late for Karachi from Lahore, followed by various other trains that departed late for various destinations after arriving late due to fog.

Published in Dawn, January 9th, 2026