Stay online on the Green Line train service from Karachi to Islamabad

[Saifullah Sani]

Pakistan Railways’ new train service is no ordinary service. Set to launch on May 15, the Green Line offers its passengers free WiFi facilities, all the way from Karachi to Islamabad and back.

“The train comprises air-conditioned business coaches, with free WiFi facilities as well as complimentary breakfast and tea,” railways division officer Muhammad Nasir told The Express Tribune.

According to Nasir, the locomotive engines and business coaches that had been imported from China in the past will be used for the Green Line. “It was not very costly to launch this service, since we just had to renovate the coaches we already had.”

When asked why the Pakistan Railways found it necessary to initiate this service, Nasir replied that they had been receiving an excellent response from passengers. “A large chunk of the population now wants to travel by train because of our improved services,” he said. “Keeping their desire to have a safer, comfortable journey, we decided to launch the Green Line.”

He explained that the train will leave Karachi’s Cantt Station at 9:30am every morning, reaching Margalla Station in Islamabad at 8:45am the next morning. “Meanwhile, another train will leave Islamabad at 3:15am daily, arriving in Karachi at 2:30am the next night,” he added, saying that two trains will be used for the service, with tickets costing Rs5,000 per passenger.

Nasir further said that the train will go from Karachi to Hyderabad, stopping at Rohri, Khanewal, Lahore and Rawalpindi before arriving in Islamabad.

Stay online on the Green Line from Karachi to Islamabad - The Express Tribune

 

[I M Sikander]

Good development. Keep it up guyz. Every improvement big or small us welcome m

 

[Muhammad Omar]

Also giving Passengers Breakfast and Dinner and Pillows

 

[ziaulislam]

24 hours is lengthy trip. they have to short it down to 15-16 hours by eliminating stops..
however its much improved than before

 

[Muhammad Omar]

24 hours is lengthy trip. they have to short it down to 15-16 hours by eliminating stops..
however its much improved than before

22 hours... But it's better then 28 Hours Hope 3 Billion Investment by Chinese will help reduce it more

 

[Hyde]

I would consider twice before travelling into train in Pakistan. Especially when it's 5000 rupees for 22 hour long journey. Why not pay 5500 rupees to PIA and reach Karachi within 2 hours. The price of the ticket is too costly for common man, I am not sure about the existing fares in Pakistan but 5000 is too much by all standards

 

[Muhammad Omar]

I would consider twice before travelling into train in Pakistan. Especially when it's 5000 rupees for 22 hour long journey. Why not pay 5500 rupees to PIA and reach Karachi within 2 hours. The price of the ticket is too costly for common man, I am not sure about the existing fares in Pakistan but 5000 is too much by all standards

existing fare is 3000 For Ac class and 1800 for Economy..This 5000 is not for the economy but Ac.. now PIA fare is not below 7500 2 days before and 15500 just the night before the Flight and even Shaheen Offer 17500 to Karachi

 

[PurpleButcher]

Why not pay 5500 rupees to PIA and reach Karachi within 2 hours

Kindly update your knowledge about airfares... please

 

[S.U.R.B.]

I would consider twice before travelling into train in Pakistan. Especially when it's 5000 rupees for 22 hour long journey. Why not pay 5500 rupees to PIA and reach Karachi within 2 hours. The price of the ticket is too costly for common man, I am not sure about the existing fares in Pakistan but 5000 is too much by all standards

PIA
one way > IBD to Karachi = 11,225PKR(Economy) : 24,340PKR (Business class)
Time duration 2 hours.
I couldn't find the 5500 option.(Is there any? )

While PR on this train service offers a 5000 PKR package on Business coaches.Though it takes day.

 

[Hyde]

existing fare is 3000 For Ac class and 1800 for Economy..This 5000 is not for the economy but Ac.. now PIA fare is not below 7500 2 days before and 15500 just the night before the Flight and even Shaheen Offer 17500 to Karachi

Thanks for the update. Indeed the fair has increased recently. I am just shocked and need time to recover after finding out the latest nonsense by PIA. When I was in Pakistan just few months ago, I checked Air tickets on multiple occasion and the fair for Lahore/Islamabad to Karachi was showing as 5500 fixed price for any day of my selection and now after the prices of oil dropped by 50%, PIA has managed to increase fair by many-fold. The latest prices I checked on PIA website states it's 11,000 to 19,000 for single journey and around 30,000 rupees for return journey from Karachi to Lahore.

The funny thing is, I bought a ticket for £396 (60,000 rupees) from London to Bahrain (6 hours) and Bahrain to Lahore (4 hours), back to London via Bahrain and despite taking the pleasure of International flight for 20 hours, Gulf is still making money and here PIA is charging 30,000 for mere domestic flight of 2 hours.

PIA
one way > IBD to Karachi = 11,225PKR(Economy) : 24,340PKR (Business class)
Time duration 2 hours.
I couldn't find the 5500 option.(Is there any? )

While PR on this train service offers a 5000 PKR package on Business coaches.Though it takes day.

Thanks for the information SURB. Yeah it might be worth for many people in that case, the problem is air-tickets are way too expensive in Pakistan so the railways can loot money from its passengers. I am not sure about the cost of local buses/coaches but 5000 rupees is like a month income for poor people and I wonder if a couple travelling alongside 2 children would ever be able to afford it.

 

[Meengla]

Has anyone traveled in train from KHI to Lahore or beyond? (or the other way)? How was the experience? Are the toilets still like...dumping on the tracks?!
I have fond memories of my last trip---way back in 1990/91, from Karachi to 'Pindi, I think. Our destination was QA University but I don't recall there was a train station in ISB then?

 

[Muhammad Omar]

Has anyone traveled in train from KHI to Lahore or beyond? (or the other way)? How was the experience? Are the toilets still like...dumping on the tracks?!
I have fond memories of my last trip---way back in 1990/91, from Karachi to 'Pindi, I think. Our destination was QA University but I don't recall there was a train station in ISB then?

i Traveled by Train just a month ago From Sahiwal To Karachi and Karachi to Lahore... It's always Fun Experience... But In AC class now there are cabins you can Lock the cabin and no one will bother you...but the economy is the same better seats fans switches working but hawkers come and goes shouting like they do Coke aaaae pepsi aae LOL ... Yupe the toilets are same dumping on tracks as old times but now Toilets are clean

 

[ajpirzada]

its seems Pak Business Express has taught the Railway people how to do business. But ideally, ill prefer more private sector initiatives rather than govt.

nonetheless its a good initiative.

 

[TheNoob]

I would consider twice before travelling into train in Pakistan. Especially when it's 5000 rupees for 22 hour long journey. Why not pay 5500 rupees to PIA and reach Karachi within 2 hours. The price of the ticket is too costly for common man, I am not sure about the existing fares in Pakistan but 5000 is too much by all standards

I'd rather pay less for a great journey than pay 20k just to reach without enjoyment! <.<

 

[OrionHunter]

tickets costing Rs5,000 per passenger.

Rs 5000 per passenger? That means this service is meant not for the ordinary Pakistani but the rich and mighty and the feudal landlords only! But then they would rather take a flight to Karachi from Islamabad and save 23 hours!

What's with the logic here? Where does that leave the ordinary Pakistani who will continue to travel in overcrowded trains?

Even Indians are going to face a similar problem with the intro of bullet trains in India which would be meant only for the rich and famous. The ordinary folk would just stand and stare at the shiny 'bullet' streaking across the landscape!