Pakistan runs first ever train service equipped with Wi-Fi

ISLAMABAD, Pakistan – The Prime Minister of Pakistan, Nawaz Sharif, inaugurated the first ever train service today, Friday, May 15, 21005, equipped with Wi-Fi from the capital city of Islamabad to the port city of Karachi. The first air-conditioned business class train with several incentives and modern facilities like refreshments and Wi-Fi connection will also offer three services of quality meals, along with tea, bottled water, newspapers, and standard bedding during the 1,500-kilometer journey for its passengers.

In PM Sharif’s address at the inaugural ceremony at the Margalla railway station in Islamabad, he shared his appreciation for the significant improvement in the working of Pakistan Railways and vowed to revive it completely at the soonest.

The Prime Minister said that the provision of comfortable, secure, and economical travel facilities of international standards through Green Line train is the first phase of the plan to make affordable modern facilities available to travelers.

Sharif said that apart from online advance booking and the latest and most essential services during the journey, all passengers on the train are today insured for Rs10 million (over US$157,000).

The Prime Minister said that he has a vision to launch train services between Karachi and Kashghar and also make it a reality to travel to Turkey by train.

Nawaz Sharif expressed his confidence that like Pakistan Railways, Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) would also become the best airline of the region during the tenure of the present government.

In his speech, the Federal Railway Minister, Khawaja Saad Rafique, said that 10 million passengers have been attracted back to the system during the last 2 years and now all passengers and staff members are fully insured.

The Minister said that Pakistan Railways (PR) needs an investment of Rs1,000 billion to bring it to the level of other regional railways, but they are working to achieve as much as possible without additional resources.

Kh. Saad Rafique said that the railway earned just Rs1 billion from freight services in 2012-13, but in 2015 it is going to earn Rs18.5 billion under this head.

The railway minister said that punctuality has been increased from 10 percent in the past to 70 percent now.

Saad Rafique said that for the first time, a land record of PR is being computerized and in Punjab alone there is an increase of 10,000 acres in railway land. He said that the department now has fuel to take care of its needs for 2 to 3 weeks.

Pakistan Railways is in a financial shambles due to constant corruption, irregularities, and massive politically-sponsored hiring in its services. Massive cases of corruption have been brought up against former ministers of railways in the courts of law. A scandal of purchasing faulty bogies and engines from China had also been in the headlines of national newspapers in the past.

The new Green Line train will complete its journey in 23 hours and 15 minutes providing an economical, comfortable, and secure journey for its passengers.

The new Green Line train will make 5 technical stops along the journey at Lahore, Khanewal, Bahawalpur, Rohri, and Hyderabad. This, however, will not affect the new train’s strictly followed timings.

Special passenger lounges are also currently being constructed for the new train at Rawalpindi, Lahore, and Karachi railway stations.

The rail line will charge reduced fares from Islamabad to Karachi and from Lahore to Karachi.