LAHORE: A rise in train derailments, sudden cancellations, and long delays has pushed many passengers to switch from Pakistan Railways to luxury bus services.
Railway officials report low passenger numbers, often combining bookings from multiple trains into a single journey. Over the past month, several Up and Down trains, including major routes to Karachi, Faisalabad, and Rawalpindi, have been suspended without prior notice.
Notable cancellations include the Shah Hussain Business Express and Shalimar Express. Passengers affected are shifted to other trains like the Green Line, which itself experiences frequent delays.
Officials blame the aging railway infrastructure, with many tracks over a century old and lacking timely maintenance. This has led to increased accidents, derailments, and collisions at unguarded crossings, eroding public trust.
Station conditions add to frustrations, with overcrowded or inadequate waiting areas, poor sanitation, and overpriced low-quality food. Despite inspections and directives by Federal Minister for Railways Hanif Abbasi, improvements remain minimal.
Passenger Rehan Hashim shared his experience, noting the cancellation of his Business Express train and long delays on the Green Line. He described current rail travel as humiliating despite high costs, preferring bus travel instead.
While Pakistan Railways expects traffic to improve after school vacations, analysts say service quality issues are the main cause of declining ridership. Authorities maintain they are upgrading food and station facilities in coordination with the Punjab Food Authority, though passengers report no lasting changes.
