Rail travellers blast poor safety, maintenance

LAHORE: Passengers travelling on Pakistan Railways have voiced concern over the condition of train coaches, citing poor maintenance, hygiene problems and safety issues on several major services.

Speaking to the media at Lahore Railway Station, commuters said travelling by rail had become increasingly difficult because of broken facilities and unclean conditions despite what they described as high fares. According to the passengers, coaches on trains including the Business Express, Shalimar Express, Tezgam and Allama Iqbal Express were no longer suitable for safe or comfortable travel.

Travellers complained that washrooms were dirty, emitted foul smells and often had no running water. They also said insects and poor sanitation were adding to the discomfort during journeys. Passengers further alleged that windows in many coaches were either jammed or could not be shut after being opened, and said some travellers had suffered injuries while trying to operate them.

Passengers also pointed to repeated failures of onboard cooling systems, saying air-conditioning units often stop functioning during trips while electric fans also break down. They alleged that defective switches at times exposed travellers to the risk of electric shocks.

Concerns were also raised over the physical condition of the coaches. According to the passengers, damaged roofs, worn floors and deteriorated seats have created potential safety hazards. They added that train breakdowns, engine failures and long delays in remote areas had become more frequent, leaving passengers stranded for hours, especially in intense summer heat.

Commuters travelling on the Allama Iqbal Express said some of the oldest and most run-down coaches had been attached to the service. They urged the railway authorities to either improve the train's condition or stop linking it with the name of the national poet.

One passenger, Imtiaz, criticised the state of the Allama Iqbal Express and said the railway administration should at least honour the name of Allama Iqbal by assigning better coaches to the service.