The Allama Iqbal Express (Urdu: علامہ اقبال ایکسپریس) is a passenger train operated daily by Pakistan Railways between Karachi and Sialkot, two important industrial hubs of Pakistan. The trip takes approximately 25 hours and 30 minutes to cover a published distance of 1,362 kilometres (846 mi), traveling along the Karachi–Peshawar Railway Line, Shahdara Bagh–Chak Amru Branch Line and Wazirabad–Narowal Branch Line.
Overview | |||||
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Service type | Inter-city rail, Mail express | ||||
Predecessor | Shaheen Express | ||||
First service | 1940 | ||||
Current operator(s) | Pakistan Railways | ||||
Route | |||||
Termini | Karachi Cantonment Sialkot Junction | ||||
Stops | 35 | ||||
Distance travelled | 1,362 kilometres (846 mi) | ||||
Average journey time | 25 hours | ||||
Service frequency | Daily | ||||
Train number(s) | 9UP (Karachi→Sialkot) 10DN (Sialkot→Karachi) | ||||
On-board services | |||||
Class(es) | Economy Class ,AC Standard | ||||
Sleeping arrangements | Not Available | ||||
Catering facilities | Not available | ||||
Technical | |||||
Track gauge | 1,676 mm (5 ft 6 in) | ||||
Track owner(s) | Pakistan Railways | ||||
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History
editThe Allama Iqbal Express is one of the oldest express trains of Pakistan, beginning in 1940 as the Shaheen Express from Karachi to Sialkot via Faisalabad. In 1985, Shaheen Express was renamed to Allama Iqbal Express, in honor of Pakistan's famous poet Dr. Muhammad Iqbal.[1]
Route
editIn 1998, the Allama Iqbal Express was redirected via Wazirabad Junction to Sialkot Junction. In 2004, it was again redirected to the current route via Narowal Junction.
Station stops
edit- Karachi Cantonment
- Drigh Road
- Landhi
- Kotri Junction
- Hyderabad Junction
- Tando Adam Junction
- Nawabshah
- Bhiria Road
- Mahrabpur Junction
- Gambat
- Rohri Junction
- Ghotki
- Sadiqabad
- Rahim Yar Khan
- Khanpur Junction
- Bahawalpur
- Lodhran Junction
- Dunyapur
- Jahanian
- Khanewal Junction
- Mian Channun
- Chichawatni
- Sahiwal
- Okara
- Pattoki
- Kot Radha Kishn
- Raiwind Junction
- Kot Lakhpat
- Lahore Junction
- Shahdara Bagh Junction
- Narang
- Baddomalhi
- Narowal Junction
- Qila Sobha Singh
- Pasrur
- Chawinda
- Sialkot Junction
Equipment
editAllama Iqbal Express consists of 16 coaches (all economy class accommodation), one power van and one luggage van.[2]
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Power Van | Economy | Economy | Economy | Economy | Economy | Economy | Economy | Economy | Economy | Economy | Economy | Economy | Economy | Economy | Economy | Economy | Luggage Van |
Incidents
editOn Nov 3, 2009, this train collided head-on with a goods train in Karachi. Resulting 18 dead and 45 injured.[3]
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ IRFCA, Pakistan Railway Train Names:, Retrieved on 23 March 2013
- ^ "Akbar Express Train Timings Lahore Quetta 2020".
- ^ "Train crash in Karachi leaves 18 dead". DAWN.COM. 4 November 2009. Retrieved 11 November 2024.