Akbar Express

*Akbar Express*
Overview
Service type	Inter-city rail
Status	Suspended
Locale	Quetta
Predecessor	Quetta Express
First service	5 August 1974
Last service	23 March 2020
Successor	Pakistan Railways
Current operator(s)	Pakistan Railways
Former operator(s)	Pakistan Railways
Route
Termini	Quetta; Lahore
Stops	30
Distance travelled	1,225 kilometres (761 mi)
Average journey time	24 hours 20 Minutes
Train number(s)	23UP (Quetta→Lahore); 24DN (Lahore→Quetta)
On-board services
Class(es)	First Class Sleeper; Economy; AC Standard
Seating arrangements	Available
Sleeping arrangements	Available
Catering facilities	Available
Baggage facilities	Available
Technical
Track gauge	1,676 mm (5 ft 6 in)
Operating speed	120 km/h
Track owner(s)	Pakistan Railways
Timetable number(s)	23 UP 24DN
Route map
Route map

The Akbar Express (Urdu: اکبر ایکسپریس, Balochi: اکبر ایکسپریس) is a passenger train operated daily by Pakistan Railways between Quetta and Lahore. The trip takes approximately 23 hours and 30 minutes to cover a published distance of 1,225 kilometres (761 mi), traveling along the Rohri–Chaman Railway Line, Karachi–Peshawar Railway Line, Khanewal–Wazirabad Branch Line and the Shahdara Bagh–Sangla Hill Branch Line. Akbar express is the only train which connects Faisalabad with Quetta.

History

The Akbar Express was previously known as the Quetta Express. In August 2013, it was renamed to Akbar Express in honour of Nawab Akbar Khan Bugti, a Baloch nationalist leader and former head of the Jamhoori Wattan Party. Pakistan Railways suspended the train in 2010 due to lack of locomotives but was resumed on 25 April 2013.^[1] and it was again suspended in March 2020 due to Covid 19.^[2]

Route

Originally, the Quetta Express ran between Quetta and Peshawar via Rohri, Multan, Lahore and Rawalpindi. Since being renamed to Akbar Express, the route has been shortened to Lahore via Faisalabad.

Quetta–Rohri Junction via the Rohri–Chaman Railway Line
Rohri Junction–Khanewal Junction via the Karachi–Peshawar Railway Line
Khanewal Junction–Sangla Hill Junction via the Khanewal–Wazirabad Branch Line
Sangla Hill Junction–Shahdara Bagh Junction via the Shahdara Bagh–Sangla Hill Branch Line
Shahdara Bagh Junction–Lahore Junction via the Karachi–Peshawar Railway Line

Station stops

Equipment

Akbar Express consists of ten coaches and four rakes with AC Standard, First Class Sleeper and Economy Class accommodations.^[3] ^[4]


1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10
Power Van	AC Standard	Economy	Economy	Economy	First Class Sleeper	Economy	Economy	Economy	Brake Van

Incidents

On Sept 26, 2002, Quetta Express derailed near Sibi resulting 7 dead and 57 injured.^[5]

References

^ Quetta Express resumes operation, Publisher: Pakistan Observer, Published on 25 April 2013, Retrieved on 26 April 2013
^ Azad, Abdul Rasheed (1 March 2024). "No decision yet to restore operations of Akbar Bugti Express: PR CEO". Business Recorder. Retrieved 11 August 2024.
^ ^a ^b "Pakistan Railways Trains". pakistanrail.tripod.com. Retrieved 23 July 2013.
^ "Akbar Express Time Table". www.pakinformation.com/. Retrieved 14 April 2021.
^ "Seven killed as train derails near Sibi: Old bridge collapses". DAWN.COM. 27 September 2002. Retrieved 11 November 2024.

[1] Quetta Express resumes operation, Publisher: Pakistan Observer, Published on 25 April 2013, Retrieved on 26 April 2013

[2] Azad, Abdul Rasheed (1 March 2024). "No decision yet to restore operations of Akbar Bugti Express: PR CEO". Business Recorder. Retrieved 11 August 2024.

[Pakistan_Railways_Trains-3] "Pakistan Railways Trains". pakistanrail.tripod.com. Retrieved 23 July 2013.

[4] "Akbar Express Time Table". www.pakinformation.com/. Retrieved 14 April 2021.

[5] "Seven killed as train derails near Sibi: Old bridge collapses". DAWN.COM. 27 September 2002. Retrieved 11 November 2024.

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