Latest news with #ShalimarExpress
Express Tribune
29-05-2025
- Express Tribune
Passengers abandon trains for buses amid rail chaos
Facing a surge in derailments, sudden train cancellations and long delays, a growing number of passengers have begun abandoning Pakistan Railways in favour of luxury bus services. The shift in travel preferences has left the railways operating with reduced passenger numbers, often merging the bookings of two or three trains into one journey due to low occupancy. According to official railway data, over the past month, multiple Up and Down trains, including major routes like Karachi, Faisalabad, and Rawalpindi, have been suspended without prior notice. Notable among the cancelled services are Shah Hussain Business Express and the Shalimar Express. Affected passengers are being accommodated in other trains, such as the Green Line, which itself is frequently delayed. Officials cite an aging railway infrastructure as a key factor. Many tracks, especially in smaller cities and remote regions, are over a century old. Lack of timely maintenance has led to an increase in accidents, derailments, and collisions with trolleys and other vehicles at unguarded crossings. The decaying state of the railway's physical assets has significantly eroded public trust in the service. Adding to passenger frustration are the appalling conditions at railway stations. Waiting areas are overcrowded or nearly non-existent, many platforms are over 100 years old and lack adequate space for passengers and their families, and sanitation is a major issue. Toilets are foul-smelling and often unusable, while food vendors charge exorbitant prices for poor-quality items. Despite repeated visits and surprise inspections by Federal Minister for Railways Hanif Abbasi and directives to improve services, conditions have barely improved. Passenger Rehan Hashim, who was scheduled to travel to Karachi, told Express News: "We were shocked to learn our Business Express was canceled. They shifted us to Green Line, which was four hours late. There was no proper waiting area, and the heat was unbearable. Rail travel used to be enjoyable, but now it's a humiliating experience despite paying thousands. Traveling by coach is far better." While Pakistan Railways claims that passenger numbers typically dip during pre-summer vacation months and expects traffic to pick up once schools close, passengers and analysts argue that service quality, not the season, is driving the decline. Officials insist that food quality and station facilities are being upgraded in coordination with the Punjab Food Authority. Yet passengers report no visible improvements beyond short-term clean-up efforts following inspections.
Time of India
21-05-2025
- Time of India
25 Minor Boys Rescued at Nagpur Railway Station in Suspected Child Trafficking Case
Nagpur: In a swift operation, 25 minor boys were rescued at Nagpur railway station in a suspected case of child trafficking . The incident occurred around 7.30pm on platform number 8, when train ticket examiner (TTE) Chinmay Sahu noticed a group of children alighting from Shalimar Express (Train no. 18030), accompanied by two adults. Sensing something suspicious, Sahu immediately alerted the Railway Protection Force (RPF). Assistant sub-inspectors Jhuma Ingle and BK Sarpate, along with other RPF personnel and representatives from Childline India Foundation—Dipali and Ranjit—responded promptly. The team brought the children to the RPF post for further inquiry. During preliminary questioning, the children revealed that they had travelled from various locations in Bihar and West Bengal. With suspicions surrounding the children's travel and destination, the issue was promptly escalated to the inspector in charge, who contacted the District Child Protection Officer (DCPO). Following standard protocol, the minors were taken to Mayo Hospital for medical check-ups and were subsequently handed over to the Government Children's Home at Patankar Chowk. Notices were issued to the two accompanying adults, instructing them to present the children before the Child Welfare Committee (CWC) and inform the children's guardians. Authorities are continuing the investigation to determine whether the children were victims of trafficking or part of illegal labour schemes. Legal proceedings are underway against the adults involved.
Express Tribune
21-05-2025
- Express Tribune
Shalimar Express derails after hitting trolley near Faisalabad, several injured
Listen to article Several passengers were injured when the Shalimar Express, en route from Karachi to Lahore, derailed in the wee hours of Wednesday near Darul Ehsan, a suburban area of Faisalabad. Eyewitnesses stated that the trolley became trapped on the railway line shortly before the train arrived. On seeing the train approach, the driver quickly unpinned the trolley from the tractor and fled with the tractor, leaving the trolley behind. The train crashed into the trolley, which was loaded with bricks, causing it to veer nearly one kilometre off the track as multiple carriages derailed and overturned. Both the train's driver and assistant driver sustained injuries in the crash. The railway line between Sahiwal and Salarwala was severely damaged, leading to the complete suspension of rail traffic between Faisalabad, Lahore, and Wazirabad. Police and rescue teams promptly arrived at the scene and launched a rescue operation.
Express Tribune
09-03-2025
- General
- Express Tribune
WATCH: Mother saves child from moving train in Hyderabad station
A mother's instinctive reaction saved her young child from an oncoming train at Hyderabad railway station, in a dramatic incident that has since gone viral on social media. The harrowing moment unfolded on Friday night as the Shalimar Express, en route from Karachi to Punjab, pulled into the platform. The woman, travelling with her husband and children, was about to board the train when her child suddenly slipped and fell onto the tracks. Without hesitation, she jumped down to rescue him. As she grabbed the child, an approaching train on the up-track left them with seconds to react. Witnesses screamed in panic, urging the driver to apply emergency brakes. Thinking quickly, the mother pulled her child into a drainage ditch between the tracks, just as the train rumbled over them. The train driver managed to slow down, and railway staff rushed to the scene. Moments later, the pair were safely pulled out. Railway officials later confirmed that both suffered only minor injuries and were taken to a nearby hospital for medical attention.
Express Tribune
31-01-2025
- Express Tribune
Train derails near Shahdara
LAHORE: Several passengers on Friday got injured as three coaches of Shalimar Express, en route from Lahore to Karachi, derailed near Shahdara. The schedules of many trains had been disturbed due to the accident, they added. The rescue teams provided first aid to the injured on the occasion, they said, adding critical injured persons had been shifted to nearby hospitals. However, train operations between Lahore and Rawalpindi were later restored, while work is still ongoing to reopen the Lahore-Faisalabad route. According to railway officials, the track was cleared for train traffic at 2:50 pm, allowing normal operations to resume. However, teams remain engaged in efforts to restore the track for Faisalabad-bound trains. Chief Commercial Officer (CCO) Railways Aamir Ali Baloch is overseeing the relief operation. The train derailed near Shahdara Railway Station, causing three coaches to go off track.
