Pakistan railways cancels trains after track blockage

Pakistan Railways cancelled eight passenger trains, including the Green Line Express, after freight train derailments disrupted rail traffic on the country's main railway network.

Pakistan Railways cancelled eight passenger trains, including the Green Line Express, after freight train derailments disrupted rail traffic on the country’s main railway network. The incidents, which occurred near Yousafwala in Sahiwal and in the Sukkur Division, blocked the up and down tracks, forcing railway authorities to suspend operations and leaving hundreds of passengers stranded.

According to Pakistan Railways, freight wagons derailed at separate locations over the weekend, causing a major disruption on the main line connecting Lahore and Faisalabad with Karachi and Quetta. The blockage affected train schedules across the network, prompting the railway administration to cancel several long-distance passenger services until the tracks could be restored.

Among the trains cancelled were Karakoram Express (42 Down), Pak Business Express (34 Down), Karachi Express (16 Down), and Millat Express (18 Down), along with four other passenger services. The cancellations created difficulties for travelers who had planned journeys to various destinations across the country.

The derailments also affected the operation of the Green Line Express (6 Down), which runs between Margalla and Karachi. Pakistan Railways announced that several coaches scheduled to depart from Lahore would not operate due to the disruption. These included Economy Class coaches 3 and 4, AC Standard coaches 5 through 8, and AC Business Class coaches 9, 10, and 11.

Railway officials apologized to passengers for the inconvenience caused by the cancellations and assured them that ticket holders would receive full refunds. Passengers were advised to visit the Lahore Reservation Office to claim their refunds, while Passenger Facilitation teams were deployed at railway stations to assist travelers with information and guidance.

To help passengers stay informed, Pakistan Railways also asked the public to contact its inquiry helpline, 117, for updates regarding train schedules, ticket refunds, and service restoration.

Following an intensive restoration operation, railway authorities confirmed that repair work had been completed successfully. Both the up and down tracks were cleared and declared safe for train movement, allowing rail traffic to resume after several hours of disruption.

The temporary suspension of services highlighted the impact that freight train derailments can have on Pakistan’s railway network, particularly on busy intercity routes. While normal operations have now resumed, the incident caused significant delays and inconvenience for passengers traveling during the weekend.

Pakistan Railways reiterated its commitment to restoring services as quickly as possible in emergency situations and expressed regret over the disruption faced by passengers. The department stated that efforts would continue to ensure safe and efficient railway operations across the country while minimizing the impact of unforeseen incidents on public travel.