- Source: Akbar Express
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. and it was again suspended in March 2020 due to Covid 19.
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.
Incidents
On Sept 26, 2002, Quetta Express derailed near Sibi resulting 7 dead and 57 injured.
See also
Pakistan Railways
List of railway accidents and incidents in Pakistan