ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Railways is all set to restore Awam Express from next month which was closed by the department following the deteriorating flood situation of 2022 in Sindh and other parts of the country.
“The decision to reinstate this crucial train service has been made after the suspension due to the severe flood situation in 2022, promising a renewed connection between major cities,” an official from the Ministry of Railways told the Associated Press of Pakistan (APP).
He said the Awam Express which operates on the Karachi-Lahore and Lahore-Peshawar routes, is set to resume operations based on directives issued to the carriage factory officials at the Railway Headquarters.
The official further said that the department would prepare 18 bogies, featuring economy class, lower AC, and AC business class coaches for the relaunch scheduled in December.
He said the Awam Express is one of the longest continuous running services, covering a distance of 1,721 kilometres along the Karachi–Peshawar Railway line.
The train journey typically takes around 33 hours and 30 minutes, serving as a crucial link between these prominent cities, the official added.
In response to a query, the official stated that the department has granted a one-month extension in services of the Shalimar Express train, which operates on the Karachi-Lahore route. In May 2023, Pakistan Railways restored the high-speed Shalimar Express passenger train after eight months. —APP
