Akbar Express
{{Short description|Pakistani express train}}
{{Use Pakistani English|date=May 2015}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2015}}
{{italic title}}
{{Infobox rail service
| box_width = manual
| name = Akbar Express
| logo =
| logo_width =
| image =
| image_width =
| caption =
| type = Inter-city rail
| status = Suspended
| locale = Quetta
| predecessor = Quetta Express
| first = 5 August 1974
| last = 23 March 2020
| successor = Pakistan Railways
| operator = Pakistan Railways
| formeroperator= Pakistan Railways
| ridership =
| start = Quetta
| stops = 30
| end = Lahore
| distance = {{convert|1225|km|mi}}
| journeytime = 24 hours 20 Minutes
| frequency =
| trainnumber = 23UP (Quetta→Lahore)
24DN (Lahore→Quetta)
| class = First Class Sleeper
Economy
AC Standard
| access =
| seating = Available
| sleeping = Available
| autorack =
| catering = Available
| observation =
| entertainment =
| baggage = Available
| otherfacilities =
| stock =
| gauge = {{RailGauge|1676mm|lk=on}}
| el =
| speed =
| owners = Pakistan Railways
| routenumber = 23 UP 24DN
| map = 280px
| map_state =
}}
The Akbar Express ({{langx|ur|{{Nastaliq|اکبر ایکسپریس}}}}, {{langx|bal|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 {{convert|1225|km|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.[https://archive.today/20130703080255/http://pakobserver.net/detailnews.asp?id=204827 Quetta Express resumes operation], Publisher: Pakistan Observer, Published on 25 April 2013, Retrieved on 26 April 2013 and it was again suspended in March 2020 due to Covid 19.{{cite news |last1=Azad |first1=Abdul Rasheed |title=No decision yet to restore operations of Akbar Bugti Express: PR CEO |url=https://www.brecorder.com/news/40291436 |access-date=11 August 2024 |work=Business Recorder |date=1 March 2024 |language=en}}
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
{{columns-list|colwidth=22em|
- Quetta
- Kolpur
- Mach
- Aab-e-Gum
- Sibi Junction
- Bakhtiarabad Domki
- Dera Murad Jamali
- Dera Allah Yar
- Jacobabad Junction
- Shikarpur
- Sukkur
- Rohri Junction
- Pano Akil
- Ghotki
- Mirpur Mathelo
- Sadiqabad
- Rahim Yar Khan
- Khanpur Junction
- Liaquatpur
- Dera Nawab Sahib
- Bahawalpur
- Jahanian
- Khanewal Junction
- Shorkot Cantonment Junction
- Toba Tek Singh
- Gojra
- Faisalabad
- Sangla Hill Junction
- Sheikhupura
- Lahore Junction
}}
Equipment
Akbar Express consists of ten coaches and four rakes with AC Standard, First Class Sleeper and Economy Class accommodations.{{cite web|title=Pakistan Railways Trains|url=http://pakistanrail.tripod.com/pr_trains.html|work=pakistanrail.tripod.com|accessdate=23 July 2013}}
| class="wikitable"
|+ !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.{{Cite web |date=2002-09-27 |title=Seven killed as train derails near Sibi: Old bridge collapses |url=https://www.dawn.com/news/59136/seven-killed-as-train-derails-near-sibi-old-bridge-collapses |access-date=2024-11-11 |website=DAWN.COM |language=en}}
See also
References
{{Reflist}}
{{Named passenger trains of Pakistan}}
Category:Named passenger trains of Pakistan