Allama Iqbal Express
The Allama Iqbal Express (Urdu: علامہ اقبال ایکسپریس) is a passenger train operated daily by Pakistan Railways between Karachi and Sialkot, two important industrial hubs of Pakistan. The trip takes approximately 25 hours and 30 minutes to cover a published distance of 1,362 kilometres (846 mi), traveling along the Karachi–Peshawar Railway Line, Shahdara Bagh–Chak Amru Branch Line and Wazirabad–Narowal Branch Line.
| Overview | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Service type | Inter-city rail, Mail express | ||||
| Predecessor | Shaheen Express | ||||
| First service | 1940 | ||||
| Current operator(s) | Pakistan Railways | ||||
| Route | |||||
| Start | Karachi Cantonment | ||||
| End | Sialkot Junction | ||||
| Distance travelled | 1,362 kilometres (846 mi) | ||||
| Average journey time | 25 hours | ||||
| Service frequency | Daily | ||||
| Train number(s) | 9UP (Karachi→Sialkot) 10DN (Sialkot→Karachi) | ||||
| On-board services | |||||
| Class(es) | Economy | ||||
| Sleeping arrangements | Not Available | ||||
| Catering facilities | Not available | ||||
| Technical | |||||
| Track gauge | 1,676 mm (5 ft 6 in) | ||||
| Track owner(s) | Pakistan Railways | ||||
| |||||
History
The Allama Iqbal Express is one of the oldest express trains of Pakistan, beginning in 1940 as the Shaheen Express from Karachi to Sialkot via Faisalabad. In 1985, Shaheen Express was renamed to Allama Iqbal Express, in honor of Pakistan's famous poet Dr. Muhammad Iqbal.[1]
Route
In 1998, the Allama Iqbal Express was redirected via Wazirabad Junction to Sialkot Junction. In 2004, it was again redirected to the current route via Narowal Junction.
Station stops
- Karachi Cantonment
- Drigh Road
- Landhi
- Kotri Junction
- Hyderabad Junction
- Tando Adam Junction
- Nawabshah
- Mahrabpur Junction
- Rohri Junction
- Ghotki
- Sadiqabad
- Rahim Yar Khan
- Khanpur Junction
- Bahawalpur
- Dunyapur
- Jahanian
- Khanewal Junction
- Chichawatni
- Sahiwal
- Okara
- Pattoki
- Kot Radha Kishn
- Raiwind Junction
- Kot Lakhpat
- Lahore Junction
- Shahdara Bagh Junction
- Narang
- Baddomalhi
- Narowal Junction
- Qila Sobha Singh
- Pasrur
- Chawinda
- Sialkot Junction
Equipment
Allama Iqbal Express consists of 16 coaches (all economy class accommodation), one power van and one luggage van.[3]
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Power Van | Economy | Economy | Economy | Economy | Economy | Economy | Economy | Economy | Economy | Economy | Economy | Economy | Economy | Economy | Economy | Economy | Luggage Van |
See also
References
- IRFCA, Pakistan Railway Train Names:, Retrieved on 23 March 2013
- Pakistan Railways official website, Allama Iqbal Express Timings Archived 30 May 2015 at the Wayback Machine, Retrieved on 23 March 2013
- http://www.pakinformation.com/railway-timings/allama-iqbal-express.html
