Karakoram Express Goes Private on Karachi-Lahore Route
Karakoram Express private operations began on Friday as Pakistan Railways handed the commercial management of the Karachi-Lahore train to Prime Rail, a private company. The 41-Up Karakoram Express departed from Karachi Cantt Railway Station for Lahore, marking the start of the service under private management. The train will also operate as the 42-Down service from Lahore to Karachi.
The move is part of a wider push to outsource trains to private operators, Pakistan Railways CEO Muhammad Hafizullah said at the launch. “More trains will be outsourced to the private sector to improve services and bring them closer to international standards,” he added.
Under the agreement, the commercial management of the Karakoram Express has been outsourced to Prime Rail for an annual amount of Rs3.9015 billion. The department says railway coaches are being upgraded, ticketing systems are being modernised, and infrastructure projects worth billions of rupees are under way.
Karakoram Express private: coaches, fares and facilities
The 20-coach train comprises 10 economy-class coaches, two AC business-class coaches, two AC standard coaches, one AC sleeper coach, a power van, a premium lounge, a brake van and two luggage vans.
Passengers are offered mineral water, fresh meals, bedding, mobile charging points, Wi-Fi and an infotainment system. Complimentary services are also available to passengers travelling in AC sleeper and AC business classes.
Pakistan Railways has announced a 25 per cent discount on fares across all classes until November 6. During the promotional period, fares are set as follows:
| Class | Discounted fare |
|---|---|
| AC sleeper | Rs12,600 |
| AC business | Rs9,550 |
| AC standard | Rs7,550 |
| Economy | Rs4,150 |
Worked out from those discounted fares, the full fares after November 6 would be about Rs16,800 for AC sleeper, about Rs12,733 for AC business, about Rs10,067 for AC standard and about Rs5,533 for economy. Passengers who travel during the discount window therefore save roughly a quarter on every class.
Route, timings and tickets
The train will operate on Main Line-I (ML-1), departing simultaneously from Karachi and Lahore at 3pm. It will stop at Drigh Road, Landhi, Hyderabad, Nawabshah, Rohri, Bahawalpur, Khanewal, Sahiwal and Raiwind before reaching its destination. The journey between the two cities is expected to take around 19 hours.
The route is the same corridor at the centre of the ML-I upgrade, whose first phase alone will cost $2.1 billion, as the Senate was told this week. For now, the private Karakoram Express runs on the existing line, with the operator responsible for the commercial side of the service.
Passengers can buy tickets at reservation counters at relevant railway stations, through the Prime Rail website (primerail.pk) or its mobile application.
Hafizullah said the department was working with private companies to provide passengers with modern facilities and a more comfortable travelling experience. He said railway coaches were being upgraded while infrastructure development projects worth billions of rupees were also under way, and that modern technology was being adopted in ticketing and operational infrastructure.
The test for the private model will be simple: whether meals, bedding, Wi-Fi and punctuality match the promise once the launch discount ends and the train settles into daily service.
Frequently asked questions
Which train has gone private?
The Karakoram Express, running as 41-Up from Karachi to Lahore and 42-Down from Lahore to Karachi, is now commercially managed by Prime Rail.
What are the discounted fares?
Until November 6, AC sleeper costs Rs12,600, AC business Rs9,550, AC standard Rs7,550 and economy Rs4,150, after a 25 per cent discount.
How long does the Karachi-Lahore journey take?
The journey is expected to take around 19 hours, with departures at 3pm from both cities.
Which stations does the Karakoram Express stop at?
The stops are Drigh Road, Landhi, Hyderabad, Nawabshah, Rohri, Bahawalpur, Khanewal, Sahiwal and Raiwind.
Where can passengers buy tickets?
Tickets are available at station reservation counters, through the Prime Rail website (primerail.pk) or its mobile application.
*Source: The Express Tribune.*
