Pakistan Railways opens luxury saloons to public on key routes

Pakistan Railways has announced that its luxury saloon coaches, previously reserved for senior government officials, will now be available for booking by the general public.

According to Express News, the decision was taken on the directive of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. The initiative aims to extend premium travel facilities to ordinary citizens and optimise the use of existing railway resources.

Five luxury saloons, previously used by the Prime Minister, federal ministers, the Chairman of Pakistan Railways, the Chief Executive Officer, and the Inspector General of Railways, will now be accessible to any passenger wishing to book them.

Pakistan Railways has also decided to keep fares for the luxury saloons highly affordable to ensure broader public access. This decision reflects the government’s commitment to improving public transport without compromising on affordability.

The luxury saloon service will be available on major intercity routes, including trains running from Karachi to Lahore, Lahore to Karachi, Islamabad to Lahore, and Lahore to Islamabad.

Officials say the move is part of wider reforms aimed at modernising rail travel, improving customer satisfaction, and increasing non-fare revenue through better asset utilisation.