Stay online on the Green Line from Karachi to Islamabad

New train service, starting from May 15, offers free WiFi, air-conditioned coaches

KARACHI: Pakistan Railways' new train service is no ordinary service. Set to launch on May 15, the Green Line offers its passengers free WiFi facilities, all the way from Karachi to Islamabad and back.

"The train comprises air-conditioned business coaches, with free WiFi facilities as well as complimentary breakfast and tea," railways division officer Muhammad Nasir told The Express Tribune.

According to Nasir, the locomotive engines and business coaches that had been imported from China in the past will be used for the Green Line. "It was not very costly to launch this service, since we just had to renovate the coaches we already had."

When asked why the Pakistan Railways found it necessary to initiate this service, Nasir replied that they had been receiving an excellent response from passengers. "A large chunk of the population now wants to travel by train because of our improved services," he said. "Keeping their desire to have a safer, comfortable journey, we decided to launch the Green Line."

He explained that the train will leave Karachi's Cantt Station at 9:30am every morning, reaching Margalla Station in Islamabad at 8:45am the next morning. "Meanwhile, another train will leave Islamabad at 3:15am daily, arriving in Karachi at 2:30am the next night," he added, saying that two trains will be used for the service, with tickets costing Rs5,000 per passenger.

Nasir further said that the train will go from Karachi to Hyderabad, stopping at Rohri, Khanewal, Lahore and Rawalpindi before arriving in Islamabad.

Published in The Express Tribune, April 22^nd, 2015.