
Train derails near Shahdara
LAHORE:
Several passengers on Friday got injured as three coaches of Shalimar Express, en route from Lahore to Karachi, derailed near Shahdara.
The schedules of many trains had been disturbed due to the accident, they added. The rescue teams provided first aid to the injured on the occasion, they said, adding critical injured persons had been shifted to nearby hospitals.
However, train operations between Lahore and Rawalpindi were later restored, while work is still ongoing to reopen the Lahore-Faisalabad route.
According to railway officials, the track was cleared for train traffic at 2:50 pm, allowing normal operations to resume. However, teams remain engaged in efforts to restore the track for Faisalabad-bound trains.
Chief Commercial Officer (CCO) Railways Aamir Ali Baloch is overseeing the relief operation. The train derailed near Shahdara Railway Station, causing three coaches to go off track.

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Express Tribune
02-06-2025
- Express Tribune
Pakistan Railways announces fares discount for Eidul Azha
Listen to article The federal government has announced a significant discount on train fares for the three days of Eidul Azha, as part of its efforts to facilitate travel during the festive season, Express News reported. Railways Minister Hanif Abbasi confirmed the development in a media briefing on Monday, stating that five special trains would be operated for Eidul Azha. "The special trains will be operational for the duration of the holiday to ease transportation for people travelling to their hometowns for the occasion," he said. He also assured that agreements made with the media would be fully honoured. Highlighting the achievements of the Pakistan Railways, Abbasi mentioned that the department had achieved significant milestones in its 77-year history, particularly over the past 11 months. "The performance of Pakistan Railways has been outstanding," he added. Furthermore, Abbasi revealed that Pakistan Railways was generating revenue through its leased properties. "In line with the Prime Minister's vision, Royal Palm will be outsourced, with transparency in the bidding process, and bids will be opened in full public view," the minister stated. Abbasi also announced a Rs1 billion budget allocation for the eight railway hospitals. He stated that efforts were underway to outsource these hospitals, but promised that medical services for railway employees would remain free of charge.

Express Tribune
29-05-2025
- Express Tribune
Passengers abandon trains for buses amid rail chaos
Facing a surge in derailments, sudden train cancellations and long delays, a growing number of passengers have begun abandoning Pakistan Railways in favour of luxury bus services. The shift in travel preferences has left the railways operating with reduced passenger numbers, often merging the bookings of two or three trains into one journey due to low occupancy. According to official railway data, over the past month, multiple Up and Down trains, including major routes like Karachi, Faisalabad, and Rawalpindi, have been suspended without prior notice. Notable among the cancelled services are Shah Hussain Business Express and the Shalimar Express. Affected passengers are being accommodated in other trains, such as the Green Line, which itself is frequently delayed. Officials cite an aging railway infrastructure as a key factor. Many tracks, especially in smaller cities and remote regions, are over a century old. Lack of timely maintenance has led to an increase in accidents, derailments, and collisions with trolleys and other vehicles at unguarded crossings. The decaying state of the railway's physical assets has significantly eroded public trust in the service. Adding to passenger frustration are the appalling conditions at railway stations. Waiting areas are overcrowded or nearly non-existent, many platforms are over 100 years old and lack adequate space for passengers and their families, and sanitation is a major issue. Toilets are foul-smelling and often unusable, while food vendors charge exorbitant prices for poor-quality items. Despite repeated visits and surprise inspections by Federal Minister for Railways Hanif Abbasi and directives to improve services, conditions have barely improved. Passenger Rehan Hashim, who was scheduled to travel to Karachi, told Express News: "We were shocked to learn our Business Express was canceled. They shifted us to Green Line, which was four hours late. There was no proper waiting area, and the heat was unbearable. Rail travel used to be enjoyable, but now it's a humiliating experience despite paying thousands. Traveling by coach is far better." While Pakistan Railways claims that passenger numbers typically dip during pre-summer vacation months and expects traffic to pick up once schools close, passengers and analysts argue that service quality, not the season, is driving the decline. Officials insist that food quality and station facilities are being upgraded in coordination with the Punjab Food Authority. Yet passengers report no visible improvements beyond short-term clean-up efforts following inspections.


Express Tribune
15-05-2025
- Express Tribune
'Unscientific' Japan megaquake alerts cause drop in Hong Kong tourism
Listen to article Tourism to Japan from Hong Kong is taking a noticeable hit as online rumours predicting a massive earthquake continue to spread across social media platforms, prompting unease among travellers and forcing airlines and tour operators to adjust services. Hong Kong residents made nearly 2.7 million trips to Japan in 2024, but local travel agencies report a significant decline in inquiries and bookings for 2025, particularly for trips scheduled in summer months. The shift comes despite repeated scientific assurances from Japanese authorities that earthquakes cannot be predicted with precision. Frankie Chow, head of travel agency CLS Holiday, said customer interest in Japan dropped by 70–80% in March and April compared to the same period last year. 'I've never experienced this before,' Chow told AFP, noting that clients are either postponing trips or changing destinations altogether due to fears of a so-called 'megaquake.' The rumours circulating in Hong Kong and Taiwan include claims based on a republished Japanese manga that allegedly predicts a natural disaster in July 2025. Others refer to a Facebook group that purports to forecast earthquakes in Japan and has amassed over a quarter million members, many from Hong Kong. While Japan experiences frequent seismic activity, the country's strict building regulations and disaster preparedness protocols have historically minimised damage. Major quakes are rare but not unprecedented, such as the 2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami, which caused widespread destruction and killed over 18,000 people. In January, a Japanese government panel slightly increased the estimated probability of a magnitude 8.0 or higher quake along the Nankai Trough to 75–82% over the next 30 years. A follow-up Cabinet Office report in March estimated that such a quake and resulting tsunami could cause up to 298,000 deaths. While these figures were updated to older assessments, they appear to have fuelled public anxiety, particularly online. In response to the misinformation, Japan's Cabinet Office posted on social media platform X last month: 'Predicting earthquakes by date, time, and place is not possible based on current scientific knowledge.' An official told AFP that the post was part of routine public communication, though Japanese media have linked it to online claims. The impact on tourism has already begun to show. Hong Kong's Greater Bay Airlines has announced reductions in its weekly round-trip flights to Tokushima and Sendai, citing low demand caused by the earthquake rumours. A tourism official in Tokushima confirmed the change, noting that it will remain in effect from May 12 to October 25. Steve Huen Kwok-chuen, executive director at Hong Kong-based EGL Tours, said his agency had not observed a steep drop in Japan-bound bookings. However, he acknowledged a decrease in Hong Kong visitors at the group's hotels in Japan, while bookings from other countries remained stable. A YouTube video published by local outlet HK01, in which a feng shui practitioner warns viewers against visiting Japan this summer, has racked up over 100,000 views. Despite the lack of scientific basis, the predictions have influenced some travellers like Don Hon, a 32-year-old social worker, who told AFP that while he doesn't fully believe the forecasts, he is avoiding Japan out of caution. 'If a friend asked me to go in July, I'd probably suggest somewhere else,' Hon said. Officials in Japan have expressed concern that misinformation may damage the country's tourism recovery. Miyagi Governor Yoshihiro Murai reassured travellers that there was no reason to worry, but warned that 'if unscientific rumours on social media are impacting tourism, that would be a major problem.' Despite the downturn in confidence, industry experts believe the effect may be temporary. 'Once July passes without incident, people will realise it's not true,' said Huen.