Pakistan Railways to operate Cargo Express from Sept 2

By Abdul Qadir Qureshi
(Pakistan News & Features Services)

After revamping the railway’s falling system and entering the profit earning phase, the Pakistan Railways is now set to operate ‘Cargo Express’ from September 2.

According to the railways sources, the Cargo Express will operate twice a week on Tuesdays and Saturdays between the Karachi Cantonment and the Badami Bagh Station and the inaugural train will leave at 11 pm on September 2. 

Subsequently, the sources added, the frequency of the train will later be increased to the level of one train every day. 

It may be mentioned here that the Pakistan Railways has already been operating 8-9 freight trains on daily basis while this Cargo Express Train has been revived after a lapse of more than three years. The last cargo train was dispatched on June 20, 2011. 

The Cargo Express will consist of a load of 23=46 ZBCs (New Chinese Covered Wagons). The freight of each wagon is Rs. 130,000 and the total freight of one full train will be Rs three million. Sources said that the expected monthly earning from this train will be Rs. 24 million while Rs 300 million were expected as annual earning. 

The Cargo Express will carry general cargo like soaps, detergents, tissue boxes, imported household items and spare parts will be transported through this train. The expected running time of cargo express is 38 hours while proper time table has already been issued for this train on the lines of Passenger Express Train.