The Akbar Express (Urdu/Balochi: ) was a passenger train operated daily by Pakistan Railways (PR) between Quetta and Lahore. The trip took approximately 23 hours and 30 minutes to cover a published distance of , traveling along the Rohri–Chaman Railway Line, Karachi–Peshawar Railway Line, Khanewal–Wazirabad Branch Line and the Shahdara Bagh–Sangla Hill Branch Line.
The Akbar Express was the only train that connected Faisalabad with Quetta.
History The Akbar Express was previously known as the Quetta Express. In August 2013, it was renamed to Akbar Express in honour of Nawab Akbar Khan Bugti, a Baloch nationalist leader and former head of the Jamhoori Wattan Party.
Pakistan Railways (PR) suspended the train in 2010 due to lack of locomotives but was resumed on 25 April 2013., Publisher: Pakistan Observer, Published on 25 April 2013, Retrieved on 26 April 2013 However it was again suspended in March 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Route Originally, the Quetta Express ran between Quetta and Peshawar via Rohri, Multan, Lahore, and Rawalpindi. Since being renamed to Akbar Express, the route has been shortened to Lahore via Faisalabad.
Quetta–Rohri Junction via the Rohri–Chaman Railway Line Rohri Junction–Khanewal Junction via the Karachi–Peshawar Railway Line Khanewal Junction–Sangla Hill Junction via the Khanewal–Wazirabad Branch Line Sangla Hill Junction–Shahdara Bagh Junction via the Shahdara Bagh–Sangla Hill Branch Line Shahdara Bagh Junction–Lahore Junction via the Karachi–Peshawar Railway Line
Station stops
Quetta Kolpur Mach Aab-e-Gum Sibi Junction Bakhtiarabad Domki Dera Murad Jamali Dera Allah Yar Jacobabad Junction Shikarpur Sukkur Rohri Junction Pano Akil Ghotki Mirpur Mathelo Sadiqabad Rahim Yar Khan Khanpur Junction Liaquatpur Dera Nawab Sahib Bahawalpur Jahanian Khanewal Junction Shorkot Cantonment Junction Toba Tek Singh Gojra Faisalabad Sangla Hill Junction Sheikhupura Lahore Junction
Equipment The Akbar Express consists of ten coaches and four rakes with AC Standard, First Class Sleeper, and Economy Class accommodations. 12345678910Power VanAC StandardEconomyEconomyEconomyFirst Class SleeperEconomyEconomyEconomyBrake Van
Incidents
On Sept 26, 2002, Quetta Express derailed near Sibi resulting 7 dead and 57 injured.
See also
List of railway accidents and incidents in Pakistan Pakistan Railways (PR) Jaffar Express 2025 Jaffar Express hijacking
References