Pakistan Railways announced the operation of three special trains to facilitate passengers traveling between cities for the Eid-ul-Azha holiday [1].
These additional services are intended to manage the expected surge in passenger traffic during the religious festival. By increasing capacity, the railway authority aims to ensure safer travel and reduce overcrowding on standard routes during the peak holiday period [1], [2].
According to a railway official, the move is designed to help passengers traveling to different cities across the country [1]. The special trains will each consist of seven to eight coaches [3].
While the railway authority confirmed the addition of three trains, specific route details remain limited in official reports. Some reports indicate services will connect major hubs such as Lahore, Karachi, and Rawalpindi [1], [2]. One report said a special train would depart from Lahore for Karachi today [4], though this specific route was not explicitly detailed in other primary news reports [1], [2], [3].
Eid-ul-Azha typically triggers a mass migration of people from urban centers to ancestral villages and family homes. This annual trend puts significant pressure on the national rail network, often leading to ticket shortages and overcrowded carriages.
Railway officials said the special trains are part of a broader effort to maintain operational efficiency during the holiday. The deployment of these additional coaches allows the network to accommodate more travelers without disrupting the existing schedule of regular trains [1], [3].
“The special Eid trains will consist of seven to eight coaches each.”
The addition of special trains reflects the recurring logistical challenge Pakistan Railways faces during major religious holidays. While three extra trains provide some relief, the reliance on temporary services suggests that the baseline infrastructure remains insufficient to handle peak seasonal demand without emergency interventions.
