Travel by Train from Karachi to Islamabad

Traveling by Train to Islamabad

They were hot days of August in the year 2016 when i decided to visit Neelum Valley Kashmir with my family. The main focus was how to make it a memorable event:)

Then came the planning and it was finalized to reach Islamabad directly from Karachi and pursue further voyage from there.

Which train to choose?

Now question raised how to travel and everyone voted for a train journey. But the question was, whether any train goes directly to Islamabad, rather Rawalpindi. I remembered my previous visit to Lahore on Tezgam Express and had in mind that it was to continue further to Rawalpindi when we departed on Lahore junction. The search started and eventually we found more options.

We decided for Greenline:

Among the lot I liked the new service, Greenline Express. (https://www.pakrail.gov.pk/TrainTiming.aspx) upon a little more effort found that it has a unique USP and it was its last stop, you would believe it was in Islamabad. A newly renovated station named Margalla Railway Station right in the middle of lush green landscape and a big view of Margalla Hills. What else we needed.

We opted by AC Sleeper (it is a cabin wherein we had 6 sleeper seats available) which is relevant if there is an overnight travel. If you have a family and travel time is long my advice is to go for AC sleeper cabin. In greeline, Toilet, however, has to be shared with others....but still it is very clean and each rail bogie has two toilets on either sides. Along with the toilets it has two separate wash basins on each side of bogie for hands wash, toothbrush use or simply face washing that makes it 3 wash basins on each side and in total 6 in a bogie. the good part is that clean water was available throughout the journey.

Pathways are clean and no vendors or non ticket holders are allowed to enter you bogie just by their own will. So its a bit privacy prone and safer as well for the passengers.

Fares:

When i traveled back in 2016, one seat cost me 1550PKR. Currently at the time of blog being written, it is 2400 PKR. nyone can visit pakrail website and see desired plan easily

https://www.pakrail.gov.pk/TrainFare.aspx?planFromStation=7&planToStation=1070&train=44

The journey part:

Having said earlier, we were travelling as a family and hence opted for 6 sleeper bookings. Now to reserve tickets, we found multiple options, like UBL omni app, city station in person visit or, if someone can visit Karachi Airport at Pakrail counter. Since I lived nearby the Airport, I decided to opt this option so as to save myself from rush. (remember, at that there were very limited options to book online or of e-ticket. It has since been evolved in last 4 years).

Anyway I booked one way tickets as I was not aware of my return dates. (but to be honest my advice is to plan before hand your return dates and book them at the same time so you can save yourself of last moments booking issues, i will tell you later at the end that how i had to visit Islamabad office on the last day of visit and book tickets of next day and had to prolong one day stay at guest house)

Departure from Karachi Cant Station:

We departed from Karachi at around 10 pm and it was sharp. The train daily departs from Karachi at 10 PM and reaches Islamabad, Margalla Station at 8 PM next day, covering the distance of 1,500 approx KMs in 22 hours. Has scheduled stops at just 7 stations which makes the travel smooth and fast than many other train services. From Margalla Station the train departs at 3 PM and reaches in Karachi at 1 AM. 

https://www.pakrail.gov.pk/Map.aspx?trainId=44&trainName=Green%20Line(5UP)&frmCityCode=&toCityCode=&date=&istrainselected=true

Train was awesome so as the cabin. very clean and not smelly. Kids grabbed their desired slots not less then few minutes.

https://www.pakrail.gov.pk/TrainTiming.aspx

Although the train has designed stop at Hyderabad but at that day it did not stop (dont know why, maybe there was no one to leave or get onboard from their)

we already took Biryani with us from home for the late night cravings which kids enjoyed while watching a film on the multimedia television screen available in the cabin. My son attached his mobile phone with the screen and started the show:) that lasted well about 3 hours and then they went asleep until i woke them  up early in the morning just before sunrise...

(by the way i hardly fall asleep during the train, plane or bus travel i never get to do this)

Morning was awesome, the bright golden rays of a healthy shining day and Sindh Punjab border areas with increasing greener landscapes....While on the train....(Again to the morning scene) In the mean time,the door knocked and there he was.....the great man from the kitchen brought the need of time, the tea with a proper breakfast very hygienic and cleanly wrapped. 

Kids finished the stuff quickly and again were set up on their seats so as not to mis the enchanting morning vibes coming from outside the window.

    

We passed through the last cities of Sindh and could able to see the greener landscapes of Mirpurmathelo region till we reached border and then entered opening vicinity of Sadiqabad region. with in the hours we had crossed the Rahimyar khan desert belt and and headed towards Bahawalpur riyasat. It is one of unique cities in Pakistan. A mix of geographical and cultural mix of cholistan region with other Punjab. I felt like i am not on the train and my soul has started traveling in the beauty of the track. 

Soon the day roused and all of us tried to enjoy the moments, kids roam around the bogie and the cabin. in the meantime train reached Khanewal Junction and we decided to go out and actually feel the air of Punjab. 

It was hell of a hot day.....sun was burning out We were so chilled in there the train with full AC that could not get to feel about outside by the visuals....we could hardly spend 10 minutes on the platform o Khanewal junction and got inside. You can see the intensity of hot sunshine from the faces in above picture. We stayed inside until train reached Lahore junction later the day. 

Meanwhile killed the time by having lunch followed by some individual sightseeing and readings.

Later during the day we passed through Kohistan range and explored the untold beauty and landscapes of that terrain. It was wonderful view, there were small and big canyons combined with huge mountains and lush green ground....at some moments we experienced small tunnels but I could not capture them in photographs.

We reached Wazirabad by the time of 4pm approx. and later on train kept on flying until the dark surrounded everywhere. Everyone stayed inside the cabin and kept waited the voyage to complete when it crossed Gujrat, Lalamusa, Khariyan, Jhelum, Dina Suhawa, Gujar Khan untill we reached Rawat after Sunset. From there the train got a bit slow and kept creeping, may be the signals or track issue (god knows), until we saw a sihala railway crossing and soon a board of Chaklala. it was dark outside so pictures could not be taken on Chaklala Railway station. the train was dead slow but moving.

Very soon we reached the Margalla Railway station at the right time it was almost 8pm. Our driver already had a chat with us when we entered into capital territory he reached Margalla and was waiting for us to arrive in his. Soon we off loaded and packed up in the car waiting to drop us at our guest house at suhurwardi road, Islamabad.

Location of Margala Station on Google Map

I was indeed a wonderful exposure, I could not narrate it as i felt while going through. lets meet in the next blog where We will be leaving Islamabad for Muzaffarabad.