| Overview | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Service type | Inter-city rail, Mail express | ||||
| Predecessor | Shaheen Express | ||||
| First service | 1940 | ||||
| Current operator | Pakistan Railways | ||||
| Route | |||||
| Termini | Karachi Cantonment Sialkot Junction | ||||
| Stops | 35 | ||||
| Distance travelled | 1,362 kilometres (846 mi) | ||||
| Average journey time | 25 hours | ||||
| Service frequency | Daily | ||||
| Train numbers | 9UP (Karachi→Sialkot) 10DN (Sialkot→Karachi) | ||||
| On-board services | |||||
| Classes | Economy Class,AC Standard | ||||
| Sleeping arrangements | Not Available | ||||
| Catering facilities | Not available | ||||
| Technical | |||||
| Track gauge | 1,676 mm (5 ft 6 in) | ||||
| Track owner | Pakistan Railways | ||||
| |||||
TheAllama Iqbal Express (Urdu:علامہ اقبال ایکسپریس) is apassenger train operated daily byPakistan Railways betweenKarachi andSialkot, two important industrial hubs of Pakistan. The trip takes approximately 25 hours and 30 minutes to cover a published distance of 1,362 kilometres (846 mi), traveling along theKarachi–Peshawar Railway Line,Shahdara Bagh–Chak Amru Branch Line andWazirabad–Narowal Branch Line.
The Allama Iqbal Express is one of the oldest express trains of Pakistan, beginning in 1940 as theShaheen Express fromKarachi toSialkot viaFaisalabad. In 1985, Shaheen Express was renamed to Allama Iqbal Express, in honor of Pakistan's famous poet Dr.Muhammad Iqbal, who was born in Sialkot.[1]
In 1998, the Allama Iqbal Express was redirected viaWazirabad Junction toSialkot Junction. In 2004, it was again redirected to the current route viaNarowal Junction.
Allama Iqbal Express consists of 16 coaches (all economy class accommodation), one power van one AC standard and one luggage van.[2]
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Power Van | Economy | Economy | Economy | Economy | Economy | AC Standard | Economy | Economy | Economy | Economy | Economy | Economy | Economy | Economy | Economy | Economy | Luggage Van |
On Nov 3, 2009, this train collided head-on with a goods train in Karachi. Resulting 18 dead and 45 injured.[3]
