Passengers protest over missing coach

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RAWALPINDI:

Passengers travelling from Rawalpindi to Karachi on the Green Line Express staged a protest at Chaklala Railway Station on Sunday after alleging that the coach in which they had booked seats had not been attached to the train.

The protest brought the train to a halt, disrupting rail traffic for some time as passengers chanted slogans against the railway administration. The train had departed from Rawalpindi Railway Station on schedule but was stopped shortly after reaching Chaklala Railway Station, where passengers refused to allow it to proceed.

The protesters claimed that despite purchasing confirmed tickets, the railway administration had failed to attach their designated coach to the train. As a result, dozens of passengers, including women and children, were left stranded and forced to cope with the heat and what they described as poor management.

The Green Line Express is one of Pakistan Railways' premium and most expensive train services, the passengers said, yet the administration had failed to provide the facilities promised to fare-paying travellers.

Speaking to the media, one passenger said they had reserved their seats weeks in advance but were informed upon arriving at the station that their coach was not part of the train.