Pakistan Railways sets record after launching 'longest' freight train in history

The Pakistan Railways has set a record after launching the longest and heaviest freight train in the department's history.

The train, operated by a three-person crew from head to tail, made its inaugural journey from Karachi to Kotri, carrying over 3000 tons of cargo.

According to a spokesperson, the freight train stretched over 2,500 feet with the addition of 50 coaches and was powered by the robust GE U40 locomotive engine.

“The train is capable of carrying the weight of more than 94 trucks (22-wheelers),” the PR said in a statement on the microblogging site X.  

The train took a high speed of more than 60km per hour and averaged 38kph while covering a distance of 127km.

The PR initiated this project to address challenges in freight traffic due to additional load limitations imposed by the government and the rising demand from shippers at ports.

Previously, in an effort to improve train speeds and ensure timely arrivals, Pakistan Railways planned to procure 230 passenger coaches and 820 High Capacity Wagons under the Public Sector Development Program (PSDP).

On the other hand, the department also announced its remarkable achievement of collecting Rs50 billion in revenue during the first eight months of the ongoing fiscal year.