QUETTA: Pakistan Railways has suspended three trains due to insufficient passenger traffic.
According to railway officials, the Karachi to Quetta Bolan Mail will remain cancelled today, the Karachi to Peshawar Khushhal Khan Khattak Express is also suspended for today, while the Karachi to Lahore Shah Hussain Express will remain cancelled until September 6.
Officials added that affected passengers will be adjusted on alternative trains.
The Karachi to Sialkot Allama Iqbal Express will depart one hour late at 4:30 PM, while the Karachi to Rawalpindi Pakistan Express will leave an hour and a half late at 3:30 PM.
Additionally, the Karachi to Lalamusa Millat Express will depart at 6:00 PM, one hour later than its scheduled time.
Pakistan Railways has issued details regarding the trains operating to and from Balochistan.
According to the latest schedule, the Bolan Mail, running between Karachi and Quetta, remains one of the main intercity links for the province.
This train connects major cities including Hyderabad, Rohri, Jacobabad, Sibi, Kolpur and finally Quetta. Railway officials stated that Bolan Mail often faces suspension on low-demand days, and passengers are advised to check operation status before traveling.
The Jaffar Express continues to operate daily between Quetta and Peshawar.
Departing Quetta in the morning, it travels through Sibi, Dera Murad Jamali, Jacobabad, Multan, Lahore and Rawalpindi before reaching Peshawar, covering a journey of nearly 34 hours.
Officials highlighted that this train remains the longest route from Balochistan, although it has occasionally been suspended due to security concerns.
Meanwhile, the Chaman Passenger, also known as Chaman Mixed, connects Quetta with Chaman near the Afghan border.
This service runs in both directions daily, with the up train departing Quetta around 8:30 in the morning and the down train leaving Chaman in the afternoon.
It passes through key stations including Kuchlak, Bostan, Gulistan, Qilla Abdullah and Shela Bagh, and provides vital connectivity for northern Balochistan.
In addition, there is an international rail link between Quetta and Taftan on the Iranian border, which historically extended up to Zahedan.
However, railway authorities confirmed that regular passenger operations on this route remain suspended, and only occasional special services are arranged when required.
Officials further added that seasonal timetable adjustments came into effect earlier this year, and passengers must reconfirm schedules before traveling.
Long-distance trains such as the Jaffar Express require advance booking due to high demand, while regional trains including the Chaman Passenger often face delays owing to mountainous terrain and security checks.
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Railway sources emphasized that despite operational challenges, these services remain the backbone of passenger movement to and from Balochistan
