ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Railways kicked off the operations of the “Safari Tourist Train” on Sunday, which aims to explore the Potohar region’s scenic landscapes and explore the rich heritage of the country’s railway, the state-run Associated Press of Pakistan (APP) said in a report.
The Potohar plateau is located in the north of Pakistan’s eastern Punjab province and west of the Azad Kashmir area. The districts of Attock, Jhelum, Chakwal and Rawalpindi constitute the Potohar plateau.
The train was first launched in February 2021 by then railways minister Azam Khan Swati but due to unexplained reasons, its operations were halted in 2022.
“The Pakistan Railway is set to breathe new life into tourism with the revival of its iconic ‘Safari Tourist Train,’ in collaboration with private company PK-Unicorn,” APP said.
The train’s operations commenced from Islamabad’s historic Golra Railway station at 9:00 a.m. on Sunday. The train will traverse through Hasan Abdal, Attock, and Attock Khurd Railway stations, the APP said.
The Pakistan Railways earlier said the tourist train’s purpose is to bolster tourism and acquaint travelers with the railway’s ancient heritage to promote tourism.
The train will pass through the imposing Margallah Hills and the Sangjani tunnel as well as the Chablal Bridge, Haro Bridge, Ghazi Borotha and Attock Khurd bridges, offering tourists a view of the beautiful Potohar landscape.
Fares for the journey range from Rs 2,000 ($7.20) for the Economy class to Rs 4,500 ($16.20) for a Deluxe package inclusive of meals, the APP said.
