Sale of tickets for Pakistan’s first ever train in private sector started on Saturday, when Pakistan Railways (PR) Chairman Muhammad Arif Azeem, booked a ticket to travel on maiden journey of the train from Lahore to Karachi at Lahore Railway Station. Mian Shafqat Ali was also present on the occasion. Speaking at the booking inauguration, PR chairman said it would be a successful example of public-private partnership. Railways would provide all possible support to make this project a success. The first business train will be operational from January 15, 2012. PR management expects say the department will earn Rs1.15 billion per year through this project. Four Brothers International Private Limited, a private company, invested Rs225.786 million to bring substantive changes to value adding in the passenger services. Besides a modern booking booth, the company has also built a special passenger lounge at the city’s main station, which was recently inaugurated by General Manager (Operations) Saeed Akhtar.
“International standard facilitates will be provided to the passengers in this train, which will be operated between Lahore and Karachi,” said organisers of train service. According to the agreement, food and catering service for the passengers in the lounges and in business train would be provided by Four Brothers Pvt Limited. Business trains would consist of nine business-class air-conditioned coaches, with a journey time of 18 hours. It is expected that mostly business community would travel through the train. PR is likely to start more such trains in Sialkot and Faisalabad.