Balochistan prepares to launch first Jinnah Peoples Train

Balochistan’s first mass transit train service, the Jinnah Peoples Train, is ready to begin carrying passengers after a 32-kilometre railway track upgrade between Kuchlak and Sariab was completed, Chief Minister Mir Sarfraz Bugti announced on the social media platform X, according to Aaj News.

The train will run on a seven-station route. It will start at Kuchlak, then stop at Baleeli, Sheikh Manda, GOR, Quetta and Lora Karez before reaching its final station at Sariab. Bugti said the service would provide residents of Quetta and its surrounding areas with a cheaper, safer and better travel option than existing road transport.

Aaj News reported that the Balochistan government has said the project will be opened to the public soon, although the outlet did not report a launch date, fare structure or operating hours. UrduPoint reported separately that two coaches and one power van for the train have arrived in Quetta, and that preparations to run the service are in their final stages.

Once operational, the Jinnah Peoples Train will be the first mass transit rail service in Balochistan, connecting the provincial capital with its urban and suburban settlements along an upgraded corridor. The chief minister described the completed track upgrade as a step toward providing modern and affordable transport for the people of the province.

Neither report provided further details about the train’s schedule, frequency or ticketing. The track upgrade covers the existing railway line between Kuchlak and Sariab, which passes through several localities including Sheikh Manda, GOR and Lora Karez. The provincial government has not announced a date for the start of passenger services.