ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Railways (PR) has refunded Rs380 million to passengers over a period of three years due to delay in starting trains from the original station.
“Rs 33 million in 2023, Rs 269 million in 2022 and Rs 78 million in 2021 have been recovered to facilitate passengers following their complaints regarding undue delay in arrival/departure of trains,” a Railway Ministry official told APP.
He said that Pakistan Railways is taking several steps to improve train service and facilitate passengers and in case of delayed running of trains, passengers are informed in advance through SMS alerts.
The official said passengers will get a full refund if the train starts more than six hours late from the original station. Besides, passengers are also provided with free meals in case of emergency, he added.
He said that in the event of disturbances, passengers are transported either by an alternative railway route or by road service organized by the administration.
Replying to a question, the official said that transportation of goods via railway is always economical for bulk goods and long distances providing economy of scale, while for shorter distance goods transportation and small goods, road has an advantage over Pakistan Railways. Due to doorstep loading and delivery options.
He said the main advantages of rail transport over road include multiple fuel efficiency and reduced transportation cost besides ensuring environmental improvement by up to 75 percent.
The official said that rail freight rates in Pakistan and globally vary widely due to various factors, including infrastructure, government policies, operational efficiency and market dynamics.
Some key points that highlight these differences, he added, include that many countries in the world have separate and dedicated shipping lanes, bulk transportation systems, and significant transportation capacities.
He said that Pakistan’s railway infrastructure is old and needs similar financial support from the government to modernize its infrastructure.
Countries with modern railway systems, such as the United States, China and many European countries, benefit from higher efficiency, faster speeds and better logistics services, reducing the overall cost of operations.