Jaffar Express (Urdu: جعفر ایکسپریس) is a passenger train operated daily by Pakistan Railways between Quetta and Peshawar.[1][2] The trip takes approximately 34 hours, 10 minutes to cover a published distance of 1,632 kilometres (1,014 mi), traveling along a stretch of the Rohri–Chaman Railway Line and Karachi–Peshawar Railway Line.
 The Jaffar Express at Attock City Junction railway station | |||||
| Overview | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Service type | Inter-city rail | ||||
| Status | Operational | ||||
| Locale | Quetta | ||||
| First service | 16 April 1998 | ||||
| Current operator(s) | Pakistan Railways | ||||
| Route | |||||
| Termini | Quetta Peshawar | ||||
| Stops | 37 | ||||
| Distance travelled | 1,632 kilometres (1,014 mi) | ||||
| Average journey time | 35 hours, 10 minutes | ||||
| Service frequency | Daily | ||||
| Train number(s) | 39UP 40Dn
(Quetta→Peshawar) (Peshawar→Quetta) | ||||
| On-board services | |||||
| Class(es) | Economy Class AC Standard AC Business AC Sleeper | ||||
| Seating arrangements | Available | ||||
| Sleeping arrangements | Available | ||||
| Technical | |||||
| Track gauge | 1,676 mm (5 ft 6 in) | ||||
| Operating speed | 110 km/h | ||||
| Track owner(s) | Pakistan Railways | ||||
| |||||
History
editThe Jaffar Express is named after Mir Jaffar Khan Jamali, who was a prominent Baloch tribal leader, active member of the Pakistan Movement, and a close friend of the Mohammad Ali Jinnah. He was the uncle of former Prime Minister Mir Zafarullah Khan Jamali. The train was inaugurated by the Prime Minister Mir Zafarullah Khan Jamali on 16 April 2003 with Chinese rakes.[3][permanent dead link] The original Jaffar Express ran between Quetta and Rawalpindi. In April 2017, the train was extended to Peshawar.
2025 hijacking
editOn 11 March 2025, the Jaffar Express passenger train traveling from Quetta to Peshawar in Pakistan was hijacked by the Balochistan Liberation Army, with over 440 people taken hostage. The BLA claims it killed more than 30 Pakistan Army personnel.[4][5] On 12 March security forces rescued all passengers and security personnel by the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA). The Pakistan Army confirmed the deaths of all 33 BLA militants,[6] as well as 21 passengers, 4 soldiers and the train driver.[7]
Route
editStation stops
edit- Quetta
- Kolpur
- Mach
- Aab-e-Gum
- Sibi
- Bakhtiarabad Domki
- Dera Murad Jamali
- Dera Allah Yar
- Jacobabad Junction
- Shikarpur
- Sukkur
- Rohri Junction
- Pano Akil
- Ghotki
- Sadiqabad
- Rahim Yar Khan
- Khanpur
- Bahawalpur
- Multan Cantonment
- Khanewal Junction
- Mian Channun
- Chichawatni
- Sahiwal
- Okara
- Pattoki
- Raiwind Junction
- Kot Lakhpat
- Lahore Cantonment
- Lahore Junction
- Gujranwala
- Wazirabad Junction
- Gujrat
- Lala Musa Junction
- Jhelum
- Rawalpindi
- Attock City Junction
- Nowshera Junction
- Peshawar City
- Peshawar Cantonment
Equipment
editThe train has Economy Class, AC Standard, AC Business and AC Sleeper accommodations.
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ "New train service from Peshawar to Quetta inaugurated". Daily Times. 16 April 2017.
- ^ Mughal, Owais (29 October 2004). "[IRFCA] Pakistan Railway Train Names". www.irfca.org. Retrieved 13 March 2025.
- ^ "Jaffar Express starts service". Daily Times. 22 April 2003. Retrieved 8 August 2012.
- ^ Banerjee, Aveek (13 March 2025). "Pakistan Train Hijack: Army Confirms End Of Operation Against Baloch Militants After Daylong Standoff". News18. Retrieved 13 March 2025.
- ^ "President condemns terrorist attack on Jaffar Express in Balochistan". Ary News. 12 March 2025. Retrieved 13 March 2025.
- ^ Asif, Shehzad (15 March 2025). "Death toll in Pakistan's train hijacking rises to 31, army says". Retrieved 19 March 2025.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ "Pakistan Train Attack LIVE Updates: Siege ends with 21 hostages dead, PM Sharif says attack won't shake resolve for peace". The Indian Express. 13 March 2025. Retrieved 19 March 2025.
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