Quetta Railway Station (Urdu: کوئٹہ اسٹیشن; Balochi: کوئٹہ اسٹیشن) is the main railway station of Quetta, Balochistan, Pakistan. It serves as a major station on the Rohri-Chaman Railway Line and as the eastern terminus of the Quetta-Taftan Railway Line.[1][2]
Quetta Railway Station کوئٹہ ریلوے اسٹیشن | ||||||||||||||||
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 Quetta Railway Station in 2006 – front view | ||||||||||||||||
| General information | ||||||||||||||||
| Location | 526 Zarghun Road Quetta, Balochistan 87300 Pakistan | |||||||||||||||
| Coordinates | 30°11′29″N 67°00′03″E / 30.1915°N 67.0009°E | |||||||||||||||
| Owned by | Ministry of Railways | |||||||||||||||
| Line(s) | ||||||||||||||||
| Construction | ||||||||||||||||
| Structure type | Standard (on ground station) | |||||||||||||||
| Parking |  Available | |||||||||||||||
| Bicycle facilities | Available | |||||||||||||||
| Accessible |  Available | |||||||||||||||
| Other information | ||||||||||||||||
| Status | Functional | |||||||||||||||
| Station code | QTA | |||||||||||||||
| History | ||||||||||||||||
| Opened | 1887 | |||||||||||||||
| Electrified | No | |||||||||||||||
| Services | ||||||||||||||||
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History
editQuetta was considered a strategic city during the British Raj. The station was built as part of the strategic line the Scinde, Punjab & Delhi Railway constructed. Construction began in 1881 and opened to the public in 1887, which by then was part of the North Western State Railway. Quetta was always considered an important strategic destination as Britain feared that the Russian Empire might advance from Afghanistan into Quetta, thereby threatening its rule in South Asia. In 1857, it was suggested by William Andrew (Chairman of Scinde, Punjab & Delhi Railway) that a railway line be constructed through the Bolan Pass. On 18 September 1879, work began on laying the railway tracks, and after four months, the first 215 kilometres of the line from Ruk to Sibi was completed and became operational in January 1881. Beyond Sibi, the terrain was challenging. After immense difficulties and harsh weather conditions, the line reached Quetta in March 1887.
2024 bombing
edit
On 9 November 2024, at least 32 people died and at least 62 others were injured in a suicide bombing at the station by the Balochistan Liberation Army.[3][4]
Train routes
editThe following trains stop/terminate/originate from Quetta station:
| Preceding station | Pakistan Railways | Following station | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Terminus | Akbar Express | Kolpur towards Lahore Junction
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| Kolpur towards Karachi City
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Bolan Mail | Terminus | ||
| Terminus | Chaman Mixed | Sheikh Mandah towards Chaman
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| Jaffar Express | Kolpur towards Peshawar Cantonment
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File: Quetta Railway Station 3.jpg -
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See also
editReferences
edit- ^ "Documentary on Quetta Railway Station". radio.gov.pk.
- ^ "کوئٹہ کا ریلوے اسٹیشن ویران: مسافر، قلی اور ٹیکسی ڈرائیور سب پریشان" [Quetta's railway station deserted: Passengers, passengers and taxi drivers are all worried]. VOA Urdu (in Urdu). 26 October 2022.
- ^ "Inside the Deadly Quetta Railway Station Attack and Its Aftermath – TBP Report". The Balochistan Post. 10 November 2024. Retrieved 11 November 2024.
- ^ "Death toll rises to 26 in Quetta Railway Station blast, 62 injured". DAWN.COM. 9 November 2024. Retrieved 10 November 2024.
