QUETTA: The Quetta-bound Bolan Mail (3UP) was halted at Jacobabad railway station on Sunday night due to security concerns.
According to Pakistan Railways, the train had arrived in Jacobabad from Karachi shortly after midnight. Authorities then instructed the station master not to allow the train to continue towards Quetta until security clearance was granted.
Pakistan Railways CEO Amir Ali Baloch confirmed the hours-long stoppage, explaining that night-time train operations are currently restricted in Balochistan due to safety concerns. “If the train had continued its journey, it would have reached Sibi late at night. So, we made the decision to stop it in Jacobabad and wait until morning,” he said.
The train was carrying around 150 passengers. With no clearance forthcoming, Railways officials arranged buses to transport passengers to Quetta and other destinations under tight security. Baloch noted that some passengers were refunded, while about 100 requested alternative transport and were sent via bus.
However, reports from the ground painted a more chaotic picture. Eyewitnesses said many passengers were forced to disembark and left stranded, prompting protests at Jacobabad station.
Angry passengers accused the railway administration of abandoning them mid-journey despite charging full fare from Karachi to Quetta. Some said they received only Rs200 in refunds, far short of the actual travel cost from Jacobabad to Quetta, which they claimed exceeds Rs1,000. Others said they weren’t reimbursed at all.
In the wake of the disruption, Pakistan Railways has announced a change in the Bolan Mail’s schedule. Starting Tuesday, the 3UP train will depart Karachi City Station at 3pm instead of the usual 7pm. Passengers, especially those with advance bookings, have been advised to adjust their plans accordingly.
