Quetta’s Sariab–Kuchlak ‘People’s Train’ Project Nears Completion as New Coaches Set to Arrive

Quetta: Work is progressing rapidly on the People’s Train project, which aims to provide residents of Quetta with a modern, safe, and affordable public transport service between Sariab Railway Station and Kuchlak.

According to sources, the newly manufactured train coaches for the project have been completed and are expected to arrive in Quetta within the next three to four days. After technical inspections and trial runs are completed, the service is expected to be formally inaugurated.

Sources said the inauguration ceremony is expected to be jointly attended by Federal Minister for Railways Hanif Abbasi, Governor of Balochistan Mir Jaffar Khan Mandokhail, and Chief Minister Mir Sarfraz Bugti.

Senior Pakistan Railways officials, provincial ministers, members of parliament, civil and military officials, representatives of the business community, students, and local residents are also expected to participate in the launch event.

Railway officials said the project is intended to improve transportation between Quetta and its suburban areas, reduce traffic congestion, and provide a safe, comfortable, and low-cost travel option for daily commuters, including government employees, students, laborers, and the general public.

Authorities added that railway tracks, stations, and other infrastructure between Sariab Railway Station and Kuchlak are also being upgraded. The new coaches are equipped with comfortable seating, improved lighting, proper ventilation, enhanced safety features, and other modern passenger amenities.

According to sources, once the coaches arrive in Quetta, they will undergo comprehensive technical inspections, along with testing of the railway tracks, signaling system, and overall operational readiness to ensure all safety requirements are met before the service begins. Pakistan Railways engineers and technical experts are currently completing the necessary preparations.

Railway officials believe the launch of the People’s Train service will significantly improve public transportation in Quetta while helping ease traffic congestion across the city. The project is expected to particularly benefit thousands of commuters traveling daily between Sariab, Kuchlak, and surrounding areas.

Sources also said preparations for the inauguration ceremony are in their final stages, with security arrangements and other administrative measures being finalized. During the event, officials are also expected to outline future plans to improve Balochistan’s railway network and expand the commuter rail service to additional areas. Public response to the project has been positive, with many residents expressing hope that it will provide a reliable, comfortable, and economical mode of transportation.