PAK Business Express Train launched in Pakistan, Ticket Price, rates

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PAK Business Express Train launched in Pakistan, Ticket Price, rates






Lahore. Karachi, Lahore Departure Daily 3 1/2 pm

Grand Openin

. On 03 February 2012 A
Advance Booking Available
Pak Business Express

■Overnight Comfortable travel - LCD/Tv with favorite programs - Inclusive of PC food menu ■ Emergency medical facility with link to 1122 - Online booking Avail of the following facilities in Lahore Business Lounge

■ Free home delivery tickets Spacious, Air Conditional Hall ■ Comfortable seating arrangements. Prayers room

■ Snack bar and gift shop ■ Free computer kiosk ■ Free wi-Fi internet facility - Modern washroom - Punctuality
Avail of the following facilities
For Booking: Pak Business Express Lounge, Main Railway Station, Lahore

Ph: 042^6292390. Fax: 0423^292390.
Email: infoSpakbusinessexpress.com

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Home

Welcome to Pakistan Business Express web site.
We are starting a new era in Pakistan’s railway history with Lahore-Karachi-Lahore train equipped with international facilities and providing best possible safety standards. Reserve your seat online today.
Update: Train service is starting from Lahore on 3-Feb-2012 and on 4-Feb-2012 from Karachi.
Timings

Total travel time: 18 hours

• Departure from Lahore: 3:30 pm
• Departure from Karachi: 3:30 pm

• Arrival in Lahore: 10:00 am
• Arrival in Karachi: 10:00 am

Train Features

1. Individual cabins for 6 passengers/families.
2. Over-night non-stop and confortable travel.
3. Video and music channels on LCD for each cabin
4. Hi-tea, dinner, snacks and beverages served by Pearl Continental Hotel. (Included in fare)
5. Emergency support through onboard para-medical staff and local 1122 direct access during travelling.
6. Web/online reservation with home delivery and cash collection service for tickets.

Lahore Business Lounge

1. Spacious and comfortable waiting hall.
2. Comfortable and relaxed sitting arrangement.
3. Prayer place.
4. Snack bar and gift shop.
5. Free internet kiosk.
6. Free wi-fi for your laptops.
7. Neat and clean washrooms.

Online Reservation

Reserve your seat for LAHORE-KARACHI-LAHORE travel. Once you have reserved your seat, you can make payment within 24 hours to confirm your seat.
Contact Information.
Fare

Fare includes meals, snacks, tea and beverages served by Pearl Continental Hotel, Lahore.
1 way 2 way 5,000 9,000

1. Add Rs:100 for home delivery in Lahore and Rs:200 for home delivery in other cities.
2. Cancellation policy: No cancellation charges if you cancel 72 hours before departure. 25% deduction if you cancel within 72 hours before departure. 50% deduction if you cancel within 48 hours before departure. 75% deduction if you cancel within 24 hours.

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First Business Express reaches Karachi from Lahore



KARACHI: Pakistan's first Business train reached Karachi fifteen minutes before the scheduled time from Lahore on Saturday, Geo News reported.

As part of first private investment of millions of rupees in the ailing state railways, the Business Express reached Karachi cantt station at 9:45am, 15 minutes ahead of the scheduled time. The train left Lahore at 3.30pm on Friday for its first journey.

Thirteen carriages have been lovingly restored into a sleek sleeper to ply the 1,200 kilometres (800 miles) between Pakistan's two biggest cities, Lahore and Karachi, on an 18-hour journey that once used to take upwards of 30 hours.

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Business train already failing to attract business

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Qadeer Tanoli
Karachi
The Business Express, launched amid much fanfare on February 4, has failed to attract customers due to its exorbitant fares and the absence of facilities promised on some of the bogies.
Launched on February 4, the train’s one-way fare is Rs5,000 compared to Rs3,500 for the air-conditioned class on other trains for the same destination. The luxury train has nine bogies and can carry a total of 954 passengers.
However, since the newly introduced train has not managed to draw the public’s attention, authorities reduced the fare by Rs1,500 to Rs3,500 for four bogies, while passengers choosing to travel on the remaining five will pay Rs5,000.
According to sources, the train is running with 300 to 400 passengers, less than half its capacity. At the time of the launch, its bogies were equipped with TV sets, and the private party that the Business train was outsourced to promised a higher quality of breakfast and dinner arrangements for the passengers.
However, it has been learnt that there are no LCD TVs or breakfast and dinner arrangements for passengers travelling on the carriages with reduced rates. Only those paying Rs5,000 are provided with the promised luxuries.
The Pakistan Railways signed an agreement with a private firm called ‘Four Brothers’ a few months ago after being allocated Rs240 million to repair engines and coaches.
According to the agreement, the private party was supposed to charge Rs3,500 from each passenger and was bound to pay 88 percent of the collected revenue to the Pakistan Railways and retain only 12 percent. However, when the train was launched, fares shot up to Rs5,000 and were only reduced to Rs3,500 for four bogies after a lack of public interest was observed.
In an effort to attract customers, the private firm opened three reservation counters at the Karachi Cantonment Station. Apart from the nine passenger bogies, the Business Express is also equipped with two power vans, a luggage coach and a dining car.
Sources say that revenue collected by the private company was supposed to be deposited in the railways account on a daily basis, but that did not happen.
This train is one of those rare ones that are equipped with a maximum of six motors for its engines. Only the Karakoram and a handful of other trains are being run on a six-engine motor capacity. Contrary to the Business Express, the Karakoram, Tezgam, Night Coach and Allama Iqbal Express are still doing a good business, sources claim.
The sources said this train arrives and departs at its schedule time. It arrives at 10am and leaves the metropolis at 3:30pm.
Despite the failure of this venture, the authorities have decided to outsource three more trains in the future, according to the sources.