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Rawalpindi Railway Station

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The Rundown

Rawalpindi Railway Station is now one of the most important transport landmarks in Pakistan and it has been serving the passengers since its launch back in the British India era of the 19th century. It is one of the oldest and busiest railway stations of the country having seen the rise and development of the rail network in Pakistan since colonial times up to the independence and into the modern times. 

 

It is an important northern travel depot interlinking most of the major cities such as Lahore, Karachi, Quetta and Peshawar by an elaborate rail system. Its position is also strategic as it is not only involved in passenger services but it is also engaged in massive freight activities and provides an important gateway of tourism flows between Rawalpindi and other destinations in Pakistan and is hence an essential part of Pakistani transportation hub.

 

Location and Accessibility

 

The railway station is strategically located at the center of Saddar area in Rawalpindi, and it is well accessible to other parts of the city. Being in the very center, it is conveniently accessible by a variety of transport options, provided both by the ordinary taxi system and such innovations in ride-hailing as Yango and InDrive and well-developed systems of city transport. The fact that the station city is situated close to major commercial centers like, Raja Bazaar, Gawalmandi and Mall Road makes it more convenient to the travellers who might want to do some business or shopping before traveling. There are quite a number of taxis and rickshaws located outside the station premises, thus a smooth interface to other segments in the city. Though there is a parking lot provided to those tourists that want to travel by their own means, parking space is not abundant and might cause problems during the major hours so it is the drop off arrangements that are more feasible to the majority of the passengers.

The Story

The station has several ticketing counters which are aimed at dealing with prior reservation as well as on-the-fly travel at the same time. These counters are manned by skilled human resources who will guide the passengers in the planning of their routes, fares, and effective choice of the seats in the various classes of travelling. Besides the traditional counter services, the station has also adopted the digital wave by providing e-ticket services, which are made available on the Pakistan Railways official web site on the internet as well as mobile applications. Through this contemporary means, passengers are capable of remotely booking their tickets, reserve seats of their preference, and also allow them to pay their ticket fees online; this has greatly cut their waiting time and enhanced the travelling convenience of the techno savvy passengers.

 

Waiting Rooms and Lounges

 

Given that different passengers have different needs, Rawalpindi Railway Station has offered different classes of waiting areas depending on the comfort and the class of traveling. Economy passengers are placed in the general waiting rooms and the lodgers are given complete comfort as the AC class passengers in the air-conditioned lounges. It has specifically paid special attention to giving special waiting rooms to the families and women visitors, and there will be privacy and security that is culturally very appropriate. Such facilities will come with simple facilities such as seating facilities, ceiling fans or air conditioning, and clean wash rooms to support the comfort of the passengers and also to make them comfortable when they are waiting.

 

Food and Retail

 

The station has a lot of small food stalls that serve the needs of travelers in terms of their basic food and beverage like tea, snacks, bottled water and local food and beverages. Such outlets offer cheap food to travelers on their trip or as they await train departure. Also, the station has retail stores stocked with mobile accessories, newspapers, books and general travel related products, which means that people would not need to move out of the station complex to buy whatever they need. The presence of such services contributes to a great deal of convenience to the travelers who might have forgotten certain fundamental things or require something to drink during the trip.

 

Cargo and Parcel Services

 

In addition to passenger services, the Rawalpindi Railway Station has full cargo and parcel services in different counters and has special loading docks. These are related to freights transportation, luggage transport, and cargo transport used commercially. The freight services link the businesses in Pakistan and are able to carry out trade and commerce on the railway network. These operations are managed by specialized personnel that would ensure goods are handled, documented and tracked effectively to their respective destinations in different parts of the country.

 

Security and Assistance

 

The station has a strong security level and 24-hour police patrol and extensive levels of security screenings to control the security of the passengers. There are help desks that are manned by knowledgeable persons that offer guide to the traveler queries such as route details, schedule clearance, and general advice. These security and support services will ensure a safer traveling environment and promptly and professionally solve the concerns of passengers.

 

Popular Train Routes from Rawalpindi Station

 

Rawalpindi Railway Station is a starting point of many luxury trains which connect various cities of Pakistan. Karachi route is the route with such popular services in the country as the Green Line Express and Tezgam Express, which offers comfortable transportation to the largest and the economic center of the country on a long distance. Travelers bound to Lahore have Subak Raftar and Awam Express, which both have regular connectivity to the capital of Punjab. The route is served by the Rehman Baba Express and Khyber Mail, which make it possible to travel to the provincial center of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Also, Jaffar express will offer connectivity to the capital of Balochistan, Quetta, through Lahore and Multan, where consumers will have access to the city.

 

Local and Regional Travel

 

The station also serves smaller regional services to other cities like Jhelum, Gujrat, Sargodha and Chakwal with the necessary connectivity being made to the local communities and the businesses. These are local services that serve day commuters and support economic operations in the smaller cities of Punjab. Special seasonal trains are used during religious feasts, especially Eid festivals, and other national holidays to cope with the high traffic by the rail network and hence the railway system can handle the highest traffic efficiently.

 

Tips for a Smooth Journey from Rawalpindi Station

 

To avoid last minute stress and complications during travelling, commuters are advised to be early into the station and present themselves at least 45-60 mins before their departure time. That will give ample time to check the tickets, security check, and find the platform. Last minute changes should also be taken seriously since travelers should be able to know their platform number by use of announcement boards and inquiry counters. Although food vendors and small retailers mainly deal with cash, it is recommended to carry sufficient cash to buy food and to have last-minute requirements since most of the vendors accept cards. To be able to track the luggage, passengers are advised to wear tags on the luggage and keep all their belongings during the travel. Holiday seasons and Eid are high booking times, and in that case, it is highly advisable to book the tickets in advance so as to control the instances of over booking as well as the availability of seats. To have a more comfortable travel on the long routes, it is best to book the AC Business coaches or the AC Sleeper coaches as early as possible since they are the luxurious bus services with few slots and high rate of occupancy.

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