Shalimar Express collides with goods train in Pakistan, one dead
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- First seen: March 15, 2026 at 06:03 PM UTC
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- Last updated: March 18, 2026 at 06:05 AM UTC
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Fresh inspection belies earlier findings on train accident
• Officials who examined Shalimar Express at Rohri had reported faulty brakes in nine carriages • Eyebrows raised as drivers blamed for failure to stop train in time LAHORE: A train “is seen as safe for operation” when more than 80 per cent of its braking system is functional, a spokesperson for the Pakistan Railways (PR) said on Tuesday. In a statement regarding the Shalimar Express, which suffered an accident over the weekend, the department seemingly contradicted its own officials’ earlier report, who had found that nine carriages of the train that collided with a goods train near Naushahro Feroze on Sunday, had faulty brake cylinders. The initial inspection carried out by the officials at Rohri station found that 10, out of a total of 18 carriages of the Shalimar Express, were operating as “dummy coaches”. Nine of these were being run “without brakes and required urgent maintenance”, the inspectors concluded. According to the spokesperson, however, the rake was subsequently examined on Monday (March 16) and its braking system was “found to be intact and working with 95pc efficiency”. The statement said that when the carriages of Shalimar Express were examined in Lahore after the accident, they were found to be “equipped with fully functional braking system, with 95pc braking power”. He said an inquiry had been initiated by the Federal Government Inspector for Railways (FGIR) to determine the “actual causes of the accident and to recommend corrective measures”. “Pakistan Railways adheres to strict inspection and safety protocols, and no train is permitted to operate unless it meets prescribed safety requirements,” he said. “Railways remains fully committed to ensuring passenger safety, operational excellence and transparency.” A report signed by five officials, known in railway parlance as a ‘joint certificate’, stated that the interlocking system (Kanta) for the passage of the train was not set for the main line. It further said the pointman and station master showed a red signal to the driver, but since he could not control the train and overshot, it collided with the goods train that was on Main Line-1. “The collision resulted in the derailment and capsizing of the engine and the derailment of two carriages next to it. Three wagons loaded with containers of the goods train also derailed, leading to the blocking of both the up and down main lines as well as the loop line,” the certificate stated. “After checking all aspects, we came to the conclusion that the accident took place due to negligence of the Shalimar Express crew. “Hence, the driver and the assistant driver are held responsible for the accident.” One of the officials who inspected the train at Rohri, speaking on condition of anonymity, expressed surprise over reports that an initial investigation by Pakistan Railways had held the “driver and the assistant driver responsible for the accident”. “When the brake system is not working, why are the driver and the assistant driver being declared guilty. Even if the driver knew it, why was a faulty train handed over to him,” he wondered. He appealed to the railways minister, the PR’s chief executive officer and the FGIR to punish those responsible for the maintenance of trains and the safety of passengers. Last year, the train drivers’ union protested a series of reports which held them responsible for derailments and accidents, warning of a countrywide strike if Railways continued to use “faulty carriages and wagons”. Published in Dawn, March 18th, 2026
DawnMarch 18, 2026 at 03:20 AM UTC60pc of Shalimar Express coaches ‘didn’t have brakes’: Pakistan Railway
• Inspection in Sukkur finds fault with 10 of train’s 18 carriages • Initial inquiry blames driver and assistant for Naushahro Feroze accident despite defects LAHORE: An initial inspection carried out by Pakistan Railways officials has found that 10 of the total 18 passenger coaches of the 27-Up Shalimar Express were operating as “dummy” coaches, including nine — nearly 60 per cent — that were being run without brakes and required urgent maintenance. Contrary to the examination of the rake of the Shalimar Express, which met with an accident after hitting a stationary freight train from behind at the loop line of Lakha Road Railway Station in Naushahro Feroze district on Sunday afternoon, a very initial inquiry has surprisingly held the driver and his assistant responsible for the accident, stating that they overshot and failed to control and stop the train. “It is really surprising to see both reports — the train’s rake examination [inspection of coaches] and the initial probe report called the ‘Joint Certificate’ in railway terminology. The examination of the rake has revealed that nine of the total 18 coaches [nearly 60pc] had no brakes and other issues. “On the other hand, the initial investigation surprisingly holds the driver and assistant driver responsible for the accident,” said an official source in Pakistan Railways. “When the brake system is not working, why are the driver and assistant driver being declared guilty? Even if the driver knew it, why was a faulty train handed over to him to operate?” he said, requesting the railways minister, the Pakistan Railways chief executive officer, the Federal Government Inspector of Railways, and others to punish those responsible for the maintenance of trains and the safety of passengers, crew and other train staff during the journey. Contradictory reports According to the train’s rake examination report, jointly signed by a team headed by the train examiner in Sukkur, there were issues with 10 coaches — ZBH (15028), ZBXH (11264), ZBXH (11288), ZRGH (11496), ZRGH (11499), ZRHG (11421), ZRGH (11561), ZRGH (11507), ZRGH (11461) and ZRGH (11475). “The brake cylinders of nine of these coaches were not working during checking at the Rohri station,” the report read. Meanwhile, the Joint Certificate, signed by five officers, stated that the points (Kantas/interlocking system) for the passage of the train were not set for the main line. It further read that the pointsman and station master showed a red signal to the driver, but he could not control the train and overshot, colliding with the QSSCTR goods train that was standing on Main Line-1 (Up Loop Line) to give way to the 27-Up train at about 1:43pm. “The collision resulted in the derailment and capsizing of the engine and the derailment of two coaches next to it. Three wagons loaded with containers of the goods train were also derailed, leading to the blocking of both the up and down main lines as well as the loop line,” it stated. “After checking all aspects, we came to the conclusion that the accident took place due to the negligence of the crew of the 27-Up (Shalimar Express). Hence, the driver and assistant driver are held responsible for this accident,” the initial investigation concluded. It is pertinent to mention that in August last year, train drivers protested against being held responsible for derailments and accidents and warned of initiating a countrywide strike if Pakistan Railways continued to use ‘faulty’ coaches and wagons. Published in Dawn, March 17th, 2026
DawnMarch 17, 2026 at 03:19 AM UTC1 dead as Lahore-bound Shalimar Express derails after colliding with goods train in Naushahro Feroze
KARACHI/LAHORE: At least one person died on Sunday after Lahore-bound Shalimar Express collided with a goods train at Lakha Road Railway Station in Sindh’s Naushahro Feroze district on Sunday. There are also reports of injuries, but the exact number is yet to be ascertained. In a statement, Sindh’s Rescue 1122 said a body was recovered from the site, while 13 injured people were rescued and provided with first aid. The rescue service listed the names and ages of the 13 injured, with the wounded aged between 15 and 60 years. Rescue 1122 said its Urban Search and Rescue teams from the Bandhi satellite station had reached the site of the incident soon after receiving the alert. Railways Minister Hanif Abbasi also confirmed to Dawn that a person had lost their life in the incident, saying that he was a temporary employee of the Pakistan Railways (PR) and that he was aboard the goods train and not Shalimar Express. He, however, claimed that none of the passengers aboard Shalimar Express were either killed or injured in the accident. On the other hand, Naushahro Feroze Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Mir Rohal Khoso said at least four to five people had been injured. He also confirmed that the one person who died in the incident was travelling in the goods train. Sources earlier told Dawn that as Shalimar Express approached Lakha Road Station, the interlocking system was set such that the train veered toward a loop line, where a goods train was parked. Subsequently, the driver immediately applied the brakes, but the train eventually collided with the parked train, they said. As a result, the passenger train’s locomotive and several coaches were derailed and capsized. This was later also confirmed by SSP Khoso. Shalimar Express’s driver, Haji Fayyaz, also told Dawn that “our kanta (interlocking /signalling system) was set for the loop line, whereas we had to pass the station without stopping”. “The brake also did not work properly, and the signal was also red,” he said. According to sources, traffic on the main line was disrupted due to the collision, and a relief train was dispatched to the accident site for the removal of the damaged locomotive, coaches and wagons. Inquiry ordered Minister Abbasi confirmed to Dawn that an inquiry had been ordered into the incident and that it would be conducted by the federal government officer of railways, who is a grade-20 officer. PR Chief Executive Officer Amir Ali Baloch said while speaking to Dawn that he believed the driver’s negligence caused the accident. The CEO said that if one of the two signals was red, it meant that the driver was supposed to stop. “And if the interlocking system was set for the loop line, the driver should have understood that he was supposed to stop,” he added. But, he continued, anything could only be said with certainty after the inquiry. But, according to SSP Khoso, preliminary information suggests that the collision occurred due to “a technical fault on the part of the railway department”. He said police pickets had been established around the site of the incident to maintain law and order. “Close liaison is also being maintained with the Railway Police and railway officials. Maintenance work has been completed, the tracks have been cleared, and train operations have been restored,” he added.
DawnMarch 15, 2026 at 07:29 PM UTC1 dead, 13 injured as Shalimar Express derails after colliding with goods train in Naushahro Feroze: Rescue 1122
KARACHI/LAHORE: At least one person died and 13 others were injured on Sunday after Lahore-bound Shalimar Express collided with a goods train at Lakha Road Railway Station in Sindh’s Naushahro Feroze district on Sunday, Rescue 1122 said. In a statement, Sindh’s Rescue 1122 said a body was recovered from the site, while the injured were rescued and provided with first aid. The rescue service listed the names and ages of the 13 injured, with the wounded aged between 15 and 60 years. Rescue 1122 said its Urban Search and Rescue teams from the Bandhi satellite station had reached the site of the incident soon after receiving the alert. Railways Minister Hanif Abbasi also confirmed to Dawn that a person had lost their life in the incident, saying that he was a temporary employee of the Pakistan Railways (PR) and that he was aboard the goods train and not Shalimar Express. “He was travelling covertly in the last wagon,” he said. He claimed that none of the passengers aboard Shalimar Express were either killed or injured in the accident. Sources earlier told Dawn that as Shalimar Express approached Lakha Road Station, the interlocking system was set such that the train veered toward a loop line, where a goods train was parked. Subsequently, the driver immediately applied the brakes, but the train eventually collided with the parked train, they said. As a result, the passenger train’s locomotive and several coaches were derailed and capsized. Shalimar Express’s driver, Haji Fayyaz, also told Dawn that “our kanta (interlocking /signalling system) was set for the loop line, whereas we had to pass the station without stopping”. “The brake also did not work properly, and the signal was also red,” he said. According to sources, traffic on the main line was disrupted due to the collision, and a relief train was dispatched to the accident site for the removal of the damaged locomotive, coaches and wagons. Inquiry ordered Minister Abbasi confirmed to Dawn that an inquiry had been ordered into the incident and that it would be conducted by the federal government officer of railways, who is a grade-20 officer. PR Chief Executive Officer Amir Ali Baloch said while speaking to Dawn that he believed the driver’s negligence caused the accident. The CEO said that if one of the two signals was red, it meant that the driver was supposed to stop. “And if the interlocking system was set for the loop line, the driver should have understood that he was supposed to stop,” he added. But, he continued, anything could only be said with certainty after the inquiry.
DawnMarch 15, 2026 at 05:18 PM UTC