Islamabad: The Capital Development Agency (CDA) and Pakistan Railways completed a draft Sleeve draft for operating train services between Rawalpindi and Islamabad on Friday.
The CDA will also conduct a feasibility study on the project under the direction of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. Railway services will be launched from Margalla Railway Station to Saddar Rawalpindi to promote citizens.
Sources say the greatest caution is needed to make the project successful, as similar services initiated in the 1990s from Margalla Station to Saddar Rawalpindi closed within three months after it was declared a failed project.
An official source said: “In 1996, train services started from Margalla Station to Marir, but the train services were closed due to passenger shortages, which were only two dozen passengers travelled by travel.
The Margalla Station is located in the H-9 area of the Institutional Department.
The project aims to start electric trains through a feeder bus network to improve connectivity and reduce traffic in the twin cities
Meanwhile, from Saddar Rawalpindi to Pak Secretariat, Metro Bus services are already in operation, hosting large numbers of passengers every day.
But, railway and CDA officials say the new project will be successful with the help of feed bus services. They said high-speed electric trains will be launched instead of traditional trains, while breeding buses will help citizens reach both stations.
The source added that the railway could extend the track from the Magra station to 7up Chowk if needed and link it to 9th Avenue, the same avenue that Metro Bus Service already operates.
“This service will be successful because many universities and universities are also located in the H-9 field, so I don’t think there will be any passenger issues,” an official said.
The sleeves are not yet public, and many believe that the CDA will import the train and operate the service, while the railway will provide the tracks and handle its maintenance.
Recently, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif proposed the service to Railway Minister Hanif Abbasi and Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi, with the government aiming to start operations on March 23 next year.
“The draft sleeve has been completed and hopefully it will be signed between the railway and the CDA soon,” an official said after a hero at the CDA headquarters.
Railway officials also participated in the meeting chaired by CDA Chairman Muhammad Ali Randhawa.
A press conference posted by the CDA.
It said the meeting was a hero, with the aim of setting up the draft sleeves between the Twin Cities.
It said: “The CDA and Pakistan Railway will soon sign the sleeves on this project. The meeting discussed the contents of the sleeves in detail.”
“The meeting reviewed the proposed routes, layout plans, optimal business models and environmental technologies for train projects in detail.”
Chairman CDA Muhammad Ali Randhawa said the completion of the train project will greatly reduce traffic flow in the Twin Cities. He mentioned that the train service will be integrated with feeder electric bus service to ensure citizens can easily reach major locations in Islamabad. He added that the program will provide citizens with affordable, safe and comfortable travel.
Posted at Dawn on September 20, 2025
