This thread is about the Green Line train that was initiated by Nawaz Sharif government back in March and said to provide AC and WIFI included in the ticket.
on 11th August,I embarked on a 10 day trip to Islamabad.Went for the Green Line train that cost 5500/-Rs one way .The departure time was 10pm and it set off at that said time.No delays or anything.I had the lower birth and with me was an elderly couple in their late 40s .From hyderbad,another fellow in his late 40s joined us.
The "room" is an enclosed one so if you're travelling with family of lets say 6 and take up the whole room,you have all the privacy you'd need since it has a door and you can lock it .The room is soundproof in the sense that people outside the room (in the corridor) cannot hear you talking.The journey is 21-22 hours long and has several stops throughout the journey.I believe there are more stops from Karachi to RAwalpindi than there are from Rawalpindi to Karachi.
They didn't serve dinner the night the train departed,thankfully I had already eaten dinner at 8pm to be on the safe side.The couples however hadn't so they ordered some korma and nan which cost them 220rs .Smelled and looked good .They gave a kit which included a toothbrush,toothpaste,tissue paper,a piece of cloth,soap at night so we could freshen up in the morning.The kit was free of charge.The birth had blankets and pillows as well so you don't have to worry about that incase you think you'd feel cold but I would advice not to wear shorts or light clothes because the AC is on throughout the journey and it gets quite chilly at night.The couples I was with were extremely annoyed by this fact and asked the staff to turn down the AC but they didn't .Every room has a small 19" TV attached above the door of the room.It has a 2-3 indian movies which is played throughout the journey,you also get some animated movies and i believe some tv shows from national geographic .The room has it's own light and people in the adjacent room do not get disturbed if you stay up late since it's all closed up .
In the morning,they serve half an omelette with 3 slices of bread along with a small packet of strawberry jam and butter and of course they provide the kitchen knife to make things easier .After breakfast they serve tea which I did not entirely adore .Not due to the fact that it was made by a tea-bag but by the fact that the water they used did not seem to be nice .When I inquired about it they said that they use boiled water but it really just seemed tap water (not boiled but used directly to make water) .Hygiene control is good in the train,they take the trash from your dustin in the room at around afternoon I believe and the bathroom are also somewhat clean .There's water on the floor because some people are head over heals to pray and perform wudhu in the bathroom and make a huge mess ( no offense ) .
Few things that need to be told is that the train uses PTCL EVO Wingle for WiFI internet.Basically,there are access points on the train so you get full signals but no internet.For most of my journey from Karachi to Rawalpindi,I only got internet when the train stopped at a station,as soon as we left,it was gone .However ,on my way back from Rawalpindi to Karachi,I had internet for far more longer period of time .I couldn't properly at night because the couples I shared the room/compartment (whatever you call it) kept ranting about their family matters and kept talking and talking until 3am .During the day,I decided to sit outside in the corridor because there are folding seats there.Another issue because the majority of them are so ...overweight,that I had to go inside my room for them to pass .
At night,there is a policeman walking throughout the train with a gun .He advices everyone to keep their rooms closed and locked as well just in case .
For lunch,they gave biryani,chicken qorma,nan and raita .Lunch and dinner(in case of return because I had a different departure time that time) are really good.Anyone going by train shouldn't worry about meal because they are hygienic and tasty and fill you up as well.Breakfast was meh but one has to compromise when one is on a journey.I reached Rawalpindi around 7:35pm the next day
When I was coming back to Karachi from Rawalpindi after days ,my departure time was 3:40pm and arrived Karachi at around 1:15pm .I got off at Drigh Road because that made it a lot cheaper for me to get home by rickshaw.
I found my journey from Rawapindi to Karachi to be better for a few reasons.The people I shared the room were all strangers to each other so there wasn't THAT much talking depsite the fact that on my way back there were 6 guys in the room while previously there were 4 of us going .I'm sure the readers are getting what I"m trying to say. Women talk a lot man sheesh kebabs.And another reason why I found the journey back to karachi more comfortable was because of the timing.Somehow,the first journey seemed really long because you spent the WHOLE day ahead in the train since the train departed at 10pm and ten for the whole day next day you're in train.But when coming back,my train departed at 3:40pm and so I had to spend half a day in train,sleep the night and then the next day at noon i arrived so it seemed somewhat quicker (by half a day I meant daylight or staying up ) .
all in all,it is kind of annoying that it takes 21hours to get from Karachi to Rawalpindi when the trains here in China,not th bullet ones but the high-speed ones,can get you the same distance in 12 hours .21hours is a lot and when I got to Islamabad,I fell ill for a day and had to take Panadol Extra .The same thing happened when I came back to Karachi,had to take aspirin the next day because severe headache.
And this is not because I don't travel.Just last week I had a 26hours flight journey and I was all good when I arrived .
in summary,the Green Line train is good and affordable,if you're going by Daewoo,better take the Green Line but if you have the money to go by plane then don't push urself by taking the train .I wasn't in a hurry or anything and Green Line train seemed like a good choice,gave me a chance to experience the train life in Pakistan because the last time I travelled by train in Pakistan was back in 2004 I guess .
Feel free to add up your experiences of Green Line
on 11th August,I embarked on a 10 day trip to Islamabad.Went for the Green Line train that cost 5500/-Rs one way .The departure time was 10pm and it set off at that said time.No delays or anything.I had the lower birth and with me was an elderly couple in their late 40s .From hyderbad,another fellow in his late 40s joined us.
The "room" is an enclosed one so if you're travelling with family of lets say 6 and take up the whole room,you have all the privacy you'd need since it has a door and you can lock it .The room is soundproof in the sense that people outside the room (in the corridor) cannot hear you talking.The journey is 21-22 hours long and has several stops throughout the journey.I believe there are more stops from Karachi to RAwalpindi than there are from Rawalpindi to Karachi.
They didn't serve dinner the night the train departed,thankfully I had already eaten dinner at 8pm to be on the safe side.The couples however hadn't so they ordered some korma and nan which cost them 220rs .Smelled and looked good .They gave a kit which included a toothbrush,toothpaste,tissue paper,a piece of cloth,soap at night so we could freshen up in the morning.The kit was free of charge.The birth had blankets and pillows as well so you don't have to worry about that incase you think you'd feel cold but I would advice not to wear shorts or light clothes because the AC is on throughout the journey and it gets quite chilly at night.The couples I was with were extremely annoyed by this fact and asked the staff to turn down the AC but they didn't .Every room has a small 19" TV attached above the door of the room.It has a 2-3 indian movies which is played throughout the journey,you also get some animated movies and i believe some tv shows from national geographic .The room has it's own light and people in the adjacent room do not get disturbed if you stay up late since it's all closed up .
In the morning,they serve half an omelette with 3 slices of bread along with a small packet of strawberry jam and butter and of course they provide the kitchen knife to make things easier .After breakfast they serve tea which I did not entirely adore .Not due to the fact that it was made by a tea-bag but by the fact that the water they used did not seem to be nice .When I inquired about it they said that they use boiled water but it really just seemed tap water (not boiled but used directly to make water) .Hygiene control is good in the train,they take the trash from your dustin in the room at around afternoon I believe and the bathroom are also somewhat clean .There's water on the floor because some people are head over heals to pray and perform wudhu in the bathroom and make a huge mess ( no offense ) .
Few things that need to be told is that the train uses PTCL EVO Wingle for WiFI internet.Basically,there are access points on the train so you get full signals but no internet.For most of my journey from Karachi to Rawalpindi,I only got internet when the train stopped at a station,as soon as we left,it was gone .However ,on my way back from Rawalpindi to Karachi,I had internet for far more longer period of time .I couldn't properly at night because the couples I shared the room/compartment (whatever you call it) kept ranting about their family matters and kept talking and talking until 3am .During the day,I decided to sit outside in the corridor because there are folding seats there.Another issue because the majority of them are so ...overweight,that I had to go inside my room for them to pass .
At night,there is a policeman walking throughout the train with a gun .He advices everyone to keep their rooms closed and locked as well just in case .
For lunch,they gave biryani,chicken qorma,nan and raita .Lunch and dinner(in case of return because I had a different departure time that time) are really good.Anyone going by train shouldn't worry about meal because they are hygienic and tasty and fill you up as well.Breakfast was meh but one has to compromise when one is on a journey.I reached Rawalpindi around 7:35pm the next day
When I was coming back to Karachi from Rawalpindi after days ,my departure time was 3:40pm and arrived Karachi at around 1:15pm .I got off at Drigh Road because that made it a lot cheaper for me to get home by rickshaw.
I found my journey from Rawapindi to Karachi to be better for a few reasons.The people I shared the room were all strangers to each other so there wasn't THAT much talking depsite the fact that on my way back there were 6 guys in the room while previously there were 4 of us going .I'm sure the readers are getting what I"m trying to say. Women talk a lot man sheesh kebabs.And another reason why I found the journey back to karachi more comfortable was because of the timing.Somehow,the first journey seemed really long because you spent the WHOLE day ahead in the train since the train departed at 10pm and ten for the whole day next day you're in train.But when coming back,my train departed at 3:40pm and so I had to spend half a day in train,sleep the night and then the next day at noon i arrived so it seemed somewhat quicker (by half a day I meant daylight or staying up ) .
all in all,it is kind of annoying that it takes 21hours to get from Karachi to Rawalpindi when the trains here in China,not th bullet ones but the high-speed ones,can get you the same distance in 12 hours .21hours is a lot and when I got to Islamabad,I fell ill for a day and had to take Panadol Extra .The same thing happened when I came back to Karachi,had to take aspirin the next day because severe headache.
And this is not because I don't travel.Just last week I had a 26hours flight journey and I was all good when I arrived .
in summary,the Green Line train is good and affordable,if you're going by Daewoo,better take the Green Line but if you have the money to go by plane then don't push urself by taking the train .I wasn't in a hurry or anything and Green Line train seemed like a good choice,gave me a chance to experience the train life in Pakistan because the last time I travelled by train in Pakistan was back in 2004 I guess .
Feel free to add up your experiences of Green Line
. You Should have taken some pics yaar. 
