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Quetta railway station

Coordinates: 30°11′29″N 67°00′03″E / 30.1915°N 67.0009°E / 30.1915; 67.0009
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Quetta Railway Station

کوئٹہ ریلوے اسٹیشن
Quetta Railway Station in 2006 – front view
General information
Location526 Zarghun Road
Quetta, Balochistan 87300
Pakistan
Coordinates30°11′29″N 67°00′03″E / 30.1915°N 67.0009°E / 30.1915; 67.0009
Owned byMinistry of Railways
Line(s)
Construction
Structure typeStandard (on ground station)
ParkingCar parking Available
Bicycle facilitiesAvailable
AccessibleDisabled access Available
Other information
StatusFunctional
Station codeQTA
History
Opened1887; 137 years ago (1887)
ElectrifiedNo
Services
Preceding station Pakistan Railways Following station
Sar-I-Ab Rohri–Chaman Line Sheikh Mandah
towards Chaman
Terminus Quetta–Taftan Line Sar-I-Ab
towards Zahedan
Computerized Ticketing Counters Luggage Checking System Parking Disabled Access Food Plaza Kiosks WC Taxi Stand Public Transportation Metro interchange
Location
Quetta Railway Station is located in Balochistan, Pakistan
Quetta Railway Station
Quetta Railway Station
Location within Balochistan, Pakistan
Quetta Railway Station is located in Pakistan
Quetta Railway Station
Quetta Railway Station
Quetta Railway Station (Pakistan)
Map

Quetta Railway Station (Urdu: کوئٹہ اسٹیشن; Balochi: کوئٹہ اسٹیشن) is the main railway station of Quetta, Balochistan, Pakistan. It serves as a major station on the Rohri-Chaman Railway Line and as the eastern terminus of the Quetta-Taftan Railway Line.[1][2]

History

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Quetta was considered a strategic city during the British Raj. The station was built as part of the strategic line the Scinde, Punjab & Delhi Railway constructed. Construction began in 1881 and opened to the public in 1887, which by then was part of the North Western State Railway. Quetta was always considered an important strategic destination as Britain feared that the Russian Empire might advance from Afghanistan into Quetta, thereby threatening its rule in South Asia. In 1857, it was suggested by William Andrew (Chairman of Scinde, Punjab & Delhi Railway) that a railway line be constructed through the Bolan Pass. On 18 September 1879, work began on laying the railway tracks, and after four months, the first 215 kilometres of the line from Ruk to Sibi was completed and became operational in January 1881. Beyond Sibi, the terrain was challenging. After immense difficulties and harsh weather conditions, the line reached Quetta in March 1887.

2024 bombing

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A CCTV still of the bombing

On 9 November 2024, at least 32 people were killed and at least 62 others were injured in a suicide bombing at the station by the Balochistan Liberation Army.[3][4]

Train routes

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The following trains stop/terminate/originate from Quetta station:

Preceding station Pakistan Railways Following station
Terminus Akbar Express Kolpur
Kolpur
towards Karachi City
Bolan Mail Terminus
Terminus Chaman Mixed Sheikh Mandah
towards Chaman
Jaffar Express Kolpur


See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Documentary on Quetta Railway Station". radio.gov.pk.
  2. ^ "کوئٹہ کا ریلوے اسٹیشن ویران: مسافر، قلی اور ٹیکسی ڈرائیور سب پریشان" [Quetta's railway station deserted: Passengers, passengers and taxi drivers are all worried]. VOA Urdu (in Urdu). 26 October 2022.
  3. ^ "Inside the Deadly Quetta Railway Station Attack and Its Aftermath – TBP Report". The Balochistan Post. 10 November 2024. Retrieved 11 November 2024.
  4. ^ "Death toll rises to 26 in Quetta Railway Station blast, 62 injured". DAWN.COM. 9 November 2024. Retrieved 10 November 2024.