Lahore Orange Line Metro Train

The history of rail transportation dates back nearly 500 years, and includes system with man or horse power and rails of wood. The history of transport is largely one of technological innovation. Advances in technology have allowed people to travel farther, explore more territory and expand their influence over and larger areas. The history of rapid transit system began with opening of metropolitan railway in England. A major breakthrough in the development of modern electrically driven rapid transit occurred when the American inventor Frank J. Sprague successfully tested his system of Multiple-Unit Train Control (MUTC).

Transportation has always added leverage to country’s economic growth be it any means of transportation. Modern ways of transportation not only adjoin exquisiteness to the state but also conspicuously manage to attract eyes of tourists, minds of investors and heart of it natives. Train transportation has always subjugated severe traffic congestion problems through times. In many populated and budding countries the need for rail system to relieve growing motor traffic levels and support continuing urban development becomes the need of the hour. As a developing country, Pakistan has also faced with infrastructure issues. Inter and Intra-regional inequalities exist in access to basic infrastructure which has forced people to migrate to cities in search of increased opportunities. Today, Pakistan has the fastest urbanization rate in all South Asia. This has put pressures on already stressed urban infrastructure.

Transport development has been on priority agenda of present government and a number of projects like Metro bus system, Orange Line, Vehicles Inspection and Certification System (VICS), Induction of new CNG and diesel buses through provision of capital upfront and operational subsidies, Chief Minister’s Apna Rozgar scheme, shifting of bus stands from congested areas and established of state of the art multi-model inter-city bus terminals have been accomplished.

Lahore Orange Line metro train project is a gift from China for the people of Pakistan. It is Pakistan’s first mass transit system which will revolutionize the way people travel, today. Government of Punjab recognized and felt the pain of common people which they have to bear during travelling in provincial capital. Keeping in view Punjab government has designed the first ever rapid mass transit system to provide safer, faster and smoother mode of travel.

Orange Line project is unique in many ways. In monetary terms it is the biggest ever project of Punjab over 1.6 billion US dollars. Total length of Orange Line project is 27.1KM out of which elevated viaduct is of 25.4KM. Underground section comprises of 1.72KM. There will be 24 elevated stations and 2 underground stations. The corridor will be capable of accommodating two trains running both up and down the track, ferrying up to 30,000 passengers per hour. The design speed of the proposed train is 80 km/h. Said train will take approximately 45 minutes from end to end travel that is from Deera Gujroan to Ali Town.

Following table contains other economic benefits of Pakistan’s first mass transit system:

Orange Line project initially benefit around 250,000 passengers a day. The capacity will be increased to 50,000 passengers a day by 2025. The brightest part of the said project is that Chief Minister Punjab is willing to replicate orange Line project and Metro bus in other cities after Lahore. The Orange Line train will revolutionize the way people travel as it will make the commute trouble free.