Bureau Report
LAHORE: In a positive development, the first train under the mass-transit project Orange Line Metro Train (OLMT) has hit the rails for the trial run on Tuesday afternoon.
Provincial Minister of Punjab for Transport Jahanzaib Khan Khichi and Provincial Minister of Punjab for Information and Culture Fayyazul Hassan Chohan are experiencing the maiden ride of the train powered with high-voltage electricity.
The maximum speed of the train is 80 km/h, but the train will run at an average speed of 34.8 km/h. The Orange Line is an automated rapid transit system in Punjab’s capital Lahore. The line will span 27.1 km (16.8 mi) with 25.4 km (15.8 mi) elevated and 1.72 km (1.1 mi) underground. Out of the total 26 substations, 24 are elevated and two are located underground.
The line is expected to handle about 200,000 passengers daily, and they will be able to cover the 27 kilometers within just 45 minutes. Orange Train will cover a distance of 27 km in 45 minutes helping approximately 200,000 passengers daily. Jain Mandar and Shalimar Station have been developed in accordance to their cultural heritage.
It is pertinent here to mention that former Punjab CM Shehbaz Sharif had inaugurated test run of Lahore Orange Line Metro Train on a diesel run locomotive engine. He boarded the metro train from Islam Park Station and completed the test run from Islam Park to ChowkLaxmi successfully.
However, the PTI government has decided to run the train on electricity. The train will run on electricity even when fully operational which will significantly increase burden on national exchequer as well as OMLT will use electricity allocated for residents of Lahore.
