There are indications Islamabad may soon have a railway station of its own when renovation work started recently at the abandoned Margalla Railway station is completed.

The original master plan had a provision for a Central Railway Station with a bus stand on the pattern of the Grand Central Railway Station, Manhattan, New York, but the policymakers converted the I-8 sector where this station was to be into a housing scheme depriving the country’s capital of a vital facility.

Originally built in 1979, the Margalla Station was inaugurated by the then federal minister for railways, Mohammad Khan Junejo. A shuttle train started plying between Rawalpindi and Margalla Railway stations but within a year, the Railways suspended the service, as it was not a profitable route. Actually, it was a silly plan to start with as the poorly built railway station was out of reach for most people of Islamabad. And then it was just a shuttle to carry passengers to Rawalpindi.

Now once again the scheme seems to have been revived. After many years railway workers have been seen surveying and reinforcing the track and giving a fresh paint to the derelict railway station. A locomotive with seven coaches in tail made a test run on the line. It was just a nightmare for the people watching it. It is planned to make it the last stop of the Margalla Express, which operates daily between Lahore and Rawalpindi.

If the shuttle is restored it would at least help Sector I-9 commuters to go to Rawalpindi and save intending passengers from the long drive to Rawalpindi Railway station to catch their train. The Margalla Station was being used as a dry port, which is now being separated from the station to make the train service operational.

Traveling by train has its own romance and railway stations hold a charm of their own with waiting rooms, tea stalls, bookshops and assorted vendors serving the passengers.

The Railway management will have to take special measures to make rail travel popular and convenient by introducing incentives, and special packages. And to make the Margalla station worthy of the country’s capital, it will have to be made a stop at least for some major trains.

Over the years, Islamabad’s population has swollen. The railway station at Rawalpindi is not easily accessible to the people of Islamabad and particularly those outside the city limits like Bhara Kahu etc. Unless the Margalla station becomes a direct railway link to the rest of the country it would neither provide the convenience people need nor would add to the dignity of Islamabad as a major railway station.

Among some future schemes to meet the urban expansion needs many innovative ideas can be considered such as running local trains/monorail/subways in coming years. A local train along the Islamabad Highway/Expressway up to Aabpara could be planned and another from Bhara Kahu to Aabpara. Aabpara could become a sub-station also for train from Wah to Aabpara through G and F sectors along the Kashmir Highway. There are plans to make this highway into five lanes on each side. A train service would be a better option. A comfortable rail network is preferable to buses and cars. Trains carry more passengers and are economical on fuel.

The re-opening of Margalla Railway Station has kindled hope the capital would soon have trains running from Islamabad to all corners of the country, which is as it should be. But unless that is the grand scheme a desolate ugly shuttle service between the twin cities would end up the way it did last time.

khanmubarak@yahoo.com