![Lahoremetrologo](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/c/c1/Lahoremetrologo.jpg)
Lahore Metro is an automated
rapid transit
Rapid transit or mass rapid transit (MRT), also known as heavy rail or metro, is a type of high-capacity public transport generally found in urban areas. A rapid transit system that primarily or traditionally runs below the surface may be c ...
system in
Lahore
Lahore ( ; pnb, ; ur, ) is the second most populous city in Pakistan after Karachi and 26th most populous city in the world, with a population of over 13 million. It is the capital of the province of Punjab where it is the largest city. ...
,
Punjab
Punjab (; Punjabi: پنجاب ; ਪੰਜਾਬ ; ; also romanised as ''Panjāb'' or ''Panj-Āb'') is a geopolitical, cultural, and historical region in South Asia, specifically in the northern part of the Indian subcontinent, comprising ...
,
Pakistan
Pakistan ( ur, ), officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan ( ur, , label=none), is a country in South Asia. It is the world's List of countries and dependencies by population, fifth-most populous country, with a population of almost 24 ...
and the first
driverless metro in Pakistan. Three metro lines have been proposed, of which the
Orange Line is operational. It is also Pakistan's first metro line system.
History
The Lahore Metro was first proposed in 1991 and reviewed in 1993 by the ''Lahore Traffic & Transport Studies'', funded by the
World Bank
The World Bank is an international financial institution that provides loans and grants to the governments of low- and middle-income countries for the purpose of pursuing capital projects. The World Bank is the collective name for the Interna ...
. The project was subsequently shelved. In 2005, the
Ministry of Transport
A ministry of transport or transportation is a ministry responsible for transportation within a country. It usually is administered by the ''minister for transport''. The term is also sometimes applied to the departments or other government age ...
revisited the project and carried out a feasibility study. In 2007, the
Asian Development Bank
The Asian Development Bank (ADB) is a regional development bank established on 19 December 1966, which is headquartered in the Ortigas Center located in the city of Mandaluyong, Metro Manila, Philippines. The bank also maintains 31 field office ...
provided to conduct a study on the project. The initial plan called for an rail network with 60 stations to be constructed in four separate phases. The first phase involved the construction of a rail line between
Gajju Matta
Gajju Matta (Urdu, pnb, ) is a neighbourhood and union council (UC 145) located in Nishtar Tehsil of Lahore, Punjab, Pakistan. Gajjumata Metrobus Terminal Station
Gajjumata Metrobus Terminal Station is a Lahore Metrobus station in Gajju Mat ...
and
Shahdara Bagh
Shahdara Bagh ( ur, ; meaning “''King’s Way Garden”'') is a historic precinct located across the Ravi River from the Walled City of Lahore, Pakistan. Shahdara Bagh is the site of several Mughal era monumentally, including the Tomb of Jahang ...
, with an section underground. Construction was expected to start in 2008 and be completed by 2010. However, in 2008, the project was shelved again as priorities shifted to other projects.
In June 2010, Malaysia-based
Scomi International
The Michigan Supreme Court is the highest court in the U.S. state of Michigan. It is Michigan's court of last resort and consists of seven justices. The Court is located in the Michigan Hall of Justice at 925 Ottawa Street in Lansing, the state ...
proposed a US $1.15 billion
monorail
A monorail (from "mono", meaning "one", and "rail") is a railway in which the track consists of a single rail or a beam.
Colloquially, the term "monorail" is often used to describe any form of elevated rail or people mover. More accurately, ...
alternative, but that was not approved. At a ceremony in May 2014, an agreement was signed by Chief Minister Punjab
Shahbaz Sharif
Mian Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif (Urdu, Punjabi: , ; born 23 September 1951) is a Pakistani politician and businessman who is currently serving as the 23rd Prime Minister of Pakistan, in office since 11 April 2022. He is the current president o ...
, alongside
President
President most commonly refers to:
*President (corporate title)
*President (education), a leader of a college or university
*President (government title)
President may also refer to:
Automobiles
* Nissan President, a 1966–2010 Japanese ful ...
Mamnoon Hussain
Mamnoon Hussain ( ur, ; 22 December 1941 – 14 July 2021) was a Pakistani politician and industrialist who served as the 12th president of Pakistan from 2013 to 2018. He was first appointed Governor of Sindh in June 1999 by President Rafiq ...
and
Chinese Communist Party general secretary Xi Jinping
Xi Jinping ( ; ; ; born 15 June 1953) is a Chinese politician who has served as the general secretary of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) and chairman of the Central Military Commission (CMC), and thus as the paramount leader of China, s ...
, which gave the go-ahead for the construction of the Orange Line. The project was estimated to cost $1.6 billion.
Lines
Orange Line
The Orange Line has a length of and became operational on 25 October 2020.
Blue Line
The ''Blue Line'' is a proposed line from Chauburji to College Road, Township. It is estimated to be completed in 6-10 months.
Purple Line
The ''Purple Line'' is a proposed
airport rail link
An airport rail link is a service providing passenger rail transport from an airport to a nearby city by mainline or commuter trains, rapid transit, people mover, or light rail. Direct links operate straight to the airport terminal, while o ...
.
Network map
Stations
The line has 26 stations.
Anarkali
Anarkali () was a legendary woman said to be loved by the 16th-century Mughal Prince Salim, who later became Emperor Jahangir. According to some accounts, Anarkali was the nickname of the courtesan Nadira Begum or Sharf-un-Nisa, though scho ...
and Central stations are underground, while the remaining 24 are elevated.
["Good news on track: Lahore to get Pakistan’s first metro train"](_blank)
''Express Tribune
''The Express Tribune'' is a daily English-language newspaper based in Pakistan. It is the flagship publication of the '' Daily Express'' media group. It is Pakistan's only internationally affiliated newspaper in a partnership with the ''Intern ...
'', Lahore, 23 Mar 2014. Retrieved on 20 October 2014. The rail line runs through the centre of each station, with platforms flanking the track.
Elevated stations have a width of 22.5 metres, while Anarkali Station is 16 metres wide, and Central Station 49.5 metres wide. Elevated stations are all 102 metres long, while Anarkali and Central Stations are 121.5 and 161.6 metres long, respectively.
Anarkali and Central Stations were initially planned to have two underground levels, Anarkali Station now both feature a ground-level concourse with one underground level, while Central Station has a single underground level, in order reduce the maximum gradient for trains from 35% to 30%. Rail tracks are 9.7m below street level at Central Station, and 8.7m below street level at Anarkali Station.
Underground stations feature automated doors between platforms and trains. Public areas of the station are air-conditioned during warm months. Elevated stations feature natural ventilation throughout the platforms, with localized air conditioning in public areas of the ticket-hall level.
Rolling stock
Orange Line trains are each composed of five wagons manufactured by China's
CRRC Zhuzhou Locomotive
CRRC Zhuzhou Locomotive Co., Ltd. is one of the electric locomotive manufacturers in China. It is one of the subsidiaries of CRRC.
History Predecessor
Zhuzhou Electric Locomotive Works was founded in 1936.
CRRC Zhuzhou Locomotive Co., Ltd.
O ...
,
and automated and driverless.
A standard Chinese "Type B" train-set consisting of 5 cars with 4 doors each used, that has a stainless steel body and illuminated by
LED
A light-emitting diode (LED) is a semiconductor Electronics, device that Light#Light sources, emits light when Electric current, current flows through it. Electrons in the semiconductor recombine with electron holes, releasing energy i ...
lighting. Each car has a nominal capacity of 200 seated and standing passengers at an average density of 5 persons per square metre with 20% of passengers seated and 80% standing. A total of 27 trains with 135 cars have been ordered for the system,
at a cost of $1 billion.
A total of 54 trains are expected to be in service by 2025.
The trains powered by a 750-volt
third rail
A third rail, also known as a live rail, electric rail or conductor rail, is a method of providing electric power to a railway locomotive or train, through a semi-continuous rigid conductor placed alongside or between the rails of a railway t ...
.
Track
![Lahore Metro Train Project 23](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/c/c2/Lahore_Metro_Train_Project_23.jpg)
The Orange Line's tracks meet China's national standards, and employing
jointless track circuits. Mainline track is capable of supporting 60 kg/m, while track in the depot and storage yards is capable of supporting 50 kg/m. Track was laid upon a monolithic concrete track bed, with crossovers located between every 2 to 3 stations. Double turnover tracks are used at each terminus for turnaround. Track is
standard gauge
A standard-gauge railway is a railway with a track gauge of . The standard gauge is also called Stephenson gauge (after George Stephenson), International gauge, UIC gauge, uniform gauge, normal gauge and European gauge in Europe, and SGR in Ea ...
at 1435mm. Fasteners between tracks are elastic.
Depot
A depot was constructed at the northeast portion of the line, directly east of the
Lahore Ring Road
The Lahore Ring Road () is an 85-kilometer-long (53 mi) controlled-access, orbital highway located in Lahore, Pakistan. It links to the M-2 Motorway, the M-11 Motorway, and the N5 National Highway while going around the city of Lahore.
...
, while a stabling yard was constructed at the line's southern terminus at Ali Town. The depot is also the site of the Orange Line's central control centre. The depot and stabling yard respectively required 0.56 and 0.49 kilometres of track.
See also
*
Lahore Metro Bus
The Lahore Metrobus is a bus rapid transit service operating in Lahore Punjab, Pakistan. Lahore Metrobus service is integrated with Lahore Transport Company's local bus service to operate as one urban transport system, providing seamless transit ...
*
Karachi Circular Railway
Karachi Circular Railway (abbreviated as KCR) ( ur, , Sindhi: ڪراچي سرڪيولر ريلوي) is a partially active regional public transit system in Karachi, Sindh, Pakistan, which serves the Karachi metropolitan area. KCR was fully ...
*
Pakistan Railways
Pakistan Railways ( ur, ) is the national, state-owned railway company of Pakistan. Founded in 1861 and headquartered in Lahore, it owns of track across Pakistan, stretching from Torkham to Karachi, offering both freight and passenger servi ...
*
Transport in Pakistan
Transport in Pakistan ( ur, ) is extensive and varied, and serves a population of over 212.2 million people. In recent years, new national highways have been built, with the addition of motorways which have improved trade and logistics within th ...
References
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Further reading
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External links
Lahore Guide
{{coord missing, Lahore
Lahore Metro
Lahore
Transport in Lahore
Modes of transport in Lahore
Rail infrastructure in Lahore
Electric railways in Pakistan
Transport in Pakistan
2020 establishments in Pakistan
Public transport in Asia
Railway lines opened in 2020