Editing Transport in Pakistan (section)

=== Rail links with adjacent countries ===

{{flagicon|Iran}} [[Transportation in Iran|Iran]] -
A {{RailGauge|5ft6in|allk=on}} railway line runs from [[Zahedan]] to [[Quetta]], and a {{RailGauge|4ft8.5in|allk=on}} line is finished from [[Zahedan]] to [[Kerman]] in central Iran, linking with the rest of the Iranian rail network. On May 18, 2007, a MOU for rail cooperation was signed by Pakistan and Iran under which the line will be completed by December 2008. Now that the rail systems are linked up at Zahedan, there is a [[break-of-gauge]] between the [[Islamic Republic of Iran Railways]] {{RailGauge|4ft8.5in|allk=on}} tracks and Pakistan Railway's Indian gauge tracks.<ref>[[Railway Gazette International]]</ref>

{{flagicon|Afghanistan}} [[Transportation in Afghanistan|Afghanistan]] -
Currently there is no rail link to [[Transport in Afghanistan|Afghanistan]] since no railway network is present in that country, however Pakistan Rail has proposed to help build an Afghan Rail Network in three phases. The first phase will stretch from the [[Chaman]] to [[Spin Boldak]] in Afghanistan. The second phase will extend line to [[Kandahar]] and the third phase will eventually connect to [[Herat]]. From there, the line will be extended to [[Serhetabat|Khushka]], [[Turkmenistan]]. The final phase would link {{RailGauge|5ft6in|allk=on}} with Central Asian {{RailGauge|1520mm|allk=on}}. It is not clear where the [[break-of-gauge]] station will be.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=story_8-5-2005_pg5_7|title=Govt considers railway links with central Asia}}</ref> The proposed line will also be connected the port town of [[Gwadar]] via [[Dalbadin]] and [[Taftan, Balochistan|Taftan]], thus connecting the port town to Central Asia.

{{flagicon|China}} [[Transportation in the People's Republic of China|China]] -
There is no link with [[Transport in the People's Republic of China|China]] however, on 28 February 2007 contracts were awarded for feasibility studies on a proposed line from [[Havelian]] via the [[Khunjerab Pass]] at 4730&nbsp;m above sea level, to the Chinese [[railhead]] at [[Kashgar]], a distance of about 750&nbsp;km.<ref name="APP">{{cite web| url=http://www.app.com.pk/en/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=4200&Itemid=2 | author=Associated Press of Pakistan| title=PR signs deal with foreign firm for pre-feasibility study of Pakistan-China rail link| access-date=2007-06-28 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070927192717/http://www.app.com.pk/en/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=4200&Itemid=2 |archive-date = 2007-09-27}}</ref>

{{flagicon|Turkmenistan}} [[Transportation in Turkmenistan|Turkmenistan]] -
Via Afghanistan (proposed) – avoiding {{RailGauge|4ft8.5in|allk=on}} intervening.<ref name=rgigap>{{cite news | title =Closing the gap from Bam to Zahedan | url =http://www.railwaygazette.com/news/single-view/view//closing-the-gap-from-bam-to-zahedan.html | work =[[Railway Gazette International]] | date =2007-01-01 | author =Dr John Stubbs | url-status =dead | archive-url =https://web.archive.org/web/20101221232357/http://www.railwaygazette.com/news/single-view/view/closing-the-gap-from-bam-to-zahedan.html | archive-date =2010-12-21 | access-date =11 March 2014 }}</ref>

{{flagicon|Turkey}} [[Transportation in Turkey|Turkey]] -
An [[Istanbul]]-[[Tehran]]-[[Islamabad]] passenger rail service was proposed recently.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.thaishipper.com/Content/Content.asp?ID=26715 |title=Archived copy |access-date=2009-07-09 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171005100753/http://www.thaishipper.com/Content/Content.asp?ID=26715 |archive-date=2017-10-05 |url-status=dead }}</ref> Meanwhile, a [[container train]] service was launched by the former Prime Minister of Pakistan [[Yousuf Raza Gilani]] between Islamabad and [[Istanbul]] on 14 August 2009. The first train carried 20 [[Intermodal container|containers]] with a capacity of around {{convert|750|t|LT ST|0|abbr=on|lk=on}} <!-- See [[User talk:Yousaf465#Which Ton]]? --><ref name="http://www.pakistantimes.net/pt/detail.php?newsId=3343">{{cite news|url=http://www.pakistantimes.net/pt/detail.php?newsId=3343|title=First container train service from Islamabad to Turkey begins Today|date=2009-08-15|newspaper=[[Pakistan Times]]|access-date=2009-08-15|url-status=usurped|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110719023223/http://www.pakistantimes.net/pt/detail.php?newsId=3343|archive-date=2011-07-19}}</ref> and will travel {{convert|6500|km|mi|-2|abbr=on}} from Islamabad, through [[Tehran]], [[Iran]] and on to Istanbul in two weeks' time.<ref name="Leading News Resource of Pakistan">{{cite news|url=http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2009\08\15\story_15-8-2009_pg7_12 |title=Leading News Resource of Pakistan |newspaper=Daily Times |access-date=2009-08-15}}</ref> According to the [[Ministry of Railways (Pakistan)|Minister for Railways]] [[Ghulam Ahmad Bilour]], after the trial of the container train service, a passenger train will be launched.<ref name="Dawn.Com">{{cite web|url=http://www.dawn.com/wps/wcm/connect/dawn-content-library/dawn/news/pakistan/13+gilani+launches+trial+phase+of+islamabad-istanbul+train+service-za-06 |title=Pakistan &#124; PM launches trial phase of Pak-Turkey train service |publisher=Dawn.Com |access-date=2009-08-15}}</ref> There are also hopes the route will eventually provide a link to [[Europe]] and [[Central Asia]], and carry passengers.<ref name="Pakistan–Turkey rail trial starts">{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/8201934.stm |title=Pakistan–Turkey rail trial starts |access-date=2009-08-16 |work=BBC News |date=2009-08-14}}</ref>