Pakistan Railways’ recent switch to its winter timetable has exposed a critical flaw in its mobile app. The Live Tracking app, a tool many travelers depend on for real-time train information, has failed to sync with the new schedule.
This caused a stark 59-minute difference between the app’s displayed times and actual train schedules, leaving numerous ticket holders stranded on platforms, missing their departures despite arriving what they believed to be on time.
The Live Tracking system, which made its debut on February 12, 2019, was designed to empower users with up-to-the-minute data on train movements and timetables via their smartphones.
Irfanullah, a traveler who had purchased an online ticket for the 11 Up Hazara Express, found himself in a frustrating situation yesterday.
Planning his journey from Rahim Yar Khan to Bhalwal, Irfanullah relied on the app for accurate arrival information, but it displayed a time 45 minutes earlier than the train’s actual arrival under the newly implemented winter schedule.
Irfanullah arrived at the station only discover that the Hazara Express had already departed, a full 59 minutes before his arrival.
Fellow passengers at Rahim Yar Khan station voiced similar concerns, expressing confusion over the conflicting information provided by the app. Many found themselves puzzled by the discrepancies between the scheduled, arrival, and expected times displayed on their screens.
When approached for comment, the Rahim Yar Khan station officials deflected responsibility, stating that the app’s maintenance falls under the railway headquarters.
The Live Tracking app was originally developed via a partnership with Mudassir Zaidi, an IT engineer from Sukkur during the tenure of former Railway Minister Sheikh Rasheed Ahmed.
Tapping into international resources, including Google Maps, the app’s development carried a price tag of Rs. 7 million. An additional Rs. 70 million was poured into equipping 325 railway engines with 350 tracking devices.