Pakistan Railways Station Facilities: Free Waiting Rooms, Wheelchairs on 1333 and Paid Retiring Rooms
Pakistan Railways waiting rooms are free, wheelchairs come via the Station Master or 1333, and retiring rooms are paid. Check station facilities and who to ask.
Short answer: Pakistan Railways waiting rooms are free, and which one you can use depends on your ticket class. Wheelchairs are available at main stations through the Station Master's office or the Railway Police helpline 1333. Retiring rooms at big stations are paid and must be booked in advance with the Station Master. Car parking at stations is charged.
You reach a big station an hour early with an elderly parent. Where can you sit? Is there a wheelchair? Can you rest in a room between two trains? Most passengers do not know, and the staff are busy. The answers are already published.
We read the frequently asked questions page of Pakistan Railways on 12 October 2026. This page turns its station answers into one checklist. The page does not give prices for rooms or parking, so we do not invent them.
Waiting rooms are free but depend on your ticket
Pakistan Railways says there are no waiting room charges. The type of waiting room you can use depends on the class of your ticket. So an AC ticket and an economy ticket may open different rooms, and the room is free in both cases.
Facilities listed for all important stations include a waiting room, a refreshment room, a vending stall, a book stall, drinking water, a police help centre and medical first aid. Smaller stations may not have all of them.
Keep your ticket in your hand, because the room you may enter is tied to your class.
Ask for a wheelchair at the Station Master's office or on 1333
Wheelchairs are available at all main railway stations. To use one, contact the Station Master's office or the Railway Police helpline 1333. Do this before you reach the platform, and give your train number and time.
The page does not say how long the wheelchair takes to arrive. So ask early, and ask again at the station if nobody has come by the time you arrive.
Retiring rooms are paid and need advance booking
At big stations, retiring rooms are available on payment and can be used by genuine passengers. Booking is through the Station Master in charge, in advance, subject to availability. The page lists no other accommodation, and Pakistan Railways has no hotels at tourist spots.
That means a retiring room is for a passenger with a ticket, not a general hotel. Keep your ticket ready when you ask.
| Facility | Cost | How you get it |
|---|---|---|
| Waiting room | Free | Room depends on your ticket class |
| Wheelchair | Not stated | Station Master's office or 1333 |
| Retiring room | Paid | Book ahead with the Station Master |
| Car parking | Fee charged | At the station car park |
| First aid | Not stated | Guard's first aid box, station first aid |
First aid and food on the train have set routes
The guard in charge of each train carries a first aid box. Serious cases may be referred to railway hospitals at big stations. Catering is listed on named trains, including Khyber Mail, Tezgam, Awam Express and Karakoram Express.
Pakistan Railways lists a special menu at Rs 220 and a pulao or roghni naan with curry plan at Rs 100, as published on its page. The page looks old, so ask the dining car for the current price before you order. Roghni naan is listed at Rs 8 and rice at Rs 30.
Its travel tips also ask passengers not to accept food from an unknown or unauthorised person.
What to do if a vendor or porter cheats you
Name the problem and go to the right person. Overcharging or a vendor complaint goes to the Station Master in charge or the Divisional Commercial Officer. Bad food goes to the guard, who has a complaint book. A coolie problem goes to the Station Master or the conductor guard.
- Note the station, the time and the train number.
- Ask for the receipt or write down the price you were charged.
- Go to the Station Master's office or find the guard.
- Ask for the complaint book and write the complaint in it.
- If nothing happens, follow the steps in how to complain to Pakistan Railways.
Before any trip, the Pakistan Railways ticket rules are worth reading, because an excess fare bought on the train costs more than a ticket from the booking window.
Common questions
Do I have to pay to use a waiting room at a railway station?
No. Pakistan Railways says there are no waiting room charges, but the room you can use depends on your ticket class.
How do I get a wheelchair at a railway station?
Contact the Station Master's office or the Railway Police helpline 1333. Wheelchairs are available at all main stations.
Can I book a retiring room?
Yes, at big stations, on payment. Book through the Station Master in charge, in advance, subject to availability.
Is there a railway hotel at tourist spots?
No. Pakistan Railways says it has no hotels at tourist spots and no other accommodation besides retiring rooms.
Is parking free at a railway station?
No. Pakistan Railways says car parking is available and a fee is charged.
Where do I complain about a porter?
Go to the Station Manager or Station Master in charge, the conductor guard, or the Divisional Commercial Officer.
How we verified this
What we checked, where we read it, and what we could not confirm.
We read the frequently asked questions page of Pakistan Railways on 12 October 2026. The page gives no prices for retiring rooms, parking or wheelchair help, and its food prices look old. We did not visit a station to test any of these services.
About the author
Senior Writer, Public Services and Technology
Shahid joined us in 2024 as an author. He is a senior contributor to Pakistan's leading technology websites. He writes detailed articles, mostly covering his expertise in the latest tech, mobiles, apps, gadgets, and step-by-step guides. His ideology is to help people understand the latest trends and explain complex methods through very easy-to-understand guides.
