6:15 AM is when the day starts on the Red Metro, and 10:00 PM is when it ends. Those two numbers are the heart of the schedule, and they apply every single day of the week — weekdays, Sundays, and public holidays alike. The first buses roll out from both ends of the line at the same time, so whether you are standing at Saddar in Rawalpindi or at Pak Secretariat in Islamabad, your early-morning ride begins at exactly 6:15.
This is the red bus corridor that ties the twin cities together: a 22.5-kilometre dedicated track with 24 stations, running from Saddar Terminal all the way to the Pakistan Secretariat. More than a hundred thousand people ride it daily, and the buses are air-conditioned, with priority seating and turnstile entry. Knowing the timing is half the battle for anyone who depends on it for work, college, or errands.
Red Metro First Bus and Frequency
The first bus at 6:15 AM is ideal for early shifts and morning classes, but you rarely have to sprint for it. During rush hours the buses come every 3 to 6 minutes, one after another down the dedicated corridor. In the middle of the day the gap stretches a little — roughly every 6 to 8 minutes — yet it is still short enough that you can arrive at the station without checking any timetable.
A full ride from one end of the line to the other takes about an hour and fifteen minutes, so a commuter leaving Saddar at 7:00 AM is typically reaching Pak Secretariat by around 8:15. Major stops along the way include Committee Chowk, Waris Khan, Chandni Chowk, Rehmanabad, Faizabad, and Peshawar Morr, where you can change to the Orange Line heading toward the airport. If you miss your intended bus, simply wait — the next one is never far behind.
Red Metro Last Bus and Late-Night Tips
The last buses leave both Saddar and Pak Secretariat at 10:00 PM sharp. Plan to be at the station by 9:40 PM at the latest, because the final departure does not wait for stragglers. Timings were briefly shortened to 9:00 PM once during an energy-saving period, but the 10 PM closing was restored — still, if you travel late, arriving a little early is the safest habit.
A single ride on the Red Line now costs Rs 40 (the fare was raised from Rs 30 in March 2026), while passengers paying with a smart or Green Transport card travel for just Rs 25. Tokens and cards are sold at every station, and your token stays valid for one hour from tapping in. On the rare days when the service is suspended — during security alerts or major road closures — the helpline at (051) 111-222-627 confirms the day’s status in minutes, so call before you leave home.
Memorize just the two numbers — 6:15 AM first, 10:00 PM last — and the Red Metro becomes the most predictable part of your day. It beats every other option on the Saddar-to-Islamabad corridor for price, and on most days it beats them for reliability too.