Pakistan’s First Bullet Train to Slash Lahore-Karachi Travel to 5 Hours
Wire desk byline Sourced from Xinhua, Dawn, Arab News, Anadolu and Minute Mirror. Translated and abridged by the GSRRA Desk.
IPakistan Railways has unveiled plans for the country’s first bullet train, set to revolutionize travel between Lahore and Karachi by reducing the 1,215-km journey to just 5 hours, down from the current 18–22 hours on trains like the Karachi Express. Announced by Railways Minister Hanif Abbasi, this high-speed rail project, part of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), is backed by a USD 6.8 billion investment to upgrade the Main Line 1 (ML-1) corridor. Expected to be operational by 2030, the bullet train promises to transform connectivity, boost trade, and offer a faster, greener alternative to air travel.
Bullet Train Details
The bullet train, designed to operate at speeds up to 250–300 km/h, will run along the upgraded ML-1 route from Lahore Junction to Karachi Cantonment, with stops at key cities like Hyderabad, Multan, and Sahiwal. Key features include:
- Speed: 250–300 km/h, cutting travel time to 5 hours from the current 18–22 hours (existing trains average 60–80 km/h).
- Infrastructure: Electrified tracks, advanced signaling, and modern stations to support high-speed travel.
- Comfort: Air-conditioned coaches, free Wi-Fi, USB charging ports, and an international-standard dining car with premium meal options.
- Safety: Enhanced systems with real-time monitoring and automated braking, drawing on Chinese high-speed rail expertise.
- Cost: Estimated fares of Rs. 5,000–10,000, competitive with air travel (Rs. 20,000–40,000) and more affordable than flights when factoring in airport logistics.
The project leverages China’s advanced rail technology, with 47,000 km of high-speed rail experience, to modernize Pakistan’s aging rail network.
Reference Link:- https://nespakfoundation.com.pk/pakistans-first-bullet-train-to-slash-lahore-karachi-travel-to-5-hours/
Zamir Ahmed Awan is the founder and Chair of the Global Silk Route Research Alliance, a think tank in Islamabad. He studied engineering at Shanghai University in the 1980s, and years later he went back to China as Pakistan's science counsellor in Beijing, from 2010 until 2016, working on science and higher education cooperation between the two countries.…
