Pakistan Plans First Bullet Train to Cut Karachi–Lahore Travel Time to Just 5 Hours
Pakistan is planning its first bullet train, a high‑speed railway service, to drastically shorten travel times and modernize transport. The project is part of a major upgrade under CPEC (China‑Pakistan Economic Corridor).
Key Facts
| Topic | Detail |
|---|---|
| Route | The main line will connect Karachi to Lahore (about 1,215 km), with stops at Hyderabad, Multan, and Sahiwal. |
| Journey Time Before vs After | Currently, train travel between Karachi and Lahore takes about 18‑22 hours. With the bullet train, this will fall to around 5 hours. |
| Speed | Trains will run approx up to 250 km/h. |
| Cost | The project cost is estimated at USD 6.8 billion, under the ML‑1 upgrade of CPEC. |
| Ticket Price Estimate | Tickets might cost PKR 5,000 to 10,000, cheaper than many flights between the same cities. |
| Timeline | • Construction is expected to begin in 2026. • Trial or test runs may start around 2029. • Full operations are targeted by 2030. |
| Supporting Upgrades | New double tracks, rebuilt bridges, modern signaling systems, digital railway upgrades, and safety systems are planned. |
Lahore‑Rawalpindi Bullet Train Project
Besides Karachi‑Lahore, the Punjab government is also working on a bullet train between Lahore and Rawalpindi:
- A working group has been formed to study how feasible it is, its cost, and time needed.
- This train is expected to cut the travel time between those cities to about 2.5 hours.
Why This is Important
- Faster travel: 5 hours between Karachi and Lahore means people can travel quickly for work, family, or business.
- Cheaper alternative: If flight tickets are expensive, bullet train fares are planned to be lower.
- Boost to economy: It will create thousands of jobs during building and once operating. Also, trade between regions may increase.
- Rail improvements: Upgrading old tracks, safety systems, signals will make rail travel safer and more reliable.
Challenges
There are several challenges this project must handle:
- Funding: Getting the required billions of dollars and keeping them flowing.
- Technical work: Rebuilding or replacing old tracks, bridges, and signals is a big task.
- Maintaining Schedule: A lot of large infrastructure projects face delays. Sticking to the 2026‑2030 timeline will need efficient planning.
- Cost management: Avoiding cost overruns and ensuring ticket prices stay affordable while covering costs.
Conclusion
Pakistan’s bullet train is an exciting project. If all goes well, by 2030 people could travel from Karachi to Lahore in just five hours. The project will also improve rail infrastructure, reduce travel costs, and help the economy. Lahore‑Rawalpindi bullet train is also being planned, which will reduce time between those two cities significantly.
