Lahore – Rawalpindi bullet train plan ‘not possible without overhaul’: officials

The Punjab government’s plan to launch Pakistan’s first bullet train service between Lahore and Rawalpindi faces significant challenges, with senior railway officials calling the proposal unfeasible under current conditions.

While the provincial leadership is eager to introduce high-speed rail travel, railway experts warn that the country’s outdated infrastructure — particularly tracks, stations, coaches, and signals — cannot support such a project without massive investment.

Officials noted that even trains capable of speeds above 100 km/h cannot run safely on the existing rail network.

A senior railway official, speaking anonymously, described the bullet train idea as a "dream," citing the enormous cost of construction.

Estimates suggest building the necessary infrastructure would cost between $17–40 million per kilometre, depending on the international partner, with the 280-kilometre route requiring billions of dollars.

Federal Minister for Railways Hanif Abbasi confirmed that discussions with Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz are ongoing and the goal is to reduce travel time to 2.5 hours, potentially through a high-speed rail alternative. The current fastest train, the Green Line, covers the route in about 4 to 4.5 hours.

Experts also flagged the curvy terrain, old bridges, and uneven tracks as obstacles, stating that even modest speed improvements would need Rs200–300 billion and years of development. They suggested prioritising completion of the long-delayed Main Line-1 (ML-1) upgrade project as a more realistic alternative.

Affordability remains another concern, with projected fares for a bullet train potentially ranging from Rs15,000 to Rs20,000—well beyond the reach of most commuters.