Pakistan railways to launch ‘bullet train’ between Karachi and Lahore by 2030

Pakistan Railways has announced a plan to launch a high-speed bullet train service between Karachi and Lahore by 2030 with an aim to cut travel time and modernise the national rail network.

According to media reports, Railways Minister Hanif Abbasi said that the proposed service will reduce the journey between the two cities from around 20 hours to just five hours.

The trains will run at speeds of up to 250 kilometres per hour, with major stops at Hyderabad, Multan, and Sahiwal.

The project is part of the $6.7 billion Main Line-1 (ML-1) upgrade, which seeks to modernise the 1,687-kilometre Karachi-Peshawar railway corridor. Initially agreed upon in May 2017, ML-1 is a key component of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).

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China Railway Construction Corporation will participate in the project, which will include the construction of new double tracks, bridges, and advanced signalling systems.

Officials said the high-speed service is expected to reduce dependence on costly road transport and help save billions of dollars in fuel imports.

Pakistan’s railway network currently spans around 7,700 kilometres, connecting major urban centres, but suffers from outdated infrastructure, frequent delays, and safety challenges due to years of underinvestment and mismanagement.