Pakistan Railways plans to launch a bullet train between Lahore and Karachi by 2030, cutting travel time from 20 hours to 5 hours under the $6.7B CPEC-backed ML-1 project.
WEBDESK – MediaBites, Lahore: Pakistan Railways on Sunday announced plans to launch a high-speed bullet train between Lahore and Karachi by 2030, reducing the travel time between the two cities from nearly 20 hours to just five.
State-run Radio Pakistan quoted Railways Minister Hanif Abbasi as saying the ambitious project would transform the country’s transport sector. Covering a distance of 1,215 kilometers, the new service will operate at speeds of up to 250 kilometers per hour, with major stops at Hyderabad, Multan, and Sahiwal.
Officials confirmed that the bullet train will be part of the $6.7 billion Main Line-1 (ML-1) project, a flagship component of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC). Under the plan, the 1,687-kilometer Karachi-to-Peshawar railway line will be upgraded with new double tracks, modern bridges, and advanced signaling systems. The project was initially agreed upon in May 2017.
China Railway Construction Corporation will play a key role in the development, which aims to reduce Pakistan’s dependence on costly road transport, saving billions of dollars in imported fuel.
Pakistan’s railway network currently spans 7,700 kilometers but has long struggled with outdated infrastructure, frequent delays, and safety concerns due to decades of underinvestment and mismanagement. The government has recently undertaken reforms, including track rehabilitation, procurement of new locomotives, and the expansion of digital ticketing systems.
As part of its modernization efforts, Pakistan Railways has initiated a large-scale automation program. New sensor-based monitoring systems, digitalized signaling, and upgraded communication networks are being introduced to improve safety and efficiency. Bridges and key structures across the network are also being digitized with sensor-based inspections to prevent accidents.
The modernization drive includes the induction of 230 newly designed passenger coaches capable of running at 160 kilometers per hour, along with 820 high-capacity freight wagons equipped with advanced braking and monitoring systems.
Officials say the bullet train project will not only cut travel time but also enhance connectivity, promote trade and strengthen Pakistan’s economic integration under CPEC.
“This will be a historic transformation for Pakistan’s railway sector,” Abbasi said. “The Lahore-Karachi bullet train will change the way people travel across the country.”
