First bullet train to cut Lahore-Karachi travel time to 5 hours

KARACHI (Dunya News) - Pakistan Railways has announced a major plan to launch a high-speed bullet train between Lahore and Karachi, aiming to cut the travel time between the two cities to just 5 hours.

According to Radio Pakistan, the project is scheduled for completion by 2030. The bullet train will operate along a 1,215-kilometer high-speed rail line as part of the $6.8 billion ML-1 (Main Line-1) upgrade under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).

Railways Minister Hanif Abbasi stated that the project will be executed with the support of China and the China Railway Construction Corporation.

The bullet train is expected to reach speed of up to 250 km/h and will pass through key cities including Hyderabad, Multan, and Sahiwal. The initiative includes the installation of dual new tracks, reconstruction of old bridges, and the deployment of a modern signaling system.

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Officials say the project will not only provide the public with a faster, safer, and more comfortable mode of transportation but also create thousands of employment opportunities.

In addition, the freight transport share via railway is expected to rise from the current 4% to 20%, reducing reliance on costly road transport and saving billions in fuel imports.

Meanwhile, Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif has also approved a separate bullet train project between Lahore and Rawalpindi, which will reduce the travel time between the two cities to just 2.5 hours.