The Punjab government’s ambitious plan to launch a high-speed bullet train between Lahore and Rawalpindi is facing significant skepticism from experts and railway officials, who argue that Pakistan’s outdated infrastructure, financial constraints, and difficult terrain make the project unfeasible in the near future.
Pakistan Railways officials have confirmed that the existing rail track between Lahore and Rawalpindi is outdated and incapable of supporting speeds beyond 65 km/h. The fastest train, Green Line, currently takes four and a half hours for the journey, while other services require up to five and a half hours. Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif has directed authorities to reduce travel time to just two hours, but experts say this goal is unrealistic without a complete infrastructure overhaul.
Railways Minister Hanif Abbasi admitted that even increasing speeds to 100 km/h would require a Rs. 40 billion upgrade, while achieving 160 km/h—still below global high-speed rail standards—would cost Rs. 400 billion.
Globally, high-speed trains operate at 200–250 km/h, with advanced bullet trains exceeding 300 km/h. However, Pakistan lacks the necessary rolling stock, signaling systems, and straight, modern tracks required for such speeds.
Mechanical engineer Riaz Rashid, who worked on Saudi Arabia’s North-South Rail Project, stated that even India—which began high-speed rail development in 2016—has yet to fully implement such a system. He estimated that constructing a dedicated bullet train corridor in Pakistan could cost up to $15 billion, requiring elevated tracks in some sections due to the uneven terrain, river crossings (Chenab, Ravi, Jhelum), and multiple curves.
Despite the hurdles, the Punjab government remains determined. A working group, including Punjab Transport Minister Bilal Akbar Khan and Railways officials, has been formed to assess feasibility. Senior Minister Mariyam Aurangzeb claimed the project aligns with PML-N’s vision for modernization, with PM Shehbaz Sharif expected to lay the foundation stone soon.
However, critics argue that without massive foreign investment and years of construction, the project is unlikely to materialize. Upgrading the existing system to 160 km/h may be a more realistic interim solution, but even that would fall short of true high-speed rail standards.
While the bullet train proposal has garnered political support, experts insist that Pakistan must first address fundamental infrastructure gaps before such an advanced system can become a reality. For now, the dream of a two-hour Lahore-Rawalpindi journey remains distant, with officials acknowledging that even partial improvements will require billions in funding and years of dedicated effort.
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