Pakistan plans first high-speed rail from Lahore to Rawalpindi

LAHORE: Pakistan is on the verge of a transportation revolution with its first high-speed rail project underway. The proposed Lahore-to-Rawalpindi high-speed rail link, valued at $1.6 billion, has been submitted for approval to the Punjab chief minister’s office.

This project, developed by the transport and mass transit departments, promises to significantly reduce travel time between the two cities to under two hours, with trains reaching speeds of up to 250km/h.

The proposal stresses the need for an action plan, building on the railway department’s pre-feasibility study.

Funding for this study will come from the Department of Planning and Development. However, securing initial funding poses a substantial challenge to the project’s progress.

If approved, this high-speed rail will modernize Pakistan’s transportation infrastructure, offering a swift and efficient travel option between Lahore and Rawalpindi.

This development is exciting news for Pakistan, especially considering the global trend of investing in high-speed rail networks.

For instance, countries like Egypt are making significant strides in high-speed rail, with a 543-kilometer-long project linking the Mediterranean and the Red Sea, capable of speeds up to 250 km/h.