Plans for a bullet train between Lahore and Rawalpindi face serious doubts from experts, who say the project is not possible due to outdated infrastructure, high costs, and difficult terrain, according to a report published in Dawn.
According to railway officials, Pakistan’s existing tracks are far too old to support high-speed trains. Trains currently average only 60–70 km/h, with the fastest service taking over four hours.
“It is impossible to run a bullet train on this worn-out infrastructure,” one official told Dawn. They also noted that Pakistan lacks compatible coaches, locomotives, and signaling systems.
Experts say a true high-speed rail system would cost $12–15 billion. One proposal to raise train speeds to 160 km/h by upgrading the current track could still require Rs. 400 billion. Even then, it wouldn’t meet global bullet train standards, which are 250 km/h or higher.
Terrain is another major hurdle. The route between Lahore and Rawalpindi is not straight, includes sharp curves, hilly areas, and crosses major rivers like the Chenab, Ravi, and Jhelum.
Mechanical engineer Riaz Rashid said such conditions would require a completely new, specially built track—something even India has struggled with since 2016.