Decrepit infrastructure fueling derailments

Alignment issues and malfunctioning signals have caused hundreds of trains to slip off from the tracks

LAHORE:

As Punjab pushes ahead with plans for Pakistan's first bullet train, the country's existing railway infrastructure — plagued by derailments, decrepit tracks, and malfunctioning signals — casts doubt on the feasibility of such ambitious project.

Details gathered by The Express Tribune reveal that over 6,500 kilometers of railway tracks, built since the creation of Pakistan, have surpassed their natural lifespan and are now in a state of disrepair. However, the absence of a bailout package for railway improvements and insufficient funds for track repairs have contributed to numerous train derailments.

According to sources of The Express Tribune, more than 200 incidents of train derailment have been reported each year in Punjab over the past four years. In 2021, 280 incidents of derailment of freight and passenger trains on the main and branch lines were reported followed by 230 incidents in 2022, 250 in 2023, 270 in 2024, and 130 incidents during the first four months of 2025. The majority of derailment incidents were reported from Sukkur division, followed by Lahore, Multan, Rawalpindi, Peshawar and Quetta.

According to Muhammad Sabir Awan, an expert on the railways, incorrect alignment between the train and track and non-compliance with the SOPs given by the Engineering and Mechanical Department for traffic safety were the major reasons behind most cases of derailment. "The job of the Divisional Superintendent is to inspect the train and track in his division. This inspection should be done at least once a week, but this rarely happens, due to which loose nuts, bolts and malfunctioning signal systems cause trains to derail. By fixing the rolling stock and improving the condition of the coaches, train derailment can be prevented," said Awan, who urged the government to improve Pakistan Railways.

Shahid Nazir and Muhammad Ammar Aslam, who frequently take a train from Lahore to Okara disclosed the state of the railway infrastructure. "The coaches are derailed on the second or third day of running on the tracks. As a result, we complete a two-and-a-half-hour journey in six to eight hours. The government should improve the railway system," urged the passengers.

Former Chief Engineer of Pakistan Railways Muhammad Afzal Bajwa revealed that every railway system had a given lifespan after which it had to be upgraded. "Unfortunately, Pakistan Railways is using railway tracks from the British era. So far, we have only doubled the track from Lahore to Lodhran, which was done during the Musharraf era. Until the government provides funds for the improvement of the track, trains will continue to derail. The government should give the railways a bailout package again," implored Bajwa.

Speaking to The Express Tribune on the matter, President of Pakistan Railways (Prem Union) Sheikh Muhammad Anwar believed that the government's neglect was primarily responsible for derailments. "The government is building roads, ring roads, and motorways, but it has neither the funds nor the time to fix the railways. Dues worth Rs7 billion are still due to government employees since 2019. The annual budget of Pakistan Railways is Rs45 billion. How can the expenditure on the 6,500-kilometer track be met from this budget? Although the track from Lahore to Lodhran is up to date, the remaining track has completed its natural lifespan," confirmed Anwar.

When asked about the situation, Babar Ali Raza, Director General Public Relations, Pakistan Railways, said: "We have imposed engineering restrictions on weak tracks to prevent derailments—these define speed limits that cannot be exceeded at certain points." The Railway Minister, he said, has initiated 13 projects worth Rs11 billion to strengthen vulnerable sections. "If we review data from the past decade, the casualty rate—while it should ideally be zero—is steadily decreasing due to the measures taken, and we expect this downward trend to continue," Raza claimed.