Attacks, derailments, collisions marred rail operations as upgrades remained limited to station improvements
Pakistan Railways. PHOTO: FILE
Pakistan Railways recorded 95 train accidents between January 1 and December 20, 2025, according to official data obtained by Express News.
The data showed the rail system faced challenges ranging from terrorism and derailments to collisions and flood-related damage, while officials said large-scale infrastructure modernization remained limited over the year.
Of the reported incidents, 46 involved passenger train derailments and 43 freight train derailments. The data also recorded one train fire and two accidents at level crossings, one at an unmanned crossing and another at a manned crossing.
Security concerns were particularly evident in Balochistan, where the Jaffar Express and rail tracks were targeted in eight separate acts of sabotage, the data showed.
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Among major incidents, the Jaffar Express was targeted on 11 March. On May 21, the Shalimar Express collided with a brick-laden trolley at an unmanned level crossing near Siyanwala Darul Ihsan, derailing all 15 coaches.
On 30 May, the Rehman Baba Express collided with a trolley at an unmanned crossing, while the Pakistan Express narrowly avoided disaster near Mubarakpur on 1 June when a trolley passed under its dining car.
June 14 recorded three separate incidents in a single day. Six coaches of Khushhal Khan Khattak Express derailed near Kandhkot, Allama Iqbal Express developed brake pad failure mid-journey and Thal Express collided with a car.
Four days later, an explosion damaged railway tracks near Jacobabad and derailed five coaches of the Jaffar Express in what authorities described as the second major attack on the train.
In August, six buses of the Islamabad Express between Lahore and Rawalpindi derailed due to a broken track, injuring 30 passengers. Awam Express derailed near Lodhran on 17 August while a goods train derailed near Paddidan on 29 August. On September 11, two goods trains collided near Renala Khurd, killing an assistant driver and injuring another railway employee.
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The accidents caused economic losses of millions of rupees to the railway infrastructure, with several coaches damaged and several engines destroyed in collisions.
According to railway officials and passenger accounts, persistent delays marked operations throughout 2025, with trains often departing hours behind schedule from major stations, including Lahore.
While station buildings and waiting areas were upgraded and Wi-Fi facilities introduced in some places, officials acknowledged that no major progress was made in modernizing tracks, signaling systems or security infrastructure during the year.
