Pakistan Railways faced a challenging year in 2025 as accidents, derailments, and sabotage incidents disrupted services nationwide, leaving passengers waiting for hours despite upgraded and aesthetically improved stations.
Official data reveals that from January 1 to December 20, a total of 95 accidents occurred involving passenger and freight trains. Over a dozen passengers lost their lives, while hundreds of passengers and railway staff were injured. Passenger trains accounted for 46 derailments, freight trains for 43, with two other incidents reported. Additionally, there was one fire incident on a train and multiple accidents at railway crossings.
Several incidents were linked to sabotage, including attacks on the Quetta-bound Jafar Express. The train and tracks were targeted eight times in 2025. On March 11 and June 18, the Jafar Express was attacked, and explosive devices damaged tracks, causing multiple carriages to derail.
Other major accidents included the Islamabad Express from Lahore to Rawalpindi derailing on August 1, injuring 30 passengers, and a collision of freight trains near Renala Khurd on September 11, killing one assistant driver. The Awam Express derailed near Lodhran on August 17, while nine freight carriages derailed near Padidan on August 29.
The Shalimar Express collided with a trolley at an unmanned crossing on May 21, causing all 15 coaches to derail.
Smaller derailments and mechanical failures were reported across the country, affecting trains like Rahman Baba Express, Khushhal Khan Khattak Express, Allama Iqbal Express, and Thal Express. Despite these challenges, Pakistan Railways focused on cosmetic upgrades to stations and waiting rooms, providing Wi-Fi and aesthetic improvements, but no significant infrastructural enhancements were carried out.
Officials said passengers continued to endure long waits as trains rarely departed on schedule, highlighting ongoing safety and operational shortcomings in the national railway system.
