Attacks, derailments and collisions marred railway operations while upgrades were 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.
Data shows the rail system faced challenges ranging from terrorism and derailments to collisions and flood damage, while officials said large-scale infrastructure upgrades remained limited during the year.
Of the reported incidents, 46 involved passenger train derailments and 43 involved freight train derailments. The data also recorded a train fire and two level crossing accidents, one at an unmanned level crossing and another at a guarded level crossing.
Security concerns were particularly evident in Balochistan, where the Jaffar Express and railway tracks were targeted in eight separate acts of sabotage, the data showed.
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Among the major incidents, the Jaffar Express was targeted on March 11. On May 21, the Shalimar Express collided with a brick-laden trolley at an unmanned crossing near Siyanwala Darul Ihsan, derailing all 15 coaches.
On May 30, the Rehman Baba Express collided with a tram at an unmanned crossing, while the Pakistan Express narrowly avoided disaster near Mubarakpur on June 1 when a tram passed under its dining car.
June 14 recorded three separate incidents in a single day. Six coaches of the Khushhal Khan Khattak Express derailed near Kandhkot, the Allama Iqbal Express developed brake faults mid-journey and the Thal Express collided with a car.
Four days later, an explosion damaged the railway near Jacobabad, derailing five cars of the Jaffar Express, in what authorities described as the second major attack on the train.
In August, six Islamabad Express coaches derailed between Lahore and Rawalpindi due to a broken track, injuring 30 passengers. The Awam Express derailed near Lodhran on August 17, while a goods train derailed near Paddidan on August 29. 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 financial losses worth millions of rupees to the railway infrastructure, with several coaches damaged beyond repair and several engines destroyed in collisions.
Persistent delays marred operations throughout 2025, with trains frequently departing hours late from major stations including Lahore, according to railway officials and passenger testimonies.
Even though station buildings and waiting areas were upgraded and Wi-Fi facilities were installed in some places, officials acknowledged that no major progress was made in upgrading tracks, signaling systems or safety infrastructure during the year.
